I-77 Toll Lanes

On the next Charlotte Talks local news roundup, North Carolina’s budget passes and is signed, sealed and delivered. We dive into the details. Heat continues to plague much of the country including our state where heat indices soared to triple digits, leading to power outages. Plus, a new state law eliminates mandatory parking minimums for the majority of new developments. We examine the possible impact.

The General Assembly passed its long-awaited budget last week with bipartisan support — the first in more than two years. The $34 billion plan includes teacher pay raises and additional money for Hurricane Helene recovery, but it also contains a provision that would force Charlotte and other governments to repay money already spent on the rejected I-77 toll lanes.

The draft budget bill in Raleigh includes a provision that could require Charlotte and other local governments to pay the state for more than $60 million in design costs spent on the now-rejected Interstate 77 toll lanes.

Malcolm Graham wants an independent study on ways to improve Interstate 77 from uptown to South Carolina.

Robert Harrington will become Charlotte’s next mayor after the City Council voted Monday to appoint him to the role, replacing Mayor Vi Lyles, who is resigning next week.

CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill is placed on leave, facing an investigation into how the district is run. Monroe City Council votes to reverse course and renew support for the I-77 toll lanes. Charlotte City Council has narrowed down mayoral candidates list. Plus, the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup and more.

The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization declined Wednesday night to hold a new vote on Interstate 77 toll lanes.

State lawmakers on Wednesday did not consider a proposal from Republican Sen. Vickie Sawyer that would require Charlotte and other local governments to pay roughly $60 million to the state for the abandoned Interstate 77 toll lanes project. But Sawyer warned the issue is far from settled.

Monroe City Council voted Wednesday morning to reverse course and restore its support for toll lanes on Interstate 77 south of uptown Charlotte.

Matthews town attorney Daniel Peterson said in a memo Tuesday that a proposal by Republican State Sen. Vickie Sawyer is unlawful.