Diamond Lanes and Increased Gas Prices Fairer Than Tolls

To the editor,
    I might be persuaded to support toll roads if they had an option to reward folks who carpool. Say, give them a credit for three or more adults during rush hour and no toll for two or more adults during rush hour or three or more adults during nonrush hours. I would also give a credit for cars that get more than 40 mpg, no toll for cars that get 30-40 mpg, regular toll for cars that get 20-30 mpg, double the toll for cars and trucks that get 15-20 mpg and quadruple tolls for vehicles that get less than 15 mpg. Oh well, it would probably be much easier to just add $1.20 per gallon gas tax phased in at 5 cents per gallon per month for the next two years. That way the folks who waste fuel would start to pay part of the true cost of increased road construction, maintenance, crowding, etc. Toll roads seem to me to be a way to keep the poor folk from cluttering up the roads for the wealthy. Diamond lanes and an increased gas tax seem a lot fairer.