With fate of I-77 toll lanes unclear, DOT seeks help from towns, counties

With the future of the Interstate 77 toll lanes undecided, the N.C. Department of Transportation is forming a new advisory group to decide what to do next.

Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon said in a letter that the group of business leaders, citizens and officials will meet “to learn the advantages, disadvantages, costs and timelines” of the options presented this fall by a consultant, Mercator Advisors.

The state wants the group to have 11 members, with representatives from Charlotte and the Lake Norman towns along the route; Mecklenburg and Iredell counties; and the chambers of commerce for Charlotte, Lake Norman, Huntersville and Mooresville-South Iredell.

Trogdon’s letter does not say the DOT will follow the recommendation of the chambers, counties and municipalities. But he said “extensive public engagement is critical to community success.”

One of the options Mercator said the DOT should consider the so-called “Complete and Delete” option backed by Lake Norman toll-lane opponents.

Under that option, the contractor, I-77 Mobility Partners, would finish building the toll lanes from uptown to Mooresville. Then, before the project opens to traffic, the state would buy the contractor out and take over the project.

The state might convert all of the new traffic lanes into free, general-purpose lanes. The DOT also might keep some of the toll lanes.

Buying out the contractor would be expensive. Mercator said the state’s contract with I-77 Mobility Partners calls for the buyout cost to be the higher of the debt owed on the project compared with the fair market value of the toll lanes.

Mercator said the contractor had spent $217 million on the project as of July. That includes $17 million in DOT funds.

“Complete and Delete” is the preferred plan for many opponents of the project, but the state has other options.

It could pay I-77 Mobility Partners a fee to convert one of the toll lanes into a free lane. The state could also do nothing, and allow the project to move forward. I-77 Mobility Partners has a 50-year lease to manage the toll lanes.

Trogdon asked the advisory group’s members submit a representative by Dec. 4.

This story was originally published November 21, 2017 at 6:16 PM with the headline "With fate of I-77 toll lanes unclear, DOT seeks help from towns, counties."