Special Reports

9 Investigates: Transportation officials miss votes for 16 months

By Allison Latos, wsoctv.com
By Allison Latos, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Taylor Peugh drives 70 miles a day in the real estate business.
 
When he passes finished lanes blocked off on Interstate 485 in South Charlotte, he has strong feelings.
 
"Anger and annoyance are probably the largest ones," Peugh said.
 
Peugh joined nearly 700 other drivers on a Facebook page pushing to open the lanes.

In April, the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization voted to keep them closed because the lanes will be used for a future toll road.
 
Channel 9 discovered that several officials didn't show up for that vote, including the one from Peugh's hometown of Pineville.
 
That's not the only meeting that Pineville missed.
 
Eyewitness News tracked attendance at the 14 transportation meetings dating back to January 2014. No representative from Pineville attended any of them.

MORE INFORMATION: I-485 widening project in the Charlotte area
 
"Zero percent attendance," Peugh said as he looked at the findings. "That's unfortunate, and I'm really glad you're  bringing this to light."
 
Last year, Pineville Mayor Jack Edwards was assigned to attend the meetings.
 
Eyewitness News I stopped by the mayor's office twice, called twice and sent three emails, but Edwards hasn't responded, and neither has this year's transportation representative, Pineville Councilman Les Gladden.
 
Channel 9 also discovered that the representative for the Union County town of Wingate missed all 14 of those CRTPO meetings.
 
Wingate Mayor Bill Braswell told Channel 9 over the phone that evening meetings are time consuming and the projects that the transportation group discussed don't impact Wingate.

Indian Trail Councilman Gary Savoie is one of the group members who has never missed a meeting.
 
"That's what I signed up for, is to be here and to be their representative," Savoie said. "I consider it one of my duties, just like being a father or being an employee at work."
 
Charlotte Councilmember Vi Lyles said her role on the board is a big responsibility.

She has missed only one meeting.
 
"I have to be there. If you're not there, you're not speaking with a voice. And that voice needs to be heard," Lyles said.
 
Members aren't required to attend the meetings, but with the region growing and traffic increasing, more controversial transportation decisions will come.
 
Peugh hopes leaders show up and vote, even if he disagrees with their decisions.
 
"That way, 30 years from now, we can say we at least made the attempt.  We at least placed our vote. It is the same thing as voting for president," Peugh said.
 
Wingate's mayor said he asked other town officials to volunteer to attend the transportation meetings, but no one offered.
 
If a citizen is willing to attend, he or she can contact the town hall.

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