Open Letter to Lake Norman I-77 Commuters
Could this be Charlotte's Future?
Hello Neighbor,
Over the past several months you’ve probably heard about plans to widen I-77 using toll lanes. Like you, I was thrilled with the idea that any lane- even a toll lane- would help reduce the awful traffic tie-ups we see on I-77 every weekday.
But the more I look into this, the more I’m convinced toll lanes are a bad idea.
First, toll lanes won’t solve I-77’s traffic problems. Drivers will pay to use the toll lane only when the free lanes are congested. No congestion, no toll revenue. Right now the plan is to have the toll lanes operated on a for-profit basis by a private company. The only way any private company will agree to participate is if they can be certain the free lanes stay congested. So instead of relieving congestion, toll lanes will ensure it.
Second, not only will toll lanes ensure congestion, they’ll make it worse. Why? Because the tolls will be set by a practice called “congestion pricing.” Under this scenario, as traffic gets worse the toll goes up. The tolling company will want congestion to be as heavy as possible in the free lanes so they can charge more to drive in the toll lane.
Third, these toll lanes could be under contract for as long as 50 years. During that time we’ll have little or no say as to what happens with any future I-77 improvements. Remember, the private company wants the free lanes congested. We can expect them to oppose any further attempts to widen I-77 with anything but more toll lanes. In fact, the private company’s contract has a proviso for an “Unplanned Revenue Impacting Facility” that could trigger a “Compensation Event.” Simply put, we would have to reimburse the private company for lost toll revenue if we improve traffic flow!
Fourth, any attempt to widen ancillary roads, like 115 or 21 or Beatties’ Ford, could also be challenged as an “Unplanned Revenue Impacting Facility.” Once the toll lanes are built, we can reasonably expect to be stuck with them- and no other improvements- until the year 2063.
There hasn’t been a single improvement in north-south roads through Lake Norman since I-77 was built nearly 40 years ago. In the meantime, every other stretch of interstate in Mecklenburg County has been widened at least once. I-77 through Lake Norman is now the only stretch of interstate in Mecklenburg that remains four lanes.
We in the Lake Norman area are way overdue for our turn. I-77 should be widened with general purpose lanes like they have everywhere else in the county. I’m wondering if any of you feel the same?
Sincerely,
Kurt Naas
Cornelius
Naas is a member of the Cornelius Transportation Advisory Board.
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