They’re taking a real look, even at the ring roads in Calgary and Edmonton.

Oh yes, he wants you to know the province hasn’t made any decision on whether to have toll roads anywhere.

Yes, he says the province hasn’t made any decision about what roads would be tolled if the government goes that direction.

The province plans to ask for your thoughts on the subject.

But Wayne Drysdale, the province’s transportation boss, thinks toll roads are a good idea for some stretches of pavement.

So we throw him some pavement.

If they want to scoop up some real dough there’s a couple big-time roads where the cash registers would ring.

Some have already suggested tolling the west side of Calgary’s ring road, the not-yet-built section from Canada Olympic Park all the way down to Hwy. 22X.

“I think if we’re going to put a toll on a ring road it would be on the whole ring road and not just a piece of it,” says the transportation minister, widening the discussion.

“We’re going to look at and talk about it. But that would be my comments around the cabinet table. I think if you’re going to do it on the ring road you do it on the whole thing.”

Drysdale adds you never toll a road unless there’s an option to take a free route. The ring roads in both major cities fit the bill.

We talk about both Calgary and Edmonton ring roads.

Drysdale says the capital city’s ring road isn’t done either though they’re building the last piece and it is expected to be finished in 2016.

Is it possible tolling the two still-not-complete ring roads in Calgary and Edmonton is something the province can consider?

“I would think so,” says Drysdale.

“Because you’d want to do it on high-traffic, high-volume roads. Otherwise it doesn’t pay.”

But deep thinkers have been saying toll roads would only be for brand spanking new highway projects, roads not yet in the ground.

So again, Calgary and Edmonton ring roads?

“I think it’s an option,” says Drysdale.

“I think we need to look at it because until it’s fully opened you wouldn’t want to toll it anyway.”

Let the to-and-fro begin.

As for having toll roads in Alberta, Drysdale says most people he’s heard from are “quite supportive.”

“They think it’s a good idea,” says the province’s roads boss.

“Of course, the opposition are trying to call it another tax.

“They always speak negative about it but the regular everyday Albertan thinks it’s a good idea.”

“It’s kind of a user pay. I mean you’re only going to pay if you use the infrastructure rather than all taxpayers having to pay for it.”

Delegates at the recent Progressive Conservative party convention backed toll roads and Drysdale says he is happy how the vote turned out.

“It gives you more of a licence to look at it. We’re listening to the people,” he says.

Your scribbler wants to get his mind clear on the concept.

After all, the provincial Tories floated the toll road trial balloon in times past, only to quickly ground it.

This time the toll road talk has taken off.

When asked, Drysdale confirms once again he believes toll roads are a “good idea.”

“I do. It’s not for every road in all situations. I think it’s a good idea to look at. I think there are some situations where it may work very well.”

“We’re serious about it,” says Drysdale.

“Of course, now with the price of oil being the way it is, any time we find another source of income ...

“We do have a lot of infrastructure to build and it’s hard to find the money these days. Toll roads would be another option.”

In the misty background you can see the tanking oil price and the Prentice PC government staring at the very real possibility of a multi-billion dollar hole in next spring’s provincial budget.

That’s billion with a B.

Let us leave you with the words of Premier Prentice on toll roads just a few weeks back.

“We have to ensure, where government services are provided to specific individuals, users, that they’re bearing a fair share of the responsibility of services.

“The idea is out there. I’m interested in what Albertans think about it.”

And Prentice spoke these sentences at $75 a barrel oil.

Now the oil price is in the low 60s.

rick.bell@sunmedia.ca

On Twitter: @sunrickbell