CHARLOTTE The N.C. Department of Transportation today signed
an agreement with Cintra for a public-private-partnership (P3) contract to
improve the traffic flow along 26 miles of I-77 in the Charlotte area, one of
the most congested roadways in the state. The P3 enables NCDOT to address a
critical need and provide immediate travel time reliability along I-77 from
Uptown Charlotte to the Lake Norman area that could otherwise not be completed
with limited funds.
The state will invest about $88 million dollars and Cintra
will secure the remainder of the $655 million to design, build, operate and
maintain the managed lanes project in exchange for toll revenue generated from
the lanes. This public-private partnership will complete the project within
four years instead of the estimated 20 years it would take to secure enough
state funding to move forward.
"This project
provides an innovative and comprehensive solution to existing and future
congestion in this corridor," said NCDOT Secretary Tony Tata. "Utilizing the
public-private partnership concept is allowing us to improve nearly 26 miles of
I-77 in just a few years, not in decades. This expansion will provide an option
for reliable travel time while addressing long-term mobility concerns."
Managed Lanes
Managed lanes give drivers a choice to pay a toll to enter
and exit the lanes at various points to avoid congestion, or continue using
general-purpose lanes for free. Managed
lanes also help ease congestion on the free, general-purpose lanes for other
drivers.
The I-77 project includes converting the current High
Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, which already exist along I-77, and adding
capacity to the roadway. The existing HOV lanes and new lanes will be High
Occupancy managed lanes that allow free use for eligible carpoolers (three
passengers or greater), buses and motorcyclists, while allowing other drivers
to pay a toll to use those lanes.
Tolls will vary during the day and night to manage the
number of vehicles in the lanes and help ensure free-flowing traffic even
during morning and evening rush hours.
"No toll rates have been set for the I-77 managed lanes. As
required by contract, Cintra will conduct public hearings as part of developing
toll rates that drivers can choose to pay to avoid congestion, and ultimately,
the market will drive those rates," said NCDOT Director of Technical Services
Rodger Rochelle.
Transparent and
Thorough Review
Over the past two years, NCDOT completed a transparent and
thorough due diligence process to ensure the I-77 managed lanes project was the
most efficient and effective way to address the corridor's major congestion
issues. That process included more than a dozen public hearings, neighborhood
meetings and workshops; as well as more than 40 meetings with mayors, town and
city leaders, officials and staff from the Metropolitan Planning Organization
(MPO), local legislators, business forums and the Lake Norman Transportation
Commission. NCDOT posted the detailed
documents related to the bidding process online beginning in March of 2013,
including each updated draft of the proposed contract for public review. The State Treasurer's Office reviewed the
agreement and the Local Government Commission (that includes the State
Treasurer, State Auditor, Secretary of State and Secretary of Revenue) approved
a resolution to allow the project to move forward.
In accordance with state law, NCDOT submitted reports to the
Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee, Joint Legislative
Commission on Governmental Operations and the Chairs of the Tran