Traffic
Flexing muscle around transit, N. Meck towns say CATS is off-track
March 24. Should the Charlotte Area Transportation System spend $2.3 million to study a new commuter rail line between Charlotte and Lake Norman? No way, says Huntersville Mayor John Aneralla. He, along with his town board, have come out solidly against the notion of yet another new rail line, possibly well east of the Hwy. […]
Transportation planning pays off for CATS riders, Cabarrus
By Dave Vieser. When you’re stuck in traffic on I-77 or Hwy. 73, the mind turns to why modern roads weren’t built as Lake Norman developed. Lack of funds or lack of planning? Indeed, 25 years ago, private banking advisors were telling high net worth clients growth would flood Charlotte and its environs. A number of […]
Regional transportation efforts stall
Jan. 12. By Dave Vieser. Efforts to formally create a regional transportation alliance among the three North Mecklenburg towns have stalled, highlighting the difficulties the region has had over the years in maintaining effective regional transportation planning. The latest blow came in December when the Huntersville Town Board voted 4-3 against joining the North Meck […]
Anti-toll battle will continue in 2017; HB7 won’t get past Transportation Committee
Dec. 15. A bipartisan bill asking for an independent review of the bidding process around the I-77 toll plan—known as a request for proposals—looks like it will not get out of the key transportation committee in Raleigh. In an interview, NC Sen. Jeff Tarte stated: “The attorneys who signed this contract should be disbarred. It […]
I-77 Business Plan endorses Cooper, also Tarte, Bradford
Oct. 4. An anti-toll group has endorsed Democrat Roy Cooper in the tightly contested race for governor of North Carolina. Known as I-77 Business Plan, the group, according to its website, includes outspoken former Lake Norman Chamber Chairman John Hettwer; John “Mac” McAlpine V, a teaching professor at UNC-Charlotte; Republican Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jim Puckett; […]
Commissioner Puckett throws cold water on aging I-77 culverts
Aug. 24. By Dave Vieser. Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jim Puckett has given NCDOT Secretary Nick Tennyson and Attorney General Roy Cooper a heads up around the culverts that connect Lake Norman with Lake Davidson and Lake Cornelius. Writes Puckett: The culverts could fail anywhere from 25 years from now to 50 years from now. The […]
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 […]
Bonus allocation funds are not as promised, town leaders say
By Dave Vieser. Even while the I-77 toll lane project continues to face significant opposition, the NCDOT has been quick to say more than $150 million in bonus allocation funds has been earmarked for the North Mecklenburg/Iredell County region. That seems to be quite a stretch, with some Huntersville officials questioning their effectiveness in reducing congestion. […]
Widening of W. Catawba means change for merchants
By Dave Vieser. Even though construction is more than three years away, a meeting in June about widening West Catawba Avenue in Cornelius from Jetton Road to Hwy. 73 attracted well over 100 people, including many business owners. The purpose of the meeting was to inform everyone about the proposed improvements and to obtain their comments. […]
LNTC regroups with more Iredell, less North Meck representation
By Dave Vieser . As per usual, the Lake Norman Transportation Commission will be skipping its July meeting, but when members reconvene in August, it may also have a whole new look and some new members. Meetings have been ongoing for the past several months to form a new LNTC with some different members, after both […]
