HOUSTON -- Houstonians voiced their opinions on Thursday about a plan that would allow drivers to pay to avoid traffic, KPRC Local 2 reported.

METRO answered questions about the controversial change of the high-occupancy vehicle lanes to high-occupancy toll lanes.

Within a year and a half, METRO plans to allow cars carrying one person to use the HOV lanes for a price.

"I have to look at it closely again, to see would it be to our advantage. I'm thinking it would be to our advantage, but I have to consider these choices also," Houstonian Laverne Crump said.

The freeways that would have the HOV lane converted to an HOT lane include the North Freeway, Gulf Freeway, Eastex Freeway, Southwest Freeway and Northwest Freeway.

The current carpool and vanpool HOV users would not have to pay for access, as is the current method.

METRO said the goal is to keep traffic moving when the main lanes back up. Officials said the congestion would not happen in he HOV lanes.

"It gives them that option. It helps reduce congestion on the main lanes because we'll be bringing some cars from the main lanes onto the HOV lane. We're going to be monitoring it, so there's no impact on traffic flow," said Raequel Roberts, METRO's spokeswoman.

Kelli Hill said the plan would not work.

"They're letting single occupant vehicles buy their way into the fast lane. What they're proposing will actually be counterproductive. It's going to congest those lanes and even the new riders and some of the old ones will drop right out to the main lanes," she said.

While METRO said it is a map to less congestion, others said it is a recipe for gridlock.

METRO said it could regulate the lanes by using transponders with cameras similar to the EZ Tag lanes. The cameras would take pictures of vehicles and send drivers a ticket for traveling solo if they do not have a special sticker.

The toll amount would change several times per hour based on the amount of congestion.

If approved, the program would start in fall 2009.