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Does this include the number of lanes or are you just measuring linearly? How did you calculate this? I don't think you realize how little we spend on Charlotte's roads.
The department of transportation and it's regressive methodology for allocation has been traditionally dominated by anti-city good old boys. Fayetteville got an outerbelt before Charlotte. I don't think your calculation considers the amount of roadway available/# of lanes. Am I wrong?
It's the linear length on each road, at least I-485 is "free", 60% of the Raleigh beltway is going to be tolled, how would you like to have 60% of I-485 tolled!
60% of 4 lanes is much smaller than 60% of 8 lanes. If you could find a way to base the comparison square footage vs. linear feet it would be much more meaningful. Raleigh has more lanes than we do.
60% of 4 lanes is much smaller than 60% of 8 lanes. If you could find a way to base the comparison square footage vs. linear feet it would be much more meaningful. Raleigh has more lanes than we do.
The new unbuilt part of the Raleigh beltway is going to be 3 lanes, just like the new tolled section that opened a few years ago. I think 1% of any amount of lanes you want (1 to a gazillion) is 1% more than should be tolled, but if they didn't toll it, the beltway would have taken another 20 to 30 years to complete.
Within the next 15-20 years Charlotte will have close to a 100 miles of toll lanes on I-77(41 miles),I-485S(18 miles)US 74(14 miles)plus the Monroe Bypass(20 miles) & it could be more if the Garden Parkway(20 miles) gets off the ground. So I guess my question is what other area of the state has any where close to this number
Within the next 15-20 years Charlotte will have close to a 100 miles of toll lanes on I-77(41 miles),I-485S(18 miles)US 74(14 miles)plus the Monroe Bypass(20 miles) & it could be more if the Garden Parkway(20 miles) gets off the ground. So I guess my question is what other area of the state has any where close to this number
Most of those express toll (HOT) lanes are going to be optional with free lanes right next to them, except for the Monroe Bypass, which is a big difference between an entire interstate like NC-540 where the only option is to not use the entire highway. There is actually talk if they ever decide to add lanes or HOV lanes on the "free" part of I-540, they will be tolled HOT lanes.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
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Originally Posted by js4life
Within the next 15-20 years Charlotte will have close to a 100 miles of toll lanes on I-77(41 miles),I-485S(18 miles)US 74(14 miles)plus the Monroe Bypass(20 miles) & it could be more if the Garden Parkway(20 miles) gets off the ground. So I guess my question is what other area of the state has any where close to this number
Hopefully, the Garden Parkway is dead since widening of I 85 is now scheduled. If NCDOT would sell the land it could go towards paying for I 85.
Most of those express toll (HOT) lanes are going to be optional with free lanes right next to them, except for the Monroe Bypass, which is a big difference between an entire interstate like NC-540 where the only option is to not use the entire highway. There is actually talk if they ever decide to add lanes or HOV lanes on the "free" part of I-540, they will be tolled HOT lanes.
My point is that no area in the state has as much of their transportation infrastructure upgrades tied to some form of toll revenue period& 77 isn't getting any more GP lanes so all it's new capacity are toll lanes
Under no circumstances would I ever say that Gaston needs I 85 widened worse than I 77 needs to be widened. McCrory changed things to give priority to urban areas. If anyone was inclined to believe that, Gastonia wins. If you go by need, I 77 wins.
GCLMPO asked for widening to the state line. When there is an accident on I 77, does traffic get diverted through Mooresville, Davidson, & Cornelius?
The only improvement that McCrory made was forcing Lincoln & Cleveland counties to finally work with Gaston. Keep in mind that by refusing to sign for the casino, McCrory has not only turned his back on money that could have gone to road improvement in this region, the Catawbas plan includes road improvement & they had surveyors out on I 85, between exits 4 & 8.
As to the Shelby bypass, they have been waiting for well over 20 years. They waited their turn & when it was ready to go, Bev let NCDOT pull that committed money for 485. The Shelby bypass was written into state commitments to a couple of companies. Every time you drive on the completed portion of 485 you are driving on the Shelby bypass & several committed projects that were pulled from Kings Mountain.
With 85 being the most important highway in the state, especially between Durham and Charlotte, I can see why the China Grove got widened before Gaston. They're going to eventually widen it all the way to the SC line but the China Grove area is several times cheaper than what the Gaston widening will cost.
As for 77 I have no qualms with sections of 85 being expanded before it since 77 is irrelevant outside of the Charlotte metro, I just take issue with the "freeways to nowhere" in the eastern and central parts of the state that were prioritized over 77 expansion.
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Originally Posted by ZeusAV
With 85 being the most important highway in the state, especially between Durham and Charlotte, I can see why the China Grove got widened before Gaston. They're going to eventually widen it all the way to the SC line but the China Grove area is several times cheaper than what the Gaston widening will cost.
As for 77 I have no qualms with sections of 85 being expanded before it since 77 is irrelevant outside of the Charlotte metro, I just take issue with the "freeways to nowhere" in the eastern and central parts of the state that were prioritized over 77 expansion.
I agree that 77 should have been prioritized before the roads to nowhere. The state should have never agreed to a contract that didn't include HOT lanes capable of carrying trucks. it sounds like substandard construction to me.
The state bought land for the Garden Parkway boondoggle & used that as an excuse to not widen 85 west of Charlotte. They should sell that land & put the money towards something productive.
Within the next 15-20 years Charlotte will have close to a 100 miles of toll lanes on I-77(41 miles),I-485S(18 miles)US 74(14 miles)plus the Monroe Bypass(20 miles) & it could be more if the Garden Parkway(20 miles) gets off the ground. So I guess my question is what other area of the state has any where close to this number
Give it time, but the other metros in North Carolina will likely get riddled with toll roads. I can see I-440 and I-540 in north Raleigh getting toll lanes, especially since there is a large amount of growth in those areas, and both roads are only six lanes. I-40 and I-85 Business in Greensboro are also likely candidates, and if Greensboro's outer loop is ever widened, I would bet that toll lanes will be involved. The same with I-40 and I-40 Business in Winston-Salem. I also expect I-95 to be widened with HOT lanes.
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