A new transit system between downtown Ogden and Weber State University is a possibility.

There also is support for a transit corridor between North Ogden, downtown Ogden, Riverdale Road and the Roy commuter-rail station. Transit modes have not yet been identified.

OGDEN - Weber County residents, like their Davis County counterparts, will be asked Nov. 6 whether they're willing to pay higher sales taxes to build roads and, perhaps, more transit systems.

The Weber County Commission on Tuesday added the opinion question to the general-election ballot.

If voters endorse boosting the sales tax by one-quarter cent, the commission would enact the tax hike to take effect Jan. 1. The hike would mean consumers pay an additional penny in tax for every four dollars spent.

"Everyone who lives along the Wasatch Front recognizes the need for transportation," said Commission Chairman Ken Bischoff.

"Even with this tax, we'll barely make a dent," said Commissioner Jan Zogmaister.

The tax hike would bring in roughly $8.6 million per year, and one-fourth of that amount would be spent on corridor preservation, which means buying land for future roads. One of the top priorities in Weber County - as it is in Davis - is to acquire land along its west side for the future extension of the Legacy Highway.

The Davis County Commission earlier this month put the sales-tax hike on that county's Nov. 6 ballot.

The Weber Area Council of Governments, which includes the mayor of each city as well as the three county commissioners, would set the priorities for the money, Zogmaister said.

The Legislature's Executive Appropriations Committee would have the final say over projects that also would use state money.

The chambers of commerce in Weber and Davis counties plan to campaign for the higher sales tax and have formed the Northern Utah Transportation Alliance to push for its passage.

"Without adequate transportation, economic development doesn't happen," said Dave Hardman, president of the Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce.

Preserving corridors is essential, he said. "If we don't move quickly now, we won't be able to catch up."

Weber County residents soon will be kicking in money for preserving transportation corridors - with or without the sales-tax hike. Beginning Sunday, they will pay a $10 surcharge when they register vehicles. In Box Elder County, three individual communities likely will vote in November on a quarter-cent sales tax hike.

If voters in Willard, Perry and Brigham City approve, the roughly $800,000 raised each year will go toward extending commuter rail from Pleasant View in north Weber County to Brigham City.

That service, known as FrontRunner, is due to be completed to Pleasant View by next spring.

kmoulton@sltrib.com