The State Highway Department, before January 1 of each year, shall formulate a program, covering the work to be started or completed during the ensuing year, for the elimination of railroad crossings at grade on State highways, the improvement, relocation, alteration and reconstruction of crossings of railroads and State highways not at grade, and the location and construction of new crossings of railroads and State highways not at grade, where the construction of the new crossings of railroads and State highways not at grade result or will result in the closing, abandonment or combination of an existing grade crossing at or in the vicinity of the new State highway crossing.
The aggregate estimated cost of the work in such annual program, in which railroad companies will share, shall not exceed $2,000,000.00.
N.J.S. § 48:12-68