WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- The Wilmington Urban Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) met Wednesday to confirm its position on options for replacing the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.

The resolution was passed by an 8 to 4 vote.

This vote, however, does not support using a toll to pay for a replacement bridge, but rather it does support the NCDOT looking at all options, including a toll.

It also states the WMPO reserves the right to pull support for a possible toll option at any time before a construction contract is signed.

Leland Mayor Brenda Bozeman said she's concerned if a toll is deemed necessary to cover the cost of a new bridge.

"We are concerned that the impact of nearby infrastructure by introducing toll infrastructure to the transportation network, is not being fully considered and evaluated," Bozeman said.

NCDOT Division 3 engineer Trevor Carroll said this resolution does help the project in potentially scoring better in the state transportation improvement program, also known as STIP, which will be voted on and approved in the coming months.

Carroll said a toll to help cover the cost of a replacement bridge is the best option moving forward, rather than not having a toll.

"The tolled option project, it scored within the top 10 of the statewide mobility STIP," Carroll said. "The non-tolled option did not score well at all. I think it was down around, in the 100s. So, there's, there's not a project to move forward outside of the tolled option in the STIP."

Among those voting in favor of the resolution were New Hanover County Commissioner Dane Scalise, Carolina Beach Mayor Lynn Barbee, Belville Mayor Mike Allen, Pender County Commissioner Brad George, and Brunswick County Commissioner Mike Forte.

Voting against it were Bozeman, Wilmington councilmen Luke Waddell and Kevin Spears, and Navassa mayor Eulis Willis.

Carroll added that the NCDOT can not publicly support tolling or any other specific options for any project.

And the WMPIO said a 30-day public comment period has opened for Cape Fear Navigating Change 2050, a plan meant to identify the region's major transportation priorities for the next 25 years.

If adopted, the plan would be used to determine which projects are eligible for future funding in the statewide and MPO transportation improvement programs.

This plan covers all of New Hanover County and parts of Brunswick and Pender Counties.