The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority is on the road to elimination. It is part of a reform plan that Governor Deval Patrick initiated Friday in Springfield.

As Governor Patrick signed a sweeping transportation reform bill into law, he put an end to the Turnpike Authority, and consolidated overlapping agencies.

"This new bill creates a single new agency, Massachusetts Department of Transportation. It moves all employees to a single efficient health care and benefit plan," said Governor Patrick.

The new department will oversee Highway, Mass Transit, Registry of Motor Vehicles and Aeronautics. The bill makes MBTA and Turnpike employees switch to state health insurance, and creates a five-member board of directors.

"Eliminates redundancies and save tens of millions of dollars for residents every year," said Governor Patrick.

Now that the Governor has transportation, ethics and pension reform, he'll hold up his end of the deal and support the legislature's wish to raise the sales tax to 6.25 percent.

"I don't think sales tax is the best idea, but it is the idea we have now. I asked for action on these three measures before I would support the sales tax and they've taken that action. They kept their end, I'll keep up mine," said the Governor.

The increased sales tax will mean a planned hike in Mass Pike tolls, set to go up July 1st, probably won't happen.