So Strange

I guess the reasoning is that even with relatively widespread tolling you concentrate the pain on a smaller proportion of the population, and you can implement them bit by bit. Still I'd bet "small gas tax increase" would poll better than "massive widespread high tolling program."

People hate tolls, but they seem inevitable. Florida and every other growth state confronted with maintaining and expanding its transportation infrastructure must deal with the reality that the gas tax no longer gets the job done. Increases in the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks mean it is a poor long-term way to pay for tomorrow's roads and bridges.

"People may still be using the system as much as they were, but they're not paying as much into the system," said Prasad. "Obviously, raising the gas tax is not an option in the current environment."