To provide for the preliminary expenses of the authority in carrying out the provisions of this act, the legislature shall not appropriate any moneys from the state general fund, but shall appropriate such amounts as it may deem necessary, not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for any one fiscal year, from the state highway fund, which sum so appropriated by the legislature, shall be paid to the authority and simultaneously with the delivery of the bonds, the sum so paid shall be reimbursed by the authority to the state for the credit of the highway fund out of the proceeds of any bonds which may be issued by the authority under the provisions of this act.

The authority is hereby authorized and directed to make such surveys and studies of any turnpike project as may be necessary to effect the financing authorized by this act at the earliest practicable time, and for this purpose to employ such consulting engineers, traffic engineers, legal and financial experts and such other employees and agents as it may deem necessary. To effect the purpose of this act the secretary of transportation shall make available to the authority all data in the secretary’s possession which may be useful to the authority in making such surveys and studies and said secretary may furnish such assistance in making investigations and in preparing designs for any turnpike project as may be agreed upon between the secretary and the authority, the cost of such surveys and expenses incurred by the secretary to be paid by the authority.