CHARLOTTE, NC – This week you’ll have a chance to speak out on a proposal that would add tolls along Independence Boulevard.
First, NCDOT would convert existing bus lanes into toll lanes from I-277 in Uptown to Wallace Lane in East Charlotte. Then one or two toll lanes would be built in the median as part of a widening project from Conference Drive to I-485 in Matthews.
“Yeah. I mean, I would. I’ll pay,” says West Charlotte resident Traz Scriven. He says it’s worth the money to avoid the congestion.
Others have mixed feelings. “It would alleviate congestion absolutely and for that I’d be grateful. But in terms of the businesses and growth and community, I think it would be detrimental,” says East Charlotte resident Harry Hoover.
Community leaders like Ed Garber say they’re concerned the proposal leaves out people living on the east side. “It seems like it’s something that’s for, not so much the inner city Charlotte, but for people coming from Matthews or close to Matthews,” Garber says.
He says the project will add more construction and continue to wisk people past struggling businesses. “This whole plan, that we look at today, was completely designed to move people into the city as fast as possible. And there’s literally zero regard for anybody who worked or owned a business,” he says.
Monday night, NCDOT will hold a public meeting from 4 to 7 PM at Ovens Auditorium in East Charlotte.
Then Tuesday, you can weigh in at town hall in Matthews.. also from 4 to 7.
