Compact Document

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is a bi-state agency that operates pursuant to a Compact between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey, and which was first authorized by the United States Congress in 1935 (“Compact”).

Please see United States Constitution Art. I, §10, cl.3; see also Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission Pennsylvania-New Jersey v. Colburn, 310 U.S.  419, 425 (1940) (citing 49 Stat. 1058 (1935).  The Compact is codified at N.J.S.A. 32:8-1 et seq. in New Jersey and at 36 Pa. St. Ann. 3401 et seq. in Pennsylvania. The inaugural Agreement between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey was executed on December 19, 1934 by the Governor of Pennsylvania and on December 18, 1934 by the Governor of New Jersey. The original Agreement was modified and amended by Supplemental Agreements between the states entered into on:

• July 8, 1947
• July 17, 1951
• July 16, 1953
• March 19, 1986

This Agreement and Supplemental Agreements are collectively referred to as the “Compact.” In accordance with Article I, Section 10, Clause 3 of the Constitution of the United States of America, the Congress of the United States of America consented to the Compact through Acts enacted on:

• August 30, 1935
• August 4, 1947
• March 31, 1952
• April 2, 1987

In 1984 and 1985, the Commission, the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania entered into the current iteration of the Compact (the “1984 Agreement”).  Under this Compact change, the Commission was assigned the full financial responsibility for the cost and operation of previous tax-supported state-owned bridges within the Commission’s jurisdiction and control.  The Commission assumed financial responsibility and ownership of these non-toll bridges on July 1, 1987. Additionally, the most recent Compact provided that the bridge carrying I-78 across the Delaware River shall be operated and maintained by the Commission as a toll bridge and that the Commission would be responsible for the river crossing, the approach highways and the first interchanges in each state. The series of enactments for the Supplemental Agreement to the current Compact were as follows:

• Approval by Pennsylvania Legislature: Dec. 18, 1984
• Approval by New Jersey Legislature: Sept. 12, 1985
• New Jersey Governor’s signature: October, 28, 1985
• Pennsylvania Governor’s signature: March 19, 1986
• Federal enactment: April 2, 1987 (Public Law 100-17)