House select committee will review I-77 toll project

Traffic rolls south on I-77 towards Charlotte on Monday June 23, 2014. A local citizens group wants the state to delay adding toll lanes to Interstate 77 after learning the rate could climb to more than $20 for a round trip between Mooresville and Charlotte. John D. Simmons jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

Debate over the Interstate 77 toll lanes moves back to Raleigh with the appointment Friday of a Select Committee of the N.C. House.

House Speaker Tim Moore, a Cleveland County Republican, named GOP Rep. John Torbett of Gaston County to chair the panel. Torbett heads the House Transportation Committee.

The panel will look at the controversial I-77 toll lanes as well as other transportation projects.

Named to co-chair the committee was Rep. Charles Jeter, a Huntersville Republican and critic of the toll lanes.

Last month the town’s incumbent mayor was defeated over the toll issue.

“There has been a tremendous amount of discussion and information that deserves scrutiny and reconsideration as we look at how the state is going to fund transportation in the future,” Jeter said in a statement.

“This committee will allow us the opportunity to review current concerns and ensure future decisions are made with the best interest of all North Carolinians.”

Jim Morrill

This story was originally published December 4, 2015 at 4:08 PM with the headline "House select committee will review I-77 toll project."

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