Charlotte Mayor Proposes New I-77 Toll Lane Working Group to Oversee $300 Million Community Benefits
Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington has proposed the creation of a new working group to oversee the allocation and implementation of $300 million in community benefits promised by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for west Charlotte. This initiative is directly linked to the Interstate 77 toll lanes project. The NCDOT recently detailed how these funds could be utilized, with a significant portion—at least $150 million—earmarked for a concrete cap over a section of the highway near uptown. Additionally, the state plans to invest in addressing critical community needs such as food deserts and a lack of recreational spaces in the surrounding neighborhoods. City Council member Joi Mayo expressed support for maintaining flexibility in how these goals are pursued, suggesting that solutions for food insecurity could extend beyond traditional grocery stores to include farms and community co-ops. The Charlotte City Council is scheduled to vote on Monday to establish this new working group.
