The New Jersey Assembly Appropriations Committee approved a plan May 5 to merge the toll-road authorities that run the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.

The bill would enable the Turnpike to assume the operations, facilities and financial obligations of the New Jersey Highway Authority, which operates the Garden State Parkway.

Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere recently told the Courier News that the money saved – as much as $4 million this year and $10 million by 2008 – would be reinvested for toll road improvements and help offset the cost of installing E-ZPass.

S2352 now heads to the full Assembly.