Widening I-77: Taking a Second Look
Editor’s note: This post originated on the Facebook page of Mark Gibbons, activist and member of Lake Norman Conservatives.
Last fall saw a very energetic election cycle in North Mecklenburg. One issue seemed to dominate the talk, the signs, and the internet, HOT lanes. Sadly, instead of uniting conservatives / Republicans against a big government project, it fractured friendships, alliances, and even the MECK GOP organization. Why did this happen?
Opposition to the HOT lanes was led by a group, Widen I-77 which had researched the issue(s) and used multiple venues to disseminate information to citizens and local elected officials. Most who heard of the toll project were against it, including the elected. In three separate meetings, Kurt Naas, founder of Widen I-77, debated the issue(s) with NCDOT representatives, local elected representatives, and staff from the towns of Davidson, Cornelius, and Huntersville. In none of these meetings were Kurt’s facts ever disputed or denied, the battle cry for the HOT lanes was “It is this or nothing for 20 years.” Several local elected officials who had publicly stated they were against tolling I-77 changed their position.
In the midst of these debates, we elected a new Governor who came out with a new transportation plan. Widen I-77 pushed for local and state elected officials to take another look at widening I-77 with General Purpose lanes under the Governor’s new project prioritization plan. Using the criteria put forth, Widen I-77 sees the I-77 project moving into the top 5 projects on the state list. The project was not re-prioritized due to the fact that it was already an approved project and therefore not eligible to be reviewed. MUMPO, now CRTPO went ahead with their vote to approve the HOT lane project as it stood.
Funding was another contested issue with the Widen I-77 organization. The question was asked, “Why can we not use the $170 million that the taxpayers will put into this project to widen I-77 with General Purpose lanes between Exit 19 and Exit 30 where the traffic problem exists?” Widen I-77 investigated if there were any contingencies on what type of lanes the $170M could be used for and were told on more than one occasion by NCDOT representatives that there were none. References to this are available on Widen I-77.org website.
Lastly, but not least among the hot button issues was who was really responsible for the HOT lanes. Widen I-77 put out to the public the names of local elected who supported the HOT lanes. This infuriated them because they knew how unpopular this project is. Local representatives when questioned at candidate forums stated that it was a state issue not a local issue. That is at best only partially true. Regional planning boards (CRTPO) prioritize these projects and vote on their approval along with an approval from the NCGA. State officials have been quoted as saying, “That is a local issue, your local reps voted through CRTPO for this.” Bottom line, Davidson, Cornelius, and Huntersville town boards approved this project and would not do anything to stop CRTPO from moving forward with it’s approval.
Where are we now? Waiting. Not unlike Obamacare, the deadlines for contracts and requests for proposals has been moved until the end of March (originally August 2013). The NC Senate has not yet voted to approve funding for this project, and we can only hope that common sense will prevail and they will not fund this burden to the citizens of the Lake Norman area. Frankly, we will be better off waiting 20 years than entering into this 50 year contract to toll I-77.
Word. I wish the LKN Town Boards would at least TRY to look at an alternative.
Four town boards in Union County voted unanimously to request NCDOT/CRTMPO develop an alternative to the Monroe Bypass. Even if you’re for 50 years of tolls (if that person exists), it’s just sound management to have an alternative in case the contracts blow up.