Western Hills Viaduct replacement could lead to $5 car registration fee; you can weigh in

Hamilton County drivers could be asked to pay more when they renew their car registration every year to build a new Western Hills Viaduct. Before then, county leaders want to hear what they think. In fact, they have to. The new fee would cost registrants an extra $5 annually. Hamilton County Commission President Todd Portune wants to use the money as a local match as the county seeks state and federal grants for the viaduct. Local communities typically must come up with a 20 percent match for any transportation grant dollars. "I don't really mind it for the simple fact that if it's going to be for the safety and security of us driving across it," Price Hill resident Tyrone Smiley said Tuesday. "You got to pay for it. Somebody has to do it!" Building a new span to replace the 85-year-old viaduct will cost more than $330 million. Portune, who first unveiled the funding plan, said about half of the fee increase -- that is, between $20-30 million out of roughly $40 million in revenue -- would go toward the viaduct under his proposal. Hamilton County commissioners have two public hearings planned for next month