CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization is meeting Wednesday at 6 p.m. to discuss the future of the Interstate 77 South toll lane project. The meeting comes as the Charlotte City Council considers where it stands on the toll proposal.
Charlotte controls 31 of the 74 total votes on the CRTPO board, giving the city decisive leverage over the outcome. Board leaders are scheduled to deliver a report on their deliberations during Wednesday evening’s meeting ahead of a formal vote planned for next month.
The Charlotte City Council voted earlier this year to kill the I-77 South toll project, but council members remain undecided on whether to reverse that decision. Charlotte City Councilman Ed Driggs stated that conversations have taken place among council members regarding a potential change in the city’s stance.
A North Carolina state budget provision serves as a key factor in the upcoming decision. Under the provision, municipalities or towns that voted to kill the project are required to repay the North Carolina Department of Transportation tens of millions of dollars in sunk costs if the project does not move forward.
Communities that pull out of the initiative will be obligated to repay NCDOT if the toll project is officially canceled.
The CRTPO is scheduled to vote next month on whether to revive the I-77 South toll project.
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