Raleigh, N.C. – The N.C. Senate passed a bill on Thursday that gives the governor options to fund the removal of tolls from the I-77 toll project.
House Bill 1029 gives the governor access to up to $620 million, if needed, to cover any costs, damages, or penalties that would be owed should he direct the Department of Transportation to cancel or modify the project by October 15th of this year. $620 million is the expected maximum cost to remove the tolls from the project.
“After review with legal counsel there were identified constitutional and legal concerns about the House amendment which is why I brought this amendment forward,” said Sen. Jeff Tarte (R-Mecklenburg). “This is a fair way to accomplish the highest priority of the local communities that I represent, which is to remove the tolls from the new I-77 lanes,”
The bill will now move onto the House. You may view the specific provisions of the Senate amendment added to the bill here.
