New Jersey Highway Authority v. Central Railroad

121 A.2d 388, 21 N.J. 157, 1956 N.J. LEXIS 222

• Court: Supreme Court of New Jersey
• Decided: March 12, 1956
• Status: Published

Opinions

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Jacobs, J.

The defendants appealed to the Appellate Division from a judgment of the Law Division which declared that the plaintiff had the right to construct the Garden State Parkway under the tracks and facilities and across the right-of-way of the defendant The Central Railroad Company of Mew Jersey without compensation for use of or entry upon such right of way. We certified under R. R. 1:10—1.

The Central Railroad was originally incorporated, under the name of Somerville and Easton Railroad Company, by L. 1847, p. 128 which provided in section 9 as follows:

“And be it exacted, That it shall be the duty of the said company to construct and keep in repair good and sufficient bridges or passages over or under the said railroad or roads, where any public or other road shall cross the same, so that the passage of carriages, horses, and cattle on the said road shall not be impeded thereby; and also, where the said road shall intersect any farm or lands of any individual, to provide and keep in repair suitable wagon ways over or under the said road, so that he may pass the same.”

The general Railway Act of 1873 (L. 1873, c. 413, p. 88) provided in section 14 that it shall be the duty of any company incorporated thereunder to construct and maintain sufficient bridges and passages over, under and across the railroad “where any public or other road now or hereafter laid, shall cross the same.” In an 1882 supplement the Legislature extended the duty to all companies operating railroads within the State. L. 1882, c. 157, p. 245. And in a later act concerning railroads (Revision of 1903) (L. 1903, c. 257, p. 645) the Legislature in section 26 again imposed the duty with respect to all railroads in the State with the proviso, however, that the “section shall not enlarge the duty imposed by its charter upon any railroad company incorporated by special act and whose railroad was constructed before the second day of April, eighteen hundred and seventy-three.” The requirements of section 26 are now found in B. S. 48:12-49.

In 1952 the Legislature passed the act which created the Mew Jersey Highway Authority and empowered it to construct the Garden State Parkway. L. 1952, c. 16; Town of Bloomfield v. N. J. Highway Authority, 18 N. J. 237, 243 (1955). Section 6 of that act (N. J. S. A. 27:125-6) authorized the Authority to relocate public utility facilities at its own expense. The route of the Parkway intersected the Central Eailroad’s right-of-way at a point in Matawan Township, Monmouth County, and the Authority’s plan was to carry the Parkway under the railroad which had facilities consisting “of a single main track together with signal and wire facilities, and, in addition, a portion of a double end siding which was used for passing purposes, all located at grade.” In due course, the Authority accomplished a crossing of its three-lane Parkway under the railroad by constructing, at the Authority’s expense, a viaduct to carry the existing single main line track, wire and signal facilities of the railroad, eliminating the double end siding, and leaving no room for the construction of any additional main line track on the viaduct. On September 22, 1953 the Authority filed its verified complaint in the Law Division, seeking the acquisition of an easement on land described therein and approximating 3.42 acres; the Authority prayed for (1) an adjudication that it had the right to construct and maintain the Parkway under the tracks and facilities and across the right of way of the Central Eailroad without compensation “for use of or entry upon such right of way,” and (2) in the alternative, that condemnation commissioners be appointed under B. 8. 20:1-1 et seq. A stipulation was entered into by the parties stating the facts hereinbefore set forth and asserting that in the course of the Parkway construction the Authority had made “substantial excavations from the lands which are the subject matter of this action and portions of such land are now occupied by Parkway road bed and fills and slopes needed for the Parkway as well as the viaduct.” The parties also agreed that “of the land which is the subject matter of the action no more than an area of Eifty-three (53) feet wide, including the present viaduct is owned or controlled by the defendant railroad as a right of way for its railroad” and that “the remainder of the said lands are not and were not used for railroad purposes or needed therefor and any use thereof by the plaintiff is compensable by agreement or condemnation.”

Upon the filing of the verified complaint the Law Division issued an order to show cause and a general appearance was entered by the defendants. The single issue presented to Judge Lloyd in the Law Division turned on the question of whether section 9 of the 1847 act incorporating the railroad imposed a duty upon it with respect to future as well as pre-existing public highways. Judge Lloyd expressly found that it did and on April 15, 1955 he entered a judgment which declared that the Authority had the right to construct its Parkway across the railroad’s right of way (comprising a strip no more than 53 feet wide) without compensation “for use of or entry upon such right of way”; the judgment provided that “the action shall proceed as a conventional condemnation with respect to the remainder of the property described in the complaint.” After the defendants filed their notice of appeal from the judgment the parties entered into a stipulation dated September 14, 1955 that the section of the railroad which is referred to in the complaint “was constructed after April 2, 1873.” The Authority has moved to enlarge the record on appeal by the inclusion of this stipulation and we see no reason why its motion should not now be granted. See Const. 1947, Art. VI, § V, par. 3; R. R. 1:5-4. Cf. Devlin v. Surgent, 18 N. J. 148 (1955); Kelley v. Curtiss, 16 N. J. 265 (1954).

The railroad now contends, as it did below, that section 9 of its charter relates “only to roads which were in existence when the railroad was built” and it Telies primarily on Morris Canal & Banking Co. v. State, 24 N. J. L. 62 (Sup. Ct. 1853); Morris & Essex R. R. Co. v. Orange, 63 N. J. L. 252 (E. & A. 1899); and West Jersey & Seashore R. R. Co. v. Woodbury, 80 N. J. Eq. 412 (Ch. 1912). On the other hand, the Authority asserts that the broad language and purposes of section 9 make it clearly applicable to future as well as existing highways and it relies primarily on the views expressed by Chief Justice Beasley in State v. Central R. R. Co., 32 N. J. L. 220 (Sup. Ct. 1867), by Justice Dixon in Morris & Essex R. R. Co. v. Orange, supra, 63 N. J. L., at 274, and by Justice Swayze in State v. Lehigh Valley R. R. Co., 89 N. J. L. 48 (Sup. Ct. 1916), affirmed 90 N. J. L. 340 (E. & A. 1917). In the Morris Canal case, supra, the charter provided that “when the canal shall cross any public road or farm” it shall be the duty of the company to construct and maintain sufficient bridges; the court in holding that this referred only to pre-existing roads was careful to point out that its determination had reference to the particular charter in question and that provisions in other charters are “couched in different language, which will admit of, and perhaps may require, a different construction.” In the Morris & Essex R. R. Co. case, supra, the majority opinion seemingly accepted the position (not there disputed by the parties) that the railroad was at least entitled to nominal damages on the laying of a new highway over its tracks. The majority did not discuss the railroad’s charter provision (similar to section 9 in the instant matter) but it was quoted by Justice Dixon in his concurring opinion; Justice Dixon unequivocally expressed the view that it referred to “highways laid across the railroad at any time.” In the West Jersey & Seashore R. R. Co. ease, supra, Vice-Chancellor Learning considered the Morris d Essex B. B. case, supra, as a holding that the charter provision applied only to pre-existing roads.

In the Central R. R. Co. case, supra, the railroad altered an intersecting highway and relied upon section 9 of its charter as furnishing authority for its action. In discussing that section Chief Justice Beasley noted that (1) it imposed a duty on the company in favor of the public, (2) it was to be taken “most strongly against the corporation” although it was to receive a reasonable construction, and (3) it imposed a “continuing duty” which, in its performance, “must be measured by circumstances.” See Inhabitants of Palmyra v. Pennsylvania R. R. Co., 62 N. J. Eq. 601, 609 (Ch. 1901), affirmed 63 N. J. Eq. 799 (E. & A. 1902); Borough of Metuchen v. Pennsylvania R. R. Co., 73 N. J. Eq. 359, 364 (E. & A. 1908). In his concurring opinion in the Morris & Essex R. R. Co. case, supra, Justice Dixon remarked that by accepting its charter the company became “subject to the opening of highways across its railroad, and to the duty of making and keeping in repair safe crossings therefor, without receiving from the public any compensation other than the grants contained in the charter.” See 63 N. J. L., at page 274. In the Lehigh Valley R. R. Co. case, supra, Justice Swayze indicated his agreement with the views expressed by Justice Dixon; he pointed out that the Morris Canal Co. case, supra, turned upon “the peculiar language of the charter” and he reaffirmed the rule of State v. Central R. R. Co., supra, that “the company is subject to a continuing duty measured by circumstances.” He flatly rejected the railroad’s contention “that the operation of motor vehicles and the improvement of the highway by macadamizing” it had so changed the nature and use of the highway as to terminate the company’s charter obligation.

While the foregoing authorities are in no sense dis-positive, we are satisfied that Justice Dixon’s construction of the charter language was sound and should be accepted in the instant matter. Section 9 provides that the railroad shall construct and maintain bridges or passages over or under the railroad where any public road “shall cross the same”; this terminology clearly includes public roads which in the future cross the railroad. It is to be contrasted with the last portion of the section which deals with instances where the railroad “shall intersect any farm or lands of any individual” and refers to the situation as it existed when the railroad was constructed. The difference in purpose as well as in language seems fairly evident. When concerned with private landowners the Legislature equitably afforded suitable protection in all cases where the construction of the railroad divided their land with resulting inconvenience; it had no reason to provide protection for landowners who later acquired property on both sides of the railroad. On the other hand, the public was properly entitled to protection not only with regard to the situation as it then existed but also with regard to future circumstances. The Legislature had granted valuable rights to the railroad over public ways and it may be taken to have reciprocally imposed the duty on the railroad to maintain proper crossings over public ways whenever established. Any notion that the Legislature’s interest was confined to the situation as it existed when the railroad was constructed would suggest that it lacked vision and understanding as to its important responsibilities for the future as well as the present. It seems to us that it may justly be assumed that, by its comprehensive language, the Legislature intended to impose a continuing duty sufficient to meet the public needs as they then existed and as they would arise from time to time thereafter. This construction is buttressed by the established doctrine that even where such statutory language is doubtful it is to be construed liberally in favor of the public. See State v. Central R. R. Co., supra. Cf. State ex rel. City of Minneapolis v. St. Paul M. & M. Ry. Co., 98 Minn. 380, 108 N. W. 261, 266, 28 L. R. A., N. S., 298 (1906), affirmed 214 U. S. 497, 29 S. Ct. 698, 53 L. Ed. 1060 (1909), where the court, in construing a charter provision as applicable to future as well as existing roads, said:

“While the statute on its face might be construed as intended to apply to existing highways only, a fair and reasonable construction thereof, in view of the legislative policy of the state on this subject, and the propriety and necessity for some specific regulation, will bring within its scope and purpose streets and highways subsequently laid out and opened. It is elementary that charters of public corporations, in which the rights of the public are involved, are to be construed with strictness against the corporation, and liberally in favor of the public. St. Louis River [Dallas] Imp. Co. v. C. N. Nelson Lumber Co., 51 Minn. 10, 52 N. W. 976; Commonwealth v. [Erie & N. E] Railway Co., 27 Pa. 339, 67 Am. Dec. 471. Or, as said by the New York Court of Appeals, in Tracy v. [Troy & B. B.] Railway Co., 38 N. Y. 433, 98 Am. Dec. 54, an act of the Legislature, induced by public considerations, the purpose of which is to protect the ■ traveling public, should receive a liberal construction to effectuate the purpose of its framers. ‘A rigid and literal reading would in many eases defeat the very object of the statute and exemplify the maxim that “the letter killeth, while the spirit keepeth alive.” ’ The operation of statutes is often extended, by construction, to matters of subsequent creation and applied to conditions that accrue after their passage, as well as to those that existed before.”

See State ex rel. City of Duluth v. Northern Pac. Ry. Co., 98 Minn. 429, 108 N. W. 269 (1906), affirmed 208 U. S. 583, 28 S. Cl. 341, 52 L. Ed. 630 (1908).

The stipulation dated September 25, 1955 discloses that the section of the railroad described in the complaint was constructed after April 2, 1873 and that consequently R. S. 48:12-49 is applicable. That statute simply describes in more modern and explicit language the railroad’s comprehensive duty with respect to future as well as existing highways. There is no reason to doubt the validity of the statute as a constitutional exercise of the State’s police power. See Chicago M. & St. P. R. Co. v. Minneapolis, 232 U. S. 430, 34 S. Ct. 400, 58 L. Ed. 671 (1914); Atchison, Topeka & S. F. R. Co. v. Public Utilities Comm., 346 U. S. 346, 74 S. Ct. 92, 98 L. Ed. 51 (1953); Erie R. R. Co. v. Public Utility Com’rs, 89 N. J. L. 57 (Sup. Ct. 1916), affirmed 90 N. J. L. 672 (E. & A. 1917), affirmed 254 U. S. 394, 41 S. Ct. 169, 65 L. Ed. 322 (1921); Heher, J., dissenting in Central R. R. Co. of N. J. v. Board of Public Utility Com’rs, 112 N. J. L. 215, 559 (Sup. Ct. 1934), affirmed Central R. Co. v. State Highway Comm., 114 N. J. L. 397 (E. & A. 1935). In the Erie R. R. Co. case, supra (89 N. J. L., at 84) Justice Garrison quoted with full approval the United States Supreme Court’s statement in Chicago M. & St. P. R. Co. v. Minneapolis, supra, that “railroad corporations may be required, at their own expense, not only to abolish existing grade crossings, but also to build and maintain suitable bridges or viaducts to carry highways, newly laid out, over their tracks, or to carry their tracks over such highways.” [232 U. S. 430, 34 S. Ct. 401] Similarly in his opinion in Central R. R. Co. of N. J. v. Board of Public Utility Com’rs, supra, Justice Heher rightly pointed out that the Legislature had ample power to require, for the convenience and safety of the public, that railroads operating within the State provide suitable crossings for new as well as old highways. In the course of his opinion he noted that every railroad receives its charter subject to the right of the State to open highways across its right of way “as public convenience and necessity may, from time to time, require” and that, in such event, the railroad may reasonably be subjected by the State to the obligation of maintaining suitable crossings at the railroad’s expense.

When the Legislature created the Highway Authority and authorized the construction of the Garden State Parkway it might well have imposed the full obligation of providing suitable crossings upon railroad companies such as the Central Railroad; in view of the nature of the Parkway this would have entailed heavy expenditures by them for suitable bridges or viaducts. Instead, the Legislature imposed a much lesser burden upon them; it provided in N. J. S. A. 27:12B-6 that the Authority would have power to make reasonable regulations for the removal and relocation of public utility facilities such as the railroad tracks, signal and wire facilities, and double end siding in the instant matter; and it provided further that “the cost and expenses of such relocation or removal, including the cost of installing such facilities in a new location,” shall be borne by the Authority and that the utility shall have the same right to maintain and operate its facilities at the new location as it had at the old. The viaduct in the instant matter was constructed by the Authority at its own expense, and we were advised at the argument that the obligation of maintaining it rests with the Authority under an agreement between it and the Central Railroad. The railroad’s single main track now crosses the viaduct and serves as effectively as originally. The double end siding has not yet been relocated but the Authority does not deny its statutory obligation and as it points out in its brief “such rights as the railroad may have to relocation of the siding at the Authority’s expense (N. J. S. A. 27:12B-6) were not touched or precluded by the judgment.” Similarly the judgment below does not affect the railroad’s claim for compensation for the taking of land or otherwise except to the limited extent that it declares that the Authority had the right to construct and maintain the Parkway under the railroad’s facilities and across its right-of-way comprising a strip of 53 feet, without compensation “for use of or entry upon such right of way.” We believe that, under the circumstances presented, this declaration lawfully carries forth the legislative contemplation as expressed in section 9 of the company’s charter, in R. S. 48:12-49, and in N. J. S. A. 27:12B-6.

The Central Railroad’s primary complaint seems to he that the viaduct built by the Authority affords no room for any additional main track. During reargument, counsel for the railroad acknowledged that it had been operating with a single main track since 1879; that nothing had yet occurred which indicated the need for a second track; and that the suggested need was in any event speculative. He contended nevertheless that by the enactment of N. J. S. A. 27:12B-6 the Legislature contemplated that the Authority would be legally obligated to pay damages for the loss of the railroad’s formerly held opportunity to build a second track at grade and at moderate cost. We find nothing either in the express terms or in the implicit purposes of N. J. S. A. 27:12B-6 which in anywise evidences such legislative contemplation; nor do we find anything pertinent in National Docks, etc., Co. v. Pennsylvania R. R. Co., 57 N. J. L. 637 (E. & A. 1895), where the court dealt not with the State’s right to effect a highway crossing through a railroad’s right of way but with a condemnation proceeding involving a crossing by one railroad through the right of way of another railroad. In undertaking the relocation of the railroad’s existing facilities without provision for the speculative contingency that the railroad might in the future wish to lay an additional main track, the Authority in the instant matter acted reasonably and wholly within the terms of N. J. S. A. 27:12B-6; if the railroad should later decide to increase its facilities it will justly be required to do so at its own expense under the conditions then prevailing. In the light of the railroad’s voluntary undertaking by acceptance of its charter and the requirements of R. S. 48:12-49 we find no substance whatever to the appellants’ contention that the judgment below violated the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and Article I, paragraph 20 of the Constitution of New Jersey. And although the procedure in the Law Division was summary, the appellants were not prejudiced by it; the facts have been stipulated by the parties and the declaration in the judgment below has been found to be in accordance with the pertinent statutory and constitutional requirements.

Affirmed.