The Greater Vancouver Regional District is considering a proposal to put toll booths on all the major highway bridges across the Lower Mainland as part of a "region-wide road pricing strategy."

Imposing tolls is seen by some mayors as the fairest way to pay for future road and bridge improvements, and to spread out traffic to prevent congestion.

There are plans to twin the Port Mann Bridge and charge tolls. (CBC)

The B.C. government has already proposed putting tolls on two Lower Mainland bridges, including the Port Mann Bridge, as part of its Gateway transportation project

Surrey Mayor Diane Watts, vice-chair of the GVRD's transportation planning committee, says tolling only some bridges would only shift traffic to other bridges.

"I don't believe that the Georgia Viaduct should be tolled, but I mean significant bridges should [be]," she said.

"If we are looking at the Port Mann Bridge or the Burrard Bridge, there are the significant ones that probably should be looked at and reviewed."

North Vancouver City Mayor Darrell Mussatto agrees that tolling only some bridges, such as the Port Mann, would create congestion on alternative non-toll bridges.

"Port Mann tolls will mean that many people will now use the Pattullo, and what does that do to the city of New Westminster traffic in the community? I think it is going to cause a lot of gridlock."

Mussatto says tolling is only one of several possible solutions to gridlock that the GVRD plans to study more over the next few months.