SAN DIEGO -- Driving on the only toll road in the South Bay could get a whole lot cheaper if the toll road's current owner agrees to sell the business of operating the state route.

On Friday, SANDAG -- the county's primary public planning, transportation and research agency -- was authorized to buy the state Route 125 toll road from its owner, South Bay Expressway.

Right now, to drive the entire 9-mile stretch of SR-125, it'll cost more than $4. If the road becomes public, that rate could be substantially reduced.

A decrease in the toll costs could be a big deal for South Bay residents and people working in the area.

"It does get you there faster, but it's kind of a waste of money when you can just go down H Street," said resident Serena Duenas.

Many other drivers commuting to, from and around the South Bay take local roads because the tolls are too high.

"Could those tolls be half that price? Could they be one-fourth? Could they go away? Anything is possible," said Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox.

The buyout would not only help commuters and improve traffic in the South Bay, it could save taxpayers a lot down the road.

To expand Interstate 805, it would cost up to $700 million. SANDAG would purchase SR-125 for about $350 million. That's a bargain considering to build SR-125 today would cost almost three times as much.

"The SR-125 plan is more closely aligned with the growth with the county than the 805 is," said SANDAG chairman Jerome Stocks.

"If you look to the future, most of the growth is going to be in eastern Chula Vista, Otay Mesa, east Otay Mesa. It probably makes more sense to look at that corridor," said County Supervisor Greg Cox.

If the SR-125 toll road becomes public, elected officials say it would possibly be the most important economic advancement in the near term for the entire South Bay.

"The 125 is an area where we expect 30,000 new homes, a huge new business park and, potentially, another university," said Stocks.

"Getting to the point where those tolls are far more affordable or even possibly eliminated is a tremendous economic incentive," said Cox.

Before anything is approved, the public will get a chance to weigh in. The first public meeting is scheduled for August 26.