Cornelius commissioners voted unanimously Monday, June 15 to back the $4.3 billion I-77 South toll lane project they had previously opposed, reversing course after a state budget provision threatened the town with a share of a $60 million repayment to NCDOT.

The 3-0 vote at the board's June 15 pre-meeting directed the town's appointees to the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization to undo CRTPO's May 20 decision removing support for the project. Commissioner Johnson made the motion. Commissioner Furcht seconded. Commissioner Osborne was out of town and absent.

Deputy Town Manager Herron briefed the board on the budget language, introduced by State Sen. Vickie Sawyer, that gives CRTPO two choices: reverse its opposition to the I-77 South P3 project or repay NCDOT the roughly $60 million already spent on design. The 90-day clock started when Gov. Josh Stein signed the budget, setting an Oct. 5 deadline. CRTPO is scheduled to vote Sept. 23.

Herron recommended the board follow the town manager's recommendation and vote to keep the project in the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and the State Transportation Improvement Plan, according to the meeting minutes.

The board added the item to its pre-meeting agenda on a separate 3-0 vote before taking the main action. Commissioners Carney, Furcht and Johnson were present.

Mecklenburg commissioner calls provision potentially illegal

Mecklenburg County Vice Chair Leigh Altman challenged the legality of the state budget provision at the county commission's Aug. 5 meeting, WFAE reported.

"I believe that this legislation potentially illegally takes away the authority of the MPO to make transportation decisions for this community, and I believe that it may be a violation against bills of attainder and that it specifically targets Mecklenburg County," Altman said.

Altman also questioned whether the $60 million figure is accurate, saying it may be inflated.

What happens next

The I-77 South project would add toll lanes from Charlotte to the South Carolina state line. CRTPO originally approved a resolution supporting the public-private partnership delivery model in October 2024, then rescinded that support May 20.

Cornelius is not alone in flipping. Monroe also voted unanimously to reverse its position, according to WBTV. Shannon Binns of Sustain Charlotte, which led opposition to the toll lanes, told WBTV on July 16 he would encourage CRTPO members to consider "the precedent they would be setting and the consequences of that decision for our democracy."

CRTPO's next scheduled vote on the project is Sept. 23. If the regional body does not act by Oct. 5, the repayment obligation takes effect.