And the first toll route - expected to be the car pool lane of Interstate 15 - could be operational as soon as 2007. The Utah Department of Transportation's own public opinion polls say Utahns are not excited about the idea, but with $16.5 billion needed over the next 25 years to keep motorists moving smoothly, lawmakers say they have no choice.

"Nothing in life is free, including roads. One way or another, consumers are going to have to pay for it," said Sen. Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse, co-chairman of the Legislature's Transportation Interim Committee, which met Wednesday. "The one thing worse than having to pay a toll is not being able to move at all."

UDOT is now studying how it could impose tolls on the I-15 car pool lanes, according to UDOT Deputy Director Carlos Braceras. Under the proposal, car poolers could still take advantage of the lightly traveled lane for free, while single drivers would have to pay some sort of fee, probably for a monthly sticker. The state Transportation Commission would have to OK such a move. Braceras said UDOT will propose the change to the commission in the "next two to three years."

The UDOT-funded survey, conducted by Dan Jones & Associates, found that 64 percent of respondents didn't want the transportation department to consider toll lanes and 54 percent were against allowing single-occupant vehicles in the car pool lane, even if they paid for it.

"The voters here are resistant," said Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Cottonwood Heights.

But John Njord, UDOT's executive director, expects public opinion to improve as his department and state leaders launch an education campaign. They say offering toll lanes could greatly speed up the process of constructing new roads, such as the long-proposed Mountain View Corridor on Salt Lake County's west side.

So, while motorists would have to pay a fee, they could save time due to decreased gridlock.

The Mountain View Corridor remains in the planning stages, but UDOT is considering making the whole highway a toll road.

UDOT officials also are asking lawmakers to allow them to team up with private companies on toll roads and other projects.

Killpack said this "absolutely needs to happen" and promised that someone on the transportation committee will sponsor such a bill next legislative session. Texas and other states are already allowing private companies to offer proposals for toll lanes. Under these arrangements, the companies may help pay for the road - its planning, maintenance and construction - for the right to collect the fees.

Toll lanes are not expected to fill the $16.5 billion gap alone. Lawmakers say large chunks of future surpluses may go to transportation, and tax and fee increases also are necessary. Some legislators, such as Layton Republican Rep. Stuart Adams, proposed indexing the gas tax to inflation.

mcanham@sltrib.com