CHAPTER 402
FORMERLY
SENATE BILL NO. 541
AN ACT MAKING A SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION TO THE DIVISION OF TRANSPORTATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION.
WHEREAS, the Secretary of the U. S. Department of Transportation and the Rail Service Planning Office of the Interstate Commerce Commission have recommended the abandonment of certain rail facilities in Zones 81, 85, 86 and 182, pursuant to Public Law No. 93-236; and
WHEREAS, as the result of said recommendations, the Delmarva Peninsula is in eminent danger of losing its railroad service; and
WHEREAS, the retention of interstate rail service is essential to the economy of Delaware; and
WHEREAS, the loss of rail service by Maryland or Virginia will have a deleterious effect upon the economy of Delaware because it is so intertwined with the economies of those states; and
WHEREAS, this is a tri-state problem and must be confronted by the three states acting in concert rather than independently; and
WHEREAS, a railroad committee has been formed under the auspices of the Delmarva Advisory Council which is operating to seek a rescission of the U. S. Department of Transportation's recommendations; and
WHEREAS, Delaware industry is represented on the Council in equal proportion with Maryland and Virginia; and
WHEREAS, certain expenditures in the defense of continued rail service on the Eastern Shore are necessary and desirable; and
WHEREAS, Maryland and Virginia have expressed official and monetary support of the Delmarva Advisory Council Railroad Committee's activity to achieve a recession of the recommendations regarding abandonment of certain rail facilities in Zones 84, 85, 86 and 182; and
WHEREAS, it is the plan and intent that the expenses of this effort be equally shared among the three participating states;
NOW, THEREFORE:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Delaware:
Section 1. There is hereby appropriated to the Division of Transportation of the Department of Highways and Transportation (55-05-000) the sum of $15,000 to defray one-third of the expenses incurred on behalf of the three participating states, through the auspices of the Delmarva Advisory Council Railroad Committee, in seeking a rescission or reversal of the recommendation that certain rail facilities be abandoned on the Delmarva peninsula.
Section 2. This Act is a supplementary appropriation and the funds appropriated shall be paid from the General Fund of the State Treasury from moneys not otherwise appropriated and any funds remaining unexpended or unencumbered as of June 80, 1975 shall thereupon revert to the General Fund.
Approved June 28, 1974.