Charlotte council will call special meeting on I-77 as pressure mounts
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Courtesy of WBTV
Charlotte city staff and NCDOT on Monday pitched their case for the I-77 South toll lanes — touting new bike lanes, sidewalks and streetlights — as council members signal they may take action against the project soon.
Why it matters: Despite staff's efforts to frame the project as a rare chance to rebuild interstate crossings, elected officials are clearly ramping up behind-the-scenes efforts to rescind or reconsider support.
At the end of the rushed meeting, in which NCDOT ran out of time to fully present, city council's transportation committee voted unanimously to hold a separate, deeper discussion with the full body on I-77.
- At-large council member Victoria Watlington then confirmed she and transportation committee chair Ed Driggs are meeting with UNC Charlotte researchers Tuesday to discuss alternatives to the tolls.
- "There is a desire for the community to answer the question of what else could have been done," said Watlington, who is expected to run for mayor. "The reality is we don't have a model."
Meanwhile, a draft resolution is circulating that calls on NCDOT to halt "irreversible" work on the project, the Charlotte Observer reported last week.
Between the lines: This debate is heating up as several council members eye the mayor's seat. The I-77 project may become a defining issue — or even a resume builder — in the 2027 race.
- Council member Malcolm Graham (the district representative in the impacted corridor and another anticipated mayoral candidate) said it wasn't "registering" what Watlington was trying to accomplish with her university visit. He did not receive clarification during the meeting.
What they're saying: NCDOT's presentation touted that 17 of 22 bridges and overpasses would be replaced during the toll lanes project. Sixteen would get new or upgraded multimodal facilities, such as bike and pedestrian paths. And 12 would get street lighting.
- NCDOT would also give the city $100 million for new streets, road connections and improvements.
- "This is an opportunity to make a difference," said Charlotte Department of Transportation deputy director Justin Carroll, adding that the project "unlocks and connects hundreds of miles of sidewalk and bike networks across the interstate."
What's next: No date was set for the special meeting, but there is pressure to reach a consensus before NCDOT releases a request for proposals in June.