Unger said he tried to include a condition that would make the implementation of a toll on a road contingent on a resolution from the county commission in the county supporting the project.
In the end, the only condition that was placed on the bill is that any toll proposal must be approved by the Legislature and the governor, Yoder said.
Yoder downplayed much protection from that provision, since Manchin pushed the bill and the Legislature approved it.
No specific highways are targeted by the bill, although Unger said he has been told by state officials that preliminary studies show W.Va. 9, U.S. 340 and U.S. 522 could support tolls.
Del. Walter Duke, R-Berkeley, who opposed the idea, said local residents are wanting to know why they are paying state taxes if they are now going to be hit with highway tolls.
Because the highway toll bill only has a five-year lifespan, Yoder said he believes state officials would have to act "fairly quickly" to implement tolls on roads.
Once an agreement is made to establish a toll road, the amount of time that tolls would remain in place would be detailed in a contract, Unger said Sunday.
Under the plan, a road could be sold to a company and that company would receive revenue from the toll operations, Yoder said. Then the state could use the proceeds from the road sale to fund road projects, Yoder said.
Lara Ramsburg, director of communications for Manchin's office, said previously that the idea for toll roads came about because additional work needs to be completed on local roads and federal funds to help pay for the work are declining.
Local officials had mixed reactions to the toll idea.
Berkeley County Commission President Steve Teufel said he does not support tolls on local roads, especially in light of rising taxes in the area.
Jefferson County Commissioner Greg Corliss said toll roads are one way to get needed roads in the area. He said more than 2,000 houses have been planned in areas around Job Corps Road and off U.S. 340, and 600 homes were just approved for a development known as East Breckenridge.
Corliss said managing traffic for those homes "is going to be a nightmare."
