Proposed tax increases that will be up for voter approval Nov. 7 in Utah and Salt Lake counties are important for the Wasatch Front's economy and quality of life, supporters said Wednesday.

Utah County voters are being asked to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase to pay for commuter rail, road construction and other transit projects. Salt Lake County voters will also consider a quarter-cent increase to pay for commuter rail and a light rail system expansion.

A quarter-cent increase is the equivalent of 25 cents on a $100 purchase.

"You either pay for things now or you pay later, and it's cheaper to do it now," said Thone Heppler, who's spearheading efforts in favor of the Utah County tax. "It is a regional problem. What affects one county affects the others."

The goal is to have road improvements and a commuter rail line in place by 2011, which is when reconstruction of Interstate 15 is expected to begin. When complete, the rail line will run between Springville and Ogden.

Heppler, a partner in Silver Peak Capital, spoke to the Daily Herald's editorial board Wednesday along with Raylene Ireland from Provo city and Jim Bennett, a marketing consultant from Sandy who is directing the pro-tax effort in Salt Lake County.

Governmental entities can't endorse a ballot question, Ireland said. But she noted that both Provo Mayor Lewis Billings and Orem Mayor Jerry Washburn have individually endorsed the tax measure.

"We have simply loaded our road system to the point where, at times, it is failing," Ireland said. "We have to have another north-south option by the time that construction starts."

The Utah County increase is expected to raise about $1.3 billion over 30 years. Most of that will be used to pay for commuter rail and affiliated transit projects, but 8 percent is slated to be used for road projects related to the I-15 reconstruction.

Without options, traffic will slow to the point that it could take two or three hours to travel between Provo and Salt Lake City, Heppler said.

That's not just a hassle for commuters. The movement of consumer goods would be slower and more expensive, and without good transportation Utah becomes less attractive to businesses.

"We lose much of our advantage if we have gridlock," Ireland said. "The damage is just over the horizon."

Commuter rail is different from TRAX, Salt Lake City's light rail system. Commuter rail cars can fit as many as 240 passengers. There are seven cars to a train, and the train can travel up to 80 mph.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page B1.