Section 551 - Legislative finding; declaration of policy. It is hereby determined and declared as a matter of legislative finding:
(1) That a greater utilization of the rivers in the Commonwealth is necessary for the increased commerce and prosperity of the people of the Commonwealth.(2) The increased commerce and prosperity of the people of the Commonwealth require, in counties of the second class, more effective coordination of the combined facilities of water, rail, air and highway.(3) That the expanding industrial activities of the Commonwealth require the planning, designing, construction, erection and operation of port facilities in counties of the second class.(4) That property values in counties of the second class are threatened with irreparable loss for the lack of port facilities available to industry.(5) The crisis in industrial transportation, which threatens the welfare of the Commonwealth, can be reduced by providing adequate port facilities.(6) That in counties of the second class there has been and is an ever increasing growth in the industrial, commercial and residential areas, requiring adequate and modern transportation facilities .(7) That the existing transportation facilities are and have been unable to adequately serve the growing areas in counties of the second class, to the detriment of the health, safety and general welfare of the inhabitants.(8) That the well-being and economic health of the counties of the second class require a modern transportation system.(9) That it is desirable that a public transportation system be established by the creation of an authority as herein provided.(10) That it is desirable that a port authority be established by the creation of an authority as provided in this act.(11) That it is intended that the authority created under this act cooperate , where mutually beneficial, with common carriers, that private enterprise and government may mutually provide adequate port facilities and transportation services for the convenience of the public.(12) That it is intended that an authority created hereunder will cooperate with all municipalities and other public bodies in which it operates so that the public transportation system may best serve the interests of the residents thereof. Therefore, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to promote the safety and welfare of the inhabitants thereof by the creation of a body corporate and politic for each second class county, to be known as The Port Authority of (insert name of county), which shall exist and operate for the purposes contained in this act. Such purposes are hereby declared to be public uses for which public money may be spent and private property may be acquired by the exercise of the power of eminent domain.
Amended by P.L. 619 2012 No. 61, § 2, eff. 9/11/2012.1956, April 6, P.L. (1955) 1414, § 1. Amended 1959, Oct. 7, P.L. 1266, § 1; 1970, Dec. 30, P.L. 953, No. 300, § 1.