Cornelius joins in opposition to I-77 tolls project, giving detractors a majority

CHARLOTTE — If the Interstate 77 toll lane project is placed on a future Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization agenda, there are enough votes to rescind support for the proposal.

As Channel 9 previously reported, CRTPO representatives for Charlotte, Matthews and Mecklenburg County are planning to pull support or have been directed to do so.

The mayor pro tem of Cornelius has signaled the town will be added to that list.

“It has long been our position that until they can show they can achieve acceptable objectives in the (north I-77 toll lanes) with the P3 project, they should not take on another P3 project in the south,” Mayor Pro Tem Michael Osborne said.

The CRTPO is comprised of 27 members with 74 weighted votes. Charlotte has most of them at 31. If Mecklenburg County (3), Matthews (2) and Cornelius (2) join them to yank support, that’s a majority.

Items placed on an agenda pass by majority vote. If a motion is made to take action on an item not on an agenda, a supermajority vote is required by the CRTPO.

Will Charlotte’s position stay the same?

There are questions about whether Charlotte will stand strong in this vote or if someone who was in favor makes a motion to revisit it. A meeting about tolls was canceled on Thursday because city leaders didn’t want to have it anymore.

Many toll supporters and people in the business community are wondering how Charlotte got to this point.

The Charlotte mayoral position doesn’t have a lot of power in a “weak mayor” system. But while rarely exercised, a mayor can veto actions taken by Charlotte City Council that he or she disagrees with. The action must be taken in the same meeting where the vote takes place. The item is then placed on next month’s agenda and requires a supermajority for an override.

In 2009, Charlotte City Council passed a $4.5 million contract to design the streetcar. Concerned about the need to cut back on spending, Mayor Pat McCrory vetoed the project.

In 2011, there was an intense debate about the number of taxi firms operating at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Mayor Anthony Foxx issued a stiff warning to the city council: award contracts for taxis, and he will veto them.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles has been a supporter of I-77 tolls her entire career. She cast the deciding vote for the I-77 tolls north project.

So why didn’t she veto the rescission? For the past two days, Channel 9 Government Reporter Joe Bruno has been asking that question. He has not received a response.

Bruno planned to ask the mayor in person on Thursday at a ribbon-cutting for a new hotel by the airport that she was scheduled to attend. At the event, organizers said the mayor canceled her appearance because of the city council meeting. But the I-77 tolls city council meeting was canceled as well.

©2026 Cox Media Group