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PHOENIX — The state Senate killed one measure Thursday that could have led to toll roads, while passing another proposal for privately built and operated roads.

The first proposal would have required the Arizona Department of Transportation to consider any request by a private company to build and operate toll roads in the state.

The 15-13 vote defeating SB 1465 came despite the pleas of Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, who champions the concept of private highways.

But lawmakers voted 19-9 for SB 1420, which would let cities in Pima, Maricopa and Pinal counties and those counties themselves form their own authorities that could contract with private companies to build roads.

Gould said senators need to recognize both the fiscal and transportation realities. "Folks, we need roads," he said.

Gould said there is no money in the federal highway trust fund. The state is "flat-out broke," he said, and doesn't have the cash to deal with the state's overcrowded highways.

Senate Minority Leader Marsha Arzberger, D-Willcox, said she recognizes the need. But she said there are significant differences between the two approaches.

She said it's one thing to let local governments, which have their own elected officials, decide to get some roads constructed with private funds that would otherwise not be built.

Forcing ADOT to consider every request that comes in the door, however, is not a good idea, Arzberger said.

Sen. Tom O'Halleran, R-Sedona, said Gould's bill wouldn't require a private company that approaches ADOT to pay any of the costs for evaluating the feasibility of the project.

He particularly objected to the fact that the measure would remove the Legislature from the toll-road process, leaving the entire decision to ADOT.

But O'Halleran did not like the other proposal, made by Sen. Jay Tibshraeny, R-Chandler, any better. That bill, which now goes to the House, could face an uncertain future there.

But Sen. Jack Harper, R-Surprise, who supported both measures, said the financially strapped state needs options to deal with overcrowded freeways, especially in its metropolitan areas. He said allowing private companies to pay construction costs for new roads in exchange for the ability to charge tolls is a good way out of the problem.

The only other alternative, he said, is a big tax hike. That possibility is already being discussed by some business interests. The group, called the TIME Coalition, is pushing to have a comprehensive transportation plan put on the ballot this year or next, complete with a tax hike to pay the cost.