Tim Sylvester, CEO of Kansas City, Mo.-based Integrated Roadways, thinks his startup company’s “smart pavement” — bristling with sensors and the latest fiber-optic and wireless technology — could be a lifesaver in mishaps.

A four-month study designed to measure Coloradans’ appetite for overhauling how the state pays for roads offers a glimpse of the challenges that await as changing technology erodes the clout of gasoline taxes.

Golden, Colo., residents could see the unwrapping of a new package delivery system right in the middle of this year’s holiday gift-giving frenzy, with UPS Inc. drivers swapping out their trademark brown trucks for golf carts with trailers.