I-77 ‘summit’ to be held at Cornelius Town Hall
Monday’s Interstate 77 “summit” at Cornelius Town Hall should not turn into a “complaint fest,” its organizer said Tuesday.
Rep. Charles Jeter said the morning summit, which will bring together elected leaders, transportation planners and officials of the N.C. Department of Transportation, will cover not only planned toll lanes on I-77 but other toll projects in the works as well. The public is invited to the meeting, which will start at 9 a.m.
“The purpose of this meeting will not be a complaint fest,” Jeter said. “This is designed to separate fact from fiction regarding the project and to determine what options exist and the ramifications of any alternate solutions.”
Jeter, a Huntersville Republican, proposed the meeting last week in the wake of municipal elections that swept anti-toll candidates to victory in Huntersville and other Lake Norman-area towns.
Work on the new toll project started late Monday night.
The toll issue has drawn opposition from businesses and motorists. It’s also stirred emotions, which Jeter acknowledged.
“I expect to have a robust discussion and one that’s very respectful,” he said. “This will not turn into a circus. That will not be tolerated.”
Jeter said the summit will include discussion of other proposed toll projects, including U.S. 74 and I-485 in Charlotte.
Last week Jeter joined Sen. Jeff Tarte and other area lawmakers at a news conference to ask Gov. Pat McCrory to cancel the contract with Cintra, a Spanish firm. They also said they would seek a temporary restraining order to stop the project.
On Tuesday, Tarte said that’s not as easy as they thought. “We’ve just got lots of moving pieces and we’re trying to keep options open,” he said.
Tarte blamed the process that has led to this point.
“This is government bureaucrats jamming a project down our throats,” he said, “because a bunch of bureaucrats are committed to doing this.”
Jim Morrill: 704-358-5059, @jimmorrill
Want to go?
The public is invited to the summit, which will start at 9 a.m. Monday at Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave.
This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 12:27 PM with the headline "I-77 ‘summit’ to be held at Cornelius Town Hall."