I-77 Toll Lanes

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.

Monroe Mayor Robert Burns has called a special meeting for Wednesday morning to consider rescinding the city’s support for a recent vote by the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization to end the I-77 toll lanes project.

Republican state Sen. Vickie Sawyer has proposed legislation that would require Charlotte and other local governments to repay $60 million to the state if they don’t reverse course and support proposed privately built and managed Interstate 77 toll lanes in south Charlotte.

Republican state Sen. Vickie Sawyer filed an amendment Thursday that would require Charlotte and other local governments that voted to rescind support for the I-77 toll lane project to repay the N.C. Department of Transportation for work already done.

As the city grows, getting around has become increasingly challenging. Efforts to relieve congestion on I-77 recently came to a halt when leaders rescinded proposed toll lanes. Public transit has grown slowly, with commitments to build the Red Line and the east-west Silver Line. However, those projects could take a decade or longer to complete. We untangle the ins and outs of transit in Charlotte.