Tagged: CorneliusNews.net

Months of debate among Cornelius commissioners over the NC Department of Transportation’s plan to widen I-77 north of Charlotte by adding toll lanes ended dramatically and quickly Monday night in a 3-2 vote in favor of the concept. With the board still one member short because of a vacancy, it was up to Mayor Lynette Rinker to break a 2-2 tie on the issue.

  A formal public comment period is open through April 22 on the N.C. Department of Transportation’s plan to widen I-77 north of Charlotte by adding high-occupancy toll lanes, or HOT lanes. The Mecklenburg Union Metropolitan Planning Organization (MUMPO) plans public meetings Wednesday in Huntersville and Thursday in Charlotte as part of its effort to gather input on the plan.

The DOT has proposed a half-billion-dollar project to improve I-77 between I-227 in Charlotte and Exit 36 in Mooresville, in part by adding toll lanes, or “managed lanes.”

  Lake Norman area commuters are hoping that toll lanes will be the answer to traffic jams on I-77 north of Charlotte, helping to pay for widening the road earlier than planned. But an expert in so-called “managed lanes” told local officials Wednesday night toll lanes aren’t about that – they’re about guaranteeing a faster ride for those who choose to use the toll lanes.

“This is a game changing proposition for our highway capacity,” said David Ungemah, a toll-lanes expert with consulting firm Parsons Brinckerhoff.

  Lake Norman area economic development leaders have joined the debate over how to widen I-77 north of Charlotte, saying they support the state DOT’s plan to complete the project using High Occupancy Toll lanes.

The chairman and director of the Lake Norman Regional Economic Development Corp. say it’s critical to widen I-77 as soon as possible. They say HOT lanes, also known as managed lanes, are the best way to get the job done.

Cornelius commissioners on Tuesday added their voices to those questioning the state’s plans to construct toll lanes to help pay for widening I-77 north of Charlotte.

  In a 4-0 vote, the board approved a resolution asking the Lake Norman Transportation Commission – a regional lobbying group that includes Cornelius – to study how the jammed interstate might be widened with general purpose lanes instead of tolls.