Would you pay more for better traffic? How about $230 per family every year, for the next 20 years?

That's the plan transportation leaders from King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties are trying to sell in a series of town hall meeting, the first of which was held on Thursday.

The $17 billion plan to extend light rail and make major highway improvements will go to the voters in November. Taxpayers in the three counties would foot the bill and take it upon themselves to pay more, so they might spend less time in traffic.

For tens of thousands of those voters the daily commute is a nightmare, a bumper-to-bumper mess that eats up time, gas and patience.

"The stakes couldn't be higher at this time. It's time to make a significant regional investment," said Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg.

Sound Transit and the Regional Transportation Investment District, a group made up of officials from King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties, are putting together a joint plan that'll be on the November ballot.

They're asking voters to stop waiting for outside help and to tax themselves in order to come up with the money to fix the worst traffic bottlenecks, expand light rail and to make major improvements on I-5 and I-405.

"No more just a fix here and a fix there. This is an extensive system with roads and transit proposals - bringing it all together," said Julia Patterson with the King County Council.

This team claims it will only cost taxpayers an average of about $230 dollars per family per year over the next 20 years through additional sales and car taxes.

And they're taking their plan to the people through a series of town hall meetings where voters can hear the details, ask questions and offer suggestions.

"This region does need some transportation help, some assistance. I don't know, I'm for it," said Joe Williams, a supporter of the plan.

But others are wary, not convinced the cost per family will stay in that $230-a-year range and not sure voters should be footing the bill alone.

"I think we should take some of the burden, but I think the federal government should help us out too," said Fiona McCargo.