Action NC Calls for Transparency and Public Accountability in the I‑77 Toll Lane Project
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Action NC Calls for Transparency and Public Accountability in the I‑77 Toll Lane Project
Charlotte, NC — [3/26/2026] — Action NC is calling for immediate transparency from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) regarding the proposed I‑77 Toll Lane expansion, citing months of withheld information, canceled meetings, and a lack of meaningful public engagement.
Community Concerns Mount as Information Remains Withheld
Residents, community leaders, and elected officials have repeatedly raised alarms about the absence of clear, accessible information on a project that will reshape entire neighborhoods. Recent reporting shows that NCDOT canceled a scheduled tour of impacted areas and has declined multiple invitations to present before community bodies — actions that local leaders say have contributed to an erosion of public trust.
A recent county analysis found that the project could affect 11 parks, four greenway corridors, multiple streams and wetlands, and expose nearby residents to increased traffic pollution. These impacts pose direct threats to community stability, public health, and generational wealth.
Repeated Requests for Information Have Gone Unanswered
Local officials have asked NCDOT to provide clear information on:
- Community impacts
- Environmental consequences
- Alternatives to toll lanes
These requests remain unanswered. Mecklenburg County Commissioner Leigh Altman has stated that she has “continuously invited NCDOT to present” on these issues, with no response.
Action NC has experienced the same pattern. Over the past three weeks, the organization invited NCDOT to participate in three public‑facing engagements:
- A structured interview on At the Table with Patrick Cannon Radio Show.
- A presentation and Q&A at theTuesday Morning Breakfast Forum
- A community panel hosted by the Barringer Drive Initiative
To date, NCDOT has not agreed to any of these opportunities for transparent dialogue.
Action NC’s Role: Educating, Elevating, and Empowering
Action NC emphasizes that it does not claim to speak for the communities most directly impacted. Instead, the organization sees its role as helping the public understand the stakes of the project. We do see educating the public at large on the ‘toll’ that these proposed toll lanes can do to neighborhoods as something we can contribute to.
The organization believes:
- The public deserves clear, honest information — not selective disclosures.
- Elected leaders must be vocal and accountable in defending their constituents.
- Residents must be empowered to ask informed questions during this short window for public input.
- Speaking truth to power is a democratic obligation.
Action NC Calls for Immediate Transparency
Action NC urges NCDOT and CRTPO to take the following steps without delay:
- Release all preliminary and alternative design options for public review.
- Attend and participate in open community forums, including those already requested by Action NC.
- Provide clear, accessible explanations of environmental, displacement, and financial impacts.
- Commit to a transparent decision‑making process that centers the voices of those most affected.
The public cannot meaningfully participate in a process where critical information is withheld, meetings are canceled, and community concerns are minimized
Next Steps
Action NC will continue working with community advocates like Will Russell, who has volunteered to prepare a three‑part analysis on the history of interstate construction, the viability of the I‑77 project, and potential solutions.
The organization remains committed to educating, organizing, and elevating the voices of residents who deserve to be heard — not talked at.
About Action NC
Action NC is a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing equity, expanding democratic participation, and empowering communities across North Carolina through education, advocacy, and organizing.
Media Contact
Robert Dawkins
Action NC
Phone: (704) 957-3105
Email: robert@actionnc.org