In a Reason-Rupe poll of 1,200 adults, 58% of respondents said they would rather pay tolls if and when they use a particular lane or highway, rather than paying higher fuel taxes.


The poll also found 77% are against raising the federal fuel tax to help pay for roads and transit, with 56% "strongly opposed."

Yet when it came to approval of public-private partnerships, which are the route most governments are going these days in a move to toll roads, the results were not as strong: 55% were in favor, 35% opposed, and 10% didn't know.

Other results included:

* 59% say they would be willing to pay a toll to use a new lane or road that would save them a significant amount of driving time.

* When asked how much they would be willing to pay per trip to use such a toll lane, about a third said they would be wiling to pay a dollar or less per trip, and 27% would be willing to pay none. Only 12% said they would be willing to pay more than $2 per trip.

* "Congestion pricing," charging higher tolls during rush hour, was not popular in the poll, with 50% opposed and 39% in favor.

* 62% said they agreed more with a statement saying funding for roads and highways should be prioritized over mass transit.

* 65% believed that the government generally spends transportation funding ineffectively. Only 23% said it spends such funds effectively, and 13% didn't know or had no opinion.