Toll roads need to be part of highway mix

The mere mention of toll roads in Missouri will make many of the state's highway users cringe. A toll for roads? What are our taxes going for?

But stop a minute. Everyone knows that many state roads are in poor condition and traffic volumes continue to rise.

Current federal and state resources don't appear to be enough to keep up with the basic maintenance of many of these roads, let alone the high costs of improving some of them.

As U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond suggested during a recent trip to St. Louis where he discussed federal funding for highways, toll roads may be an option that needs more consideration. People shouldn't dismiss it simply because it is may cost them a few extra coins. And tolls would most likely apply only on major highways like Interstate 70 between St. Louis and Kansas City, the state's two biggest urban areas.

Toll roads would create a significant new revenue source. The burden would only be added to those who use those roads. It's a funding option that could improve roads and more importantly, make them safer.

As state officials look for more revenue sources, tolls for some highways should be included in the mix.