HARTFORD, Conn. -- Until a car crash that killed seven people in 1983, tolls were a common fixture in Connecticut.

But after the crash at the Stratford tollbooth, the state did away with tolls as a safety measure.

Now, the state Transportation Strategy Board is considering bringing tolls back, for two reasons.

"One is to deal with the congestion we have, the traffic congestion we have in state of Connecticut," said Roger Joyce, of the transportation board. "The other is a potential revenue source."

The board said it's examining a number of options, from adding tolls at the border to tolling carpool lanes near Hartford to adding tolls throughout Fairfield County.

But Joyce said that instead of toll booths, the new tolls would be electronic, similar to EZ passes.

"They don't involve stopping, reaching for cash or fumbling for your change," he said.

Some drivers said it sounds too good to be true.

"Electronic tolling is not the answer," New Hartford resident Neil Tolhurst said. "There are problems with electronic tolling the advocates are not talking about."

Tolhurst said he wonders how feasible the state's ideas are.

University of Connecticut Waterbury Campus Director William Pizzuto said he's worried about the financial impact tolls could have on local commuter students.

"A lot of them crisscross the lines from Danbury and the other end of the state where, on a daily basis, they would be paying a toll, which is a very insignificant factor for a lot of people, but not for the commuter students," he said.

He said he's also concerned tolls could turn off visitors to the state.

"People will find a way to bypass Connecticut if the tolls are too expensive," he said.

Others have submitted comments to the board's Web site that say they're in favor of tolls.

The board will hold two additional public hearings in May and will meeting again May 21 to decide what to recommend to the governor and Legislature.