Few people like the idea of having to pay coins or cash every time they use a highway, but Alabama could soon have toll roads.

Gov. Bob Riley has told the state Department of Transportation to study whether it’s feasible to have private companies build such roads, perhaps in partnership with the state.

A southern bypass in Huntsville is one of the prospective toll roads. Another could be an elevated highway to relieve congested U.S. 280 near Interstate 459 at Birmingham.

Legislators say Alabamians’ traditional opposition to toll roads is diminishing as they use the four privately operated toll bridges in Alabama, as well as toll roads and bridges in other states.

“People don’t scream about toll roads as long as there is an alternate route,” said state Sen. Steve French, R-Birmingham.

People may be realizing that a toll can be cheaper than the time, gasoline and vehicle wear-and-tear needed to take a longer route. So a toll can be a good deal for an individual driver.

Tolls also can be a good deal for the state and localities if they relieve traffic problems and pollution while opening new places for economic development.

It makes sense for people who use the highways to help pay their rising costs. They can do it by paying higher gas taxes, which are producing static revenue these days because of fuel conservation. Or they can do it through tolls.

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