New ad calls I-77 toll lanes ‘Lexus lanes for the rich'

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With a key vote on whether to support toll lanes on Interstate 77 set for next week, Charlotte City Council members find themselves under increasing pressure to stake a position on the controversial issue.

For months opponents in towns north of Charlotte have urged the state to cancel its contract to build those lanes.

Those same opponents are trying a new strategy.

Read our past coverage:

• Statute could allow vote solely on I-77 tolls, official says
• CRTPO face tough decision on 10-year roads plan, I-77 lanes
• Construction on I-77 toll lanes to begin Monday
• Controversy over I-77 tolls intensifies after election
• Voters send message by electing I-77 toll lane opponents

They’re set to place an ad in the Charlotte Post, a prominent newspaper in the African-American community, which urges people to ask City Council members to vote no on the project.

It is signed by three black county commissioners: Ella Scarborough, Vilma Leake and George Dunlap. The ad uses language that calls the toll lanes “Lexus lanes for the rich” and “Pat McCrory’s toll road.”

Jim Puckett, a white county commissioner who opposes the toll lanes, hopes it will get the black community more involved.

“I hope the ad generates some calls from the African-American community to minority members of the Charlotte City Council,” Puckett said.

He added that he thinks the toll lanes, which will charge a fee for drivers to get out of congested general purpose lanes, discriminate against low-income drivers.

At-Large Councilman James Mitchell, who is black, said he’ll take citizen input into consideration.

"In my mind there are three or four criteria that I’m doing going through. But listening to the citizens, whether they’re African-American or a citizen from Huntersville, will play a large part,” Mitchell said.

While the City Council decides whether to support the I-77 toll lanes, Eyewitness News has also learned that a bipartisan group of local state legislators plans to send another letter to McCrory demanding he cancel the NCDOT contract.

So far both he and Charlotte’s chamber of commerce have remained solidly behind the toll concept.

“This is exactly what’s being done in markets we compete with, from Texas to Florida. We need to get on with it,” said chamber President Bob Morgan.

In other states, including Florida, toll lane opponents have used language like “Lexus lanes for the rich” to help fight off toll projects.

Puckett believes it can work in Charlotte too.

When asked if he thinks the he can persuade enough City Council members to vote no on the toll roads, Puckett said, “I don’t think I can. I hope the public can.”

WSOC