About half of Charlotteans support I-77 toll project, new poll finds
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About half of Charlotte voters surveyed support moving forward immediately with the proposed $4-plus billion widening of I-77 South, according to a new poll commissioned by CLT Public Relations.
Why it matters: The survey gauges how everyday Charlotteans — not activists or business leaders — feel about the toll lanes.
- And it shows people are generally in favor of the project advancing.
By the numbers: Just over half, or 51.5%, of those surveyed supported the statement, "Charlotte should move forward with the proposed expansion of the southern section of I-77 immediately."
- 38.3% of those questioned oppose the project moving forward at this time, while 10.2% said they neither support nor oppose it.
Caveat: CLT Public Relations, which shared the poll with Axios, is a lobbying and advocacy firm whose clients include local governments and those who seek influence with local government.
- Clients include the Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. It's also worked on campaigns such as Charlotte's "Yes for City Bonds."
- "We wanted to get a better understanding on the Charlotte residents opinions on transportation and traffic, particularly concerning conversations that are happening around the southern leg of I-77," says Bryan Holladay of CLTPR.
Driving the news: Charlotte City Council is expected to take a vote between now and Sept. 23 over the controversial I-77 South toll lanes.
Zoom in: A majority of people polled also agree that tolls, charged to users of new lanes, are the best way to pay for the expansion.
- Support was low for sales, property or gas tax increases, chosen by just 1.7%, 3.1% and 14.4% of respondents, respectively.
- 26.7% of people were "unsure" how the widening should be paid for, and 2% chose the option "none of them."
- 77.4% of people surveyed said that taxes in Charlotte are already too high.
Catch up quick: The I-77 South toll lanes would stretch 11 miles to the South Carolina line, with elevated lanes in Uptown. NCDOT plans to spend $600 million on the project and partner with a private company that would help fund the remainder of the costs and recoup its investment through the tolls.
- If it doesn't vote to let the project proceed, the city and other local governments that remain opposed to the project could be required to repay the North Carolina Department of Transportation more than $60 million for planning and design work.
- NCDOT has been working to win over skeptical community leaders, offering up to $300 million in "benefits" like greenways and even grocery stores to address food insecurity on the west side.
- "We are requesting more information from leaders on what is needed to help solve this problem," an NCDOT spokesperson told Axios this week.
The other side: Some critics of the I-77 toll project say they want a solution to congestion but argue NCDOT didn't present or study other options, despite criticism of the northern toll lanes.
- "Show the alternatives that were actually compared," council member Victoria Watlington said in a recent Instagram video.
What's next: After the city votes, all delegates of the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization will vote on whether the project can continue — or their local governments will have to pay the penalty.
- As the region's largest city, Charlotte holds the most weight on the CRTPO, and its decision is critical to the region's vote.
The fine print: The survey was conducted from July 15 to 18 among 370 registered Charlotte voters. After weighting results to reflect municipal voter turnout, the effective sample size was 258, with a margin of error of plus or minus 6.1 percentage points.
Editor's note: This story was corrected to reflect that CLT Public Relations' clients include the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (not American Airlines).