The goal is unanimous: raise more money for highway and bridge repair and mass transportation.

To do that, both Democrats and Republicans had plans that included placing tolls on interstate highways, a feature that area legislators do not like.

The Republicans plan included tolls on five interstate highways, including I-79 and I-80. The Democrats' plan, which passed by a one-vote margin on Monday, would toll about 300 miles of highway, but only on I-80, starting in 2010. The plan also would raise state fuel taxes and increase various vehicle and emissions fees.

"When you're asking your neighbor to pay for something you're using, I don't think that's right," said Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th.

Metcalfe said he voted against the Democrats' plan Monday and will vote against the entire bill when that vote comes up, perhaps as early as today.

"The bottom line is the taxpayers of Pennsylvania are asked to pay too much already. The amendment that passed (Monday) night would ask them for even more,"he said.

"That's not appropriate — that's not good policy."

Metcalfe's district includes Cranberry Township, of which I-79 runs the length and where drivers are already taxed to travel the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

"My concern is that some of these interstates are more frequented by our Pennsylvania residents than out-of-state residents that the Republicans tend to be targeting," said Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-10th.

Some of the five interstates identified by Republicans were inappropriately considered, he said.

"It seems what they're looking at is getting some of the interstate traffic coming through and if that's the case, I think Interstate 80 is probably the best bet for bringing in the cross-state dollars," he said.

Interstate highways require federal approval before tolls could be implemented.

Metcalfe said both initial proposals were looking into new revenue streams. Instead of supporting one of the two, he called for more efficient spending on mass transit.

"The majority of responses I've had here in my district, both from those that ride and those that don't ride, are that more efficiency changes are needed rather than just throwing more money out there and allowing them to gobble funds up like a black hole," he said.

"If they need more revenue, it needs to be addressed through efficiency and raising fares."

Earlier this year, Metcalfe said he surveyed about 150 mass transit riders during morning rush hour at Park-n-Ride stops in Warrendale and at Bladerunners Ice Complex in Cranberry, the two most heavily used in his district.

Following efficiency improvements, Metcalfe said riders most suggested increasing fares.

"People believe, with the services they receive, they would be willing to pay more than they currently pay for it."

The Port Authority board approved a $325 million budget for 2007-08 this month.

The fiscal year will begin July 1 with a $44.6 million deficit as well as a 15 percent service cut. An additional 10 percent service cut will begin in the fall and fares will increase in January.

Governor Rendell has also proposed privatizing the Turnpike for a minimum of $10 billion to raise a projected $965 million a year for highway maintenance.

"I don't believe people who use the interstates should have to pay a toll to subsidize the riders of the mass transit system," said Rep. Dick Stevenson, R-8th.

"This is the wrong way to go about solving transportation issues, primarily issues of mass transit."

The Democratic plan would generate about $720 million in new highway, bridge and transit funding in 2008, rising to $1.05 billion by 2016-17. In the first year, $450 million would go into highways and bridges, including $35 million for roads and bridges that local governments maintain.