I-77 Toll Lanes Project Goes To Vote on Wednesday

CHARLOTTE, NC — After a failed lawsuit to stop the I-77 toll lanes project, and the largest vote holder, Charlotte City Council, voted to keep it, we are just one day away from the end of the I-77 toll saga.

“We’ll find out tomorrow what happens.  We’ve been supportive and we’ve been happy with partnership with the DOT,” says Town of Matthews Communications Director Jen Thompson.

There is a lot at stake when the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization meets on Wednesday.

If the CRTPO votes yes on the I-77 toll lanes project, it will continue as planned.

If they vote no, the project will be suspended, and NCDOT will have to go back to the drawing board.

The decision will also impact multiple projects across NCDOT’s master plan to create a regional network of lanes to cut down on traffic.

“Our streets are, a lot of them are two lanes; a lot carry a lot of volume that are not designed to carry.  This project would help alleviate this congestion,” says Thompson.

In Matthews the town holds two votes on the CRTPO and says the new plan is better than no plan at all.

“For Matthews it’s all about having extra capacity, and we see that as a plus,” says Thompson.

We do know that there are dozens of projects over the next 10 years connecting the region, and Wednesday’s vote on I-77 is just the beginning.

The CRTPO will meet Wednesday night at 6:00pm in room 267 of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center.