A study released this week suggests adding variably-priced toll lanes to highways in the Washington region could reduce traffic tie-ups while generating funds for road improvements.

The report from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments evaluates several scenarios -- from adding new lanes and placing tolls on major and secondary highways to a more conservative plan to place tolls on existing lanes of the region's parkways.

Although costs vary depending on the plan, for I-270 in Frederick County, the study suggests tolls of between 30 cents and $2 a mile, increasing to between $2 to $4 a mile near the Montgomery County line.

Tolls would vary depending on the time of day and the number of passengers.

Frederick County Commissioner Charles Jenkins, who serves as vice chairman of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, was in Washington on Wednesday for a presentation of the report.

As the federally-designated planning organization for the region, the board would have to give the study a favorable review for it to be considered.

While Jenkins said the study would be useful to policymakers, he cautioned that there is no "magic bullet" for congestion.

"I think tolls ultimately will be part of the solution," he said. "But they shouldn't be looked at as the panacea to solve all the problems."

He believes the trend in transportation planning is to focus more on mass transit -- for example, expanding Metro rail and adding express bus service.

Commissioner John L. Thompson Jr., meanwhile, sees tolls as a way to ease congestion not only in the Washington region, but in Frederick .

His "Appian Way" plan calls for placing electronic tolls at the Frederick County line and at several congested intersections along U.S. 15. The rate could be about 1 cent a mile, he said, but might vary with time of day. Not all lanes would be tolled.

He plans to bring up the legislation with the county commissioners again later this year.

All tolls would be electronic, with a sensor over the road to register vehicles with a device like an E-ZPass. Thompson believes the federal government will eventually require such devices in all vehicles.

Both commissioners agree that federal funding for roads is insufficient. Thompson is confident an electronic toll system funded through a public-private partnership offers a solution to road improvements and maintenance. Long ago, nearly all roads in the country were toll roads, he added.

"It's simply a broad policy choice that recognizes there ain't no other way to finance needed road improvements," he said.

Residents hold the county commissioners responsible for traffic congestion on state and federal highways, Thompson said. While the board cannot force the state and federal government to allocate more money for roads, it does have the authority to place tolls to generate revenue.

"We are willing to do the heavy lifting," he said. "We'll do it ourselves."

Jenkins, meanwhile, insists that it will be impossible to address huge projects like I-270 without federal funds. He is also wary of letting private developers determine toll prices. Jenkins said Wednesday the board heard a presentation from Loudoun County officials about the Dulles Greenway, a toll road built by private developers.

"There's a lot of angst down there with regard to the Greenway," he said. "The pricing has gotten pretty steep."

The most expensive toll for a two-axle vehicle on the Greenway is $3.50.

When the cost is too high, drivers go out of their way to avoid the tolls, adding traffic to local roads, Jenkins said.

Thompson, on the other hand, believes drivers are willing to pay to spend less time on the road and more time with family.

"Most people say if it gains me time, I'm interested," he said.

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