ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Taxpayers are funding a study that could help set even higher toll prices during peak hours on the Florida Turnpike, State Road 528 and State Road 417.
With five trips a week on Florida's Turnpike, Sarah Koller said she spends about $50 a month on tolls, so the thought of spending more doesn't sit well with her.
The concept is called congestion pricing. For example, drivers who take the exit to State Road 50 in Winter Garden now pay 75 cents regardless of the time of day. But under the new idea, drivers would have to cough up more cash during busy times.
"That's a terrible idea. You're on it for the convenience of it and that makes you just drive on the roads that aren't nearly as good," said Koller.
The Turnpike Authority received a $400,000 grant from the federal government to study the concept in Florida's three metropolitan areas including, Orlando, South Florida and Tampa.
The Turnpike Authority told WFTV building more lanes isn't an option.
"You can only widen so far and in certain urban areas there's only so much real estate you can use," said Chad Huff, spokesman for Florida's Turnpike Authority.
But drivers WFTV talked to said high tolls will only make local roads worse.
"It'll push traffic onto already congested streets, forcing people to change their driving habits," said Koller.
"What congestion pricing also does it also does it allows people to vary the time of day they travel," said Huff.
Koller is glad she won't have to deal with it. She's moving next month.
"It's pushing me out of the state," she said.
The Turnpike Authority said it will be done with the congestion pricing study in 2014.
Officials also said pricing will be based on current traffic flow on turnpike roads and on widening projects still to come.