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Frequently Asked Questions

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General FAQs about Express Lanes

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  • What are express lanes?
    ​Express lanes are toll lanes built within an existing highway. Express lanes provide additional capacity to accommodate more traffic and offer drivers the option of more reliable travel times.  Unlike traditional toll roads, drivers can choose to pay the toll and use the express lanes or continue to drive in the existing non-tolled general-purpose lanes. Drivers using the express lanes will reach their destinations at more reliable, predictable times.​



  • Why express lanes?
    ​In growing urban areas, additional non-tolled general-purpose lanes only temporarily reduce traffic congestion, especially during peak periods. As planned urban growth continues, more drivers occupy the same major commuting routes, leading to traffic congestion. Express lanes provide an optional lane with reliable travel times.​



  • How much will I pay to use the express lanes?
    ​Tolls will vary, depending on the time of day and overall traffic congestion. When express lanes become too congested, the price will increase, reducing the demand and number of cars entering the lanes to maintain reliable travel times. Toll prices will be higher during peak periods when demand is greater and lower during off-peak times. Once a driver enters the express lanes, the price of that driver’s trip is fixed for that segment and will not change over the duration of that trip.
  • Who can use the express lanes for free?
    Emergency vehicles, Charlotte Area Transit System, or CATS, registered CATS carpool and motorcycles can use the express lanes toll-free.​



  • Aren’t tolls just another tax?

    ​Unlike taxation, only drivers who use the express lanes will be charged. Drivers are given the option to pay to use the express lanes if they want more reliable travel times. Drivers may choose to pay the toll and use the express lanes for part or all of their trip or use the general-purpose lanes at no charge. ​

  • How do I pay tolls?
    The express lanes feature all-electronic tolling meaning tolls are captured electronically at highway speeds, so you never have to stop to pay a toll. Drivers have several options to pay:
     
    • Sign up for an NC Quick Pass account. Customers with an NC Quick Pass account save 50% on tolls in North Carolina and can pay tolls in 19 states.
    • Receive​ a toll invoice in the mail. Overhead toll equipment captures a picture of the vehicle’s license plate, and an invoice will be mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner’s address on file with the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles. After the first mailed invoice, customers can opt-in to receive future invoices by email. Drivers who do not wish to open an NC Quick Pass account will pay double the posted NC Quick Pass toll rate displayed on roadway signage.​.



Project Overview

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  • What is the current status of the I-77 South Express Lanes Project?
    The I-77 South project was originally submitted for consideration in the State Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP,​ in 2014 by the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization, or CRTPO. In 2007, CRTPO initiated the Fast Lanes Study​ to identify the corridors in the Charlotte region that would benefit most from adding express lanes. As requested by the local planning organization, the NC. Department of Transportation is advancing work on the I-77 South Express Lanes project.

    Following board action in 2024 to request NCDOT to move forward with the public-private partnership, or P3, delivery process, CRTPO created a working group to partner with NCDOT to identify priorities for the project and develop key terms to inform the Request for Qualifications or RFQ, process. The terms were developed with the working group over the course of seven months from January through July 2025. 

    The low financial and high fina​ncial key terms​ are posted in the project documents section of the website. The working group shared draft key terms with the full CRTPO Board in early June 2025, and NCDOT released the RFQ in August 2025.

    NCDOT is currently engaged in the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, process, and as part of the environmental work, initial small group meetings in local communities are taking place.
    • Presented at 20 or more outreach meetings with more than 700 residents so far
    • Formal public meetings will take place in the fall of 2025
    For background on the project, visit the I-77 South Express Lanes Project History webpage​. The N.C. Turnpike Authority encourages citizens to explore the project timeline and milestones that have helped shape project development.
  • Why not just build more general-purpose lanes?
    ​Express lanes offer a more sustainable, long-term solution to managing traffic congestion and improving ​travel time reliability and managing traffic congestion​ for drivers along the I-77 South corridor. Express lanes use dynamic pricing, a flexible toll that adjusts rates in real time to manage congestion and maintain consistent traffic flow in the express lanes during peak travel periods. 

    Improving to 11 miles of the corridor by adding general-purpose lanes, rebuilding bridges and interchanges, and adding sidewalks and shared-use paths would face significant funding and logistical challenges. Building express lanes provides funding that allows the improvements of the I-77 South corridor to happen sooner and will increase travel time reliability, to accommodate long-term future demand.
  • What is the rationale behind adding toll lanes as opposed to conventional lanes?
    In 2007, transportation planners from the Charlotte region, the Charlotte Department of Transportation, N.C. Department of Transportation and S.C. Department of Transportation examined the feasibility of managed lanes on interstates in the Charlotte area, known as the Fast Lanes Study. The I-77 South Express Lanes project was identified in this study, which can be downloaded he​re​. 

    In 2010, the local planning organization, CRTPO adopted a resolution supporting the Fast Lanes Study and identified I-77 for further study of managed lanes projects. Per state law, NCGS §136-89 (a)(2), toll projects in North Carolina must be requested/approved by the local planning organization. The I-77 South Express Lanes project was first included in the 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan by CRTPO in 2014. That same year, CRTPO submitted the project to the State Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP, and it has remained a priority in subsequent rounds of prioritization for the past decade. 

    As requested by the local planning organization, NCDOT is delivering a project that will:
    • Manage traffic congestion
    • Provide an option for reliable travel time along I-77 South 
    • Implement express lanes consistent with recommendations from the Fast Lanes Study and CRTPO's 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan
    • Improve traffic conditions by increasing travel speed
    Express lanes offer a long-term, sustainable solution to issues including rising travel demand and growing traffic congestion by providing travel time savings and trip reliability. Express lanes can help generate revenue for construction, maintenance, and operations when transportation funding is limited.​
  • How will the I-77 South improvements help Charlotte's transportation infrastructure?
    This section of corridor was last widened in the 1990s, from four to six lanes. Since then, traffic demand on I-77 South has and will continue to increase for residents, drivers, and businesses.

    Here’s why this project matters for drivers and communities along the corridor:

    Challenges:

    • ​Crash rates along this segment of I-77 are 2.5 times higher than the statewide average for urban interstates.
    • Crash rates are directly linked to traffic congestion.
    • Without widening, traffic congestion is expected to worsen over time.​

    Solutions:

    • The project will help manage congestion by offering a lane option with more reliable travel option.
    • It will improve travel speeds.
    • It will increase the number of vehicles able to travel through the I-77 South corridor​

    These express lanes on the I-77 South corridor will also be part of a network of express lanes in the Charlotte region, connecting to I-77 North and I-485.

    Express lanes offer a long-term, sustainable solution to issues including rising travel demand and growing rush-hour congestion by providing travel time savings and trip reliability for those driving in the express lanes. Express lanes can also generate funds in financial constrained environment for construction, as well as the maintenance and operations costs.

Express Lane Ownership & Oversight

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  • Will the N.C. Department of Transportation maintain ownership of the I-77 South Express Lanes?
    ​Yes, NCDOT will maintain ownership of the lanes. The private partner will be responsible for managing the design, construction, finance and operation of the project, as well as the maintenance of the express lanes.
  • What is the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization and what is its role in the I-77 South Express Lanes Project?
    ​The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization, or CRTPO, is the federally designated entity responsible for transportation planning for the Charlotte Urban Area including Iredell, Mecklenburg, and Union counties. CRTPO is responsible for coordinating with the communities in its planning area to identify, prioritize, and recommend projects for funding. Per state law, NCGS §136-89 (a)(2)​, toll projects in North Carolina must be requested/approved by the local planning organization. 
  • What is NEPA?
    The National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, is a federally established policy that provides a framework for integrating environmental considerations into federal decision-making. The Federal Highway Administration, or FHWA, is required to examine, avoid and minimize potential impacts to the social and natural environment when considering approval of proposed transportation projects. More information regarding the NEPA process can be found here​.

Community Impact

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  • How will I know if my property, neighborhood or business will be impacted by construction?
    ​The project team is in the process of developing the preliminary design for this project, which will determine the anticipated right of way​ needed for the project. Property owners impacted by the final design will be contacted as early as possible by the project team.


  • How will noise be managed during construction?
    ​Being a good neighbor during construction is one of the N.C. Turnpike Authority’s top priorities. That includes actively monitoring noise from construction and reducing disruptions when possible. Neighbors will be notified by the project team prior to noisy activities, night work or heavy equipment used during construction.
  • How will traffic noise be managed for people living near the express lanes once they are open to traffic?
    ​The N.C. Department of Transportation is committed to minimizing traffic noise for nearby communities. Before construction begins, the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, requires agencies to assess potential impacts to nearby communities, including noise.  A preliminary noise analysis will be performed to estimate how traffic noise from the future express lanes may affect surrounding properties. Based on those findings, potential noise abatement measures, including noise walls, can be considered.  Additionally, a design noise report will be developed during final design for the project to guide mitigation efforts.



Project Cost & Funding

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  • How much will the project cost?

    ​The current capital cost estimate is $3.2 billion (August 2024).​

  • Why is the I-77 South Express Lanes Project so expensive?
    The scale of this project goes far beyond adding express lane to I-77 from Uptown Charlotte to the South Carolina state line. These additional lanes will require reconstruction and replacement of most of the interchanges and bridges along the corridor. The project also includes consideration of sidewalks and shared-use paths at each interchange to improve pedestrian and bike access. Additionally, new access points and direct connections between the express lanes and surrounding cross streets are being considered to make I-77 more efficient and accessible for drivers. These upgrades are designed to support long-term mobility, safety and regional connectivity by creating infrastructure that includes 3 proposed locations that directly connect the I-77 South Express Lanes with a cross street.​

    Highway widening in an urban corridor like I-77 South with tightly spaced interchanges adds to the complexity and cost of the project. Some of the unique challenges presented by this project include: 
    • Constraints resulting from the physical location of I-77 South. 
    • Competing resources along the corridor. 
    • Rising costs of material industry wide. 
    • Limited availability of transportation funding.
    • Potential for additional right of way needs. 
    • Challenges associated with existing utility coordination and relocation. 
  • How will the I-77 South Express Lanes Project be funded?
    ​The I-77 South Express Lanes Project is expected to be funded utilizing a public-private partnership, or P3, and funding from the N.C. Department of Transportation’s State Improvement Plan, or STIP. The P3 funding mechanism allows private companies to cover most of the costs, including construction and maintenance. 



  • What is a public-private partnership or P3?

    ​A public-private partnership or P3, is a team effort between the government and private companies to build and manage important infrastructure, like roads. Instead of relying solely on traditional funding, private companies help fund, build and maintain the roads, while the state keeps ownership and oversight. ​

  • Why is a P3 being considered for this project?

    The project was evaluated at the state level, received a high ranking, and was programmed in the State Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP.​ The project is estimated to cost around $3.2 billion and would likely not be able to be delivered as a traditional toll project for many years. P3 funding allows the project to be built faster, and the private company takes on the risk, not taxpayers. This means state funding can be used for other critical projects.

    Based on the Fast Lanes Study previously mentioned, CRTPO recommended including the I-77 South Express Lanes Project in its Metropolitan Transportation Plan and subsequently submitted it to NCDOT to be considered for funding. The project was evaluated at the state level, received a high ranking, and was programmed in the STIP.


  • What private developers are involved in this project?
    ​A developer will be selected through an open, competitive bid process. More than 10 developers have expressed interest in the project.



Timeline & Next Steps

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  • When will the design plans for the I-77 Express Lanes South project be available to the public?

    ​The preliminary design plans are underway. Project planners will share draft designs with the public online and at multiple public meetings. Work is currently scheduled to begin on final designs for the project in the spring of 2027 after public feedback has been collected. ​

  • When is construction expected to start? How long will it take?

    ​Construction can begin after the environmental document, public involvement, permitting and final designs are complete. A preferred developer is anticipated to be selected in 2027 following a thorough evaluation and procurement process.​

  • What is the project schedule as of September 2025?
    The I-77 South Express Lanes Project is currently in the planning and design phase. As part of the early outreach efforts, small group neighborhood meetings began in early 2025 to help engage the community and gather input.

    The final environmental document is expected to be completed in early 2027. According to the current schedule, a developer will be selected by summer 2027. Once selected, the developer will work on securing financing and finalizing design plans.
    As the project moves forward, the timeline will become more defined. You can find the latest updates and a detailed Project Timeline​ on the official project website, which is updated as new information becomes available.

10/29/2025 12:52 PM