A user-pay system for roads is the best way to combat traffic congestion in Calgary, according to a report released by the Manning Foundation for Democratic Education Tuesday morning.

The report calls for the implementation of high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on some of the city’s busiest thoroughfares, which drivers could pay a fee to use during peak hours. The main benefits would include quicker commute times, increased productivity for Calgarians and the generation of revenue that would go back toward traffic infrastructure, said report author Ben Brunnen at a news conference.

"At the end of the day, roads are not pure public goods. There is a user-based element to them and if we can adopt a more user-based approach, people will think more critically about how they use them," he said, calling the plan a "triple win" for the city, taxpayers and commuters.

Brunnen recommended a pilot project for the lanes be set up along Crowchild Trail, Glenmore Trail and Deerfoot Trail. At a cost of about $5 per round trip, money generated from HOT lanes along those routes could generate up to $76 million a year, he said.

But he admitted that public opposition to the idea would be a challenge to overcome.

"If we’re basing decisions on initial public opinion, it’s going to be difficult for politicians to take that courage pill and implement road pricing scheme." That’s why a pilot project is the best way to go, he said, adding other cities that have introduced toll roads have seen support grow over time.