Toll Lanes
It’s he said, she said as I-77 fix appears to be filled with hurdles
Aug. 21. By Dave Vieser and Dave Yochum. The Town Boards in Huntersville and Cornelius have approved resolutions asking the state legislature to exempt proposed changes in the I-77 toll lane project from the DOT’s Strategic Transportation Improvement Process. The STI is used by the state to rank, score and prioritize funding for transportation projects. “STI […]
Bradford, Beasley run bills to help solve I-77 tie-up in Raleigh
June 13. By Dave Vieser. It’s a given that a bill introduced by NC Rep. John Bradford which would create a fund for paying changes in the I-77 toll lane contract will face a tougher challenge in the NC Senate, but local officials, including Bradford, are optimistic. HB 1029 would create a NCDOT reserve account […]
Was possibility of cancelling I-77 contract falsely reassuring?
Feb. 15. By Dave Yochum. ANALYSIS. The second meeting of the I-77 Advisory Group got under way with former Chamber Chair Mike Russell announcing that there were emergency exits on either side of a packed meeting room. “Just don’t take 77,” Chamber CEO Bill Russell interjected. It was a touch of dark humor at the […]
Toll lane advisors will look at I-77 options, including ‘complete and delete’
By Dave Vieser and Dave Yochum. Just when it seemed as if the state has hemmed and hawed as much as it can on the I-77 toll lane debacle, the NCDOT is putting together a new advisory group “to learn the advantages, disadvantages, costs and timelines” of the options presented this fall by Mercator Advisors, […]
NC Trans secretary picks Mercator Advisors to review I-77 contract
March 31. A company that was part of a team led by Cintra Concesiones de Infraestructuras and Zachry Construction Corp.—to develop the first phase of the Trans-Texas Corridor—has been selected to review the I-77 Express Lanes contract. NC Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon said Mercator Advisors will conduct an in-depth, outside review. Mercator has not been involved in the $650 […]
Letter to the Editor: Infrastructure plan ‘fairy dust’
Dec. 5. [OPINION] A Washington Post article ( Think tank casts doubts on Trump infrastructure plan), is one of the most succinct articles I have read on how the Trump Administration plans to fund road and infrastructure during his administration. This plan is a variation on one proposed by the Democrats. Both plans promise massive amounts of […]
LKN Marine Commission OK’s I77 toll lane application
Aug. 9. By Dave Vieser. Opponents of the I-77 toll lane project were dealt another blow this week when the Lake Norman Marine Commission approved the NCDOT’s application. The commission’s approval was needed because the interstate crosses Lake Norman; the commission works with Duke Energy on lake development as part of their Federal Energy Regulatory […]
Commissioner Puckett terms Mayor Travis’ actions ‘traitorous’
June 11. ANALYSIS. By Dave Yochum. Cornelius Mayor Chuck Travis chose June 8, “Town Hall Day” in the NC State Capitol, to express his personal views on widening I-77 to NC Sen. Philip Berger, the man who has so much to do with the ebb and flow of legislation in Raleigh. It was a peculiar day for Travis […]
Toll battle shifts to NC Senate
June 6. ANALYSIS. By Dave Vieser. What happened last week with House Bill 954, which calls for the cancelation of the I-77 toll lane contract, was nothing short of amazing. The legislation was initially given virtually no chance of passing when it was first introduced. Then as troubling details about the Cintra toll lane contract […]
Citizen Kurt: WidenI-77 organizer wows top politicians
March 10. By Dave Yochum. Speaking to a packed house—150 citizens and elected officials at Cornelius Town Hall—anti-toll leader Kurt Naas started by thanking people for attending a dry information session on Cintra finances, the bankruptcy in Texas and the pricing plan for tolls between Charlotte and Lake Norman. The one-hour presentation by the founder […]
