A $265 million transportation-funding package that will cost most Colorado drivers $41 a year rammed through its last roadblock Tuesday and is likely headed to Gov. Bill Ritter.

Attempts at major change by Republicans and a handful of Democrats — including efforts to ban the tolling of existing roads and eliminate a new $2-a-day rental-car fee — failed by small margins during debate on the House floor.

The biggest changes, including a slower phase-in of part of the $41 annual vehicle-registration fee hike and a larger allocation of funds for transit purposes, came from Democrats who already supported the measure.

And so, after more than a month of hearings and debate, Senate Bill 108 remains almost wholly intact from its original form and is expected to receive final approval from the House today.

Sponsors will urge Ritter to sign it quickly in order to keep his and their promise that the measure will begin creating as many as 10,000 jobs by June.

"This bill is reasonable. It's measured. It has a targeted effect on safety," said sponsoring Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton. "When we look at where we are as a state right now, all things considered, I think the cost of doing nothing is greater than the cost of this bill."

Rice and Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, have argued for the bill by pointing to the state's 126 structurally deficient bridges and a recommendation from a blue-ribbon panel that Colorado put $1.5 billion more a year to transportation.

Opponents have argued, however, that the vehicle-registration fee hikes are too high at a time of financial stress and that the rental-car fee increase could scare away convention business. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, complained also that Rice and Gibbs rejected attempts to cut some state spending and dedicate current revenues to transportation in favor of just asking Coloradans to pay more for road upkeep.

The biggest fight Tuesday came when Rep. Ed Casso, D-Thornton, attempted to remove from the bill a provision that would permit the tolling of existing roads that were built with public funds.

Casso called it "double taxation" and questioned whether the move was constitutional, but Rice convinced a small majority that local cities need such flexibility for road improvements.

Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, added a provision that phases in the statewide bridge enterprise fee over three years. When combined with the road safety surcharge, that means most Coloradans will see a hike in registration fees of $32 next year, $36.50 in 2011 and $41 each year thereafter.

"I think at a certain point when we disproportionately impact the poor of Colorado, the ones working hard just to make ends meet ... we have to say: 'That's enough'," Grand Junction GOP Rep. Steve King said in opposition.

After today's final vote, the bill will move to a conference committee.