Salt Lake County officials believe the best way to fund the purchase of rights-of-way in the Mountain View Corridor is by hiking vehicle registration fees.

The Salt Lake County Council is considering raising the fees by $10, which could generate nearly $200 million over the next 20 years to help pay for the proposed west-side highway.

"If we don't do it now, then development will take place," Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon said. "Ten dollars today will cost us $100 tomorrow to kick people out of their homes. It's a historic opportunity to take charge and start preserving corridors that we failed to do in the past."

Big things are in the works for the county's west side. Kennecott Land expects to bring in 500,000 new residents to the west side of the Salt Lake Valley within the next 75 years. The county is currently hammering out a general plan for the development, which includes 41,000 acres along the foothills of the Oquirrh Mountains.

All that new development requires roads. Sometime in the next decade, officials believe a highway through the Mountain View Corridor finally will be built. The route will connect Salt Lake City to Lehi along the west side of the valley.

Councilman Michael Jensen, who represents the county's west side, said the county must start investing now in the corridor plan.

"Investing in the future is so important to do now, and buying the property now at today's dollars makes sense rather than waiting for the future rising costs," Jensen said.

A public hearing on the proposed registration-fee increase will be held Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the county government complex, 2001 S. State St. The County Council must make a decision about the fee hike before April 1.

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