Road pricing is "long overdue" according to one of the foremost experts on sustainable transportation.

Lawrence Frank, the Bombardier Chair in Sustainable Transportation at UBC, believes tolling bridges and roads could alleviate rush-hour traffic while spurring greener transportation and urban planning.

"I'm all for it," Frank told 24 hours. “I don’t think you can achieve a sustainable system without peak-hour pricing. What other services out there are free or under-priced? If anything, it's long overdue."

Several groups, including three Richmond councillors, have already voiced their opposition to tolling the Knight Street Bridge, even though TransLink claims the discussion on road pricing is early and “general” in scope.

However, Frank had one big issue with tolls.

"I'm concerned how it could impact the poor's ability to pay," he said. "They're going to be hit the hardest. I do this [road pricing] should happen, but it has to be done in a thoughtful way."

Matt Kieltyka reports for 24 Hours Vancouver