widen I-77
It’s he said, she said as I-77 fix appears to be filled with hurdles
Aug. 21. By Dave Vieser and Dave Yochum. The Town Boards in Huntersville and Cornelius have approved resolutions asking the state legislature to exempt proposed changes in the I-77 toll lane project from the DOT’s Strategic Transportation Improvement Process. The STI is used by the state to rank, score and prioritize funding for transportation projects. “STI […]
I-77 contract fight enters new phase; discussion May 3
Widen I-77 will host a town hall-style discussion Thursday, May 3 at the Charles Mack Center in downtown Mooresville. Organizers will present their response to the recent I-77 Advisory Group meetings regarding options for terminating the contract with Cintra and modifying the I-77 toll project. “The conclusion of the Advisory Group meetings and the announcement […]
Was possibility of cancelling I-77 contract falsely reassuring?
Feb. 15. By Dave Yochum. ANALYSIS. The second meeting of the I-77 Advisory Group got under way with former Chamber Chair Mike Russell announcing that there were emergency exits on either side of a packed meeting room. “Just don’t take 77,” Chamber CEO Bill Russell interjected. It was a touch of dark humor at the […]
Toll lane advisors will look at I-77 options, including ‘complete and delete’
By Dave Vieser and Dave Yochum. Just when it seemed as if the state has hemmed and hawed as much as it can on the I-77 toll lane debacle, the NCDOT is putting together a new advisory group “to learn the advantages, disadvantages, costs and timelines” of the options presented this fall by Mercator Advisors, […]
NC Trans secretary picks Mercator Advisors to review I-77 contract
March 31. A company that was part of a team led by Cintra Concesiones de Infraestructuras and Zachry Construction Corp.—to develop the first phase of the Trans-Texas Corridor—has been selected to review the I-77 Express Lanes contract. NC Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon said Mercator Advisors will conduct an in-depth, outside review. Mercator has not been involved in the $650 […]
Cooper hires legal team to protect vote; N. Meck bailed on McCrory
Nov. 10. Roy Cooper has hired a legal team to protect the results of the gubernatorial election which has him ahead of Pat McCrory by 4,979 votes, with 100 percent of the precincts reporting. McCrory has not conceded. The team will be led by election-protection attorneys Marc Elias and Kevin Hamilton of Perkins Coie, and Edwin Speas […]
LKN Marine Commission OK’s I77 toll lane application
Aug. 9. By Dave Vieser. Opponents of the I-77 toll lane project were dealt another blow this week when the Lake Norman Marine Commission approved the NCDOT’s application. The commission’s approval was needed because the interstate crosses Lake Norman; the commission works with Duke Energy on lake development as part of their Federal Energy Regulatory […]
Tom Davis likely to fill in for NC Rep. Charles Jeter who resigned
July 26. By Dave Yochum. It looks like Tom Davis, who opposed NC Rep. Charles Jeter in the GOP primary, will be appointed to fill Jeter’s District 92 seat in the General Assembly. He has already been endorsed by a wide variety of Republican leaders, including: Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jim Puckett; Huntersville Mayor John Aneralla; Huntersville […]
Mayor Travis issues statement on meeting with Sen. Berger
June 11. In a prepared statement, Cornelius Mayor Chuck Travis defended his visit to Sen. Philip Berger, along with Davidson Mayor John Woods, in support of the controversial Public Private Partnership that is building toll lanes on I-77 between Charlotte and Lake Norman. Here are his comments: “On Wednesday, June 8th, 2016, at 5:15pm, I attended […]
Commissioner Puckett terms Mayor Travis’ actions ‘traitorous’
June 11. ANALYSIS. By Dave Yochum. Cornelius Mayor Chuck Travis chose June 8, “Town Hall Day” in the NC State Capitol, to express his personal views on widening I-77 to NC Sen. Philip Berger, the man who has so much to do with the ebb and flow of legislation in Raleigh. It was a peculiar day for Travis […]
