The Queen City is currently ranked as the 20th highest congested metro in the US, with more than 100 people moving to the region every day. That’s why Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, City Councilman Ed Driggs, and local, state, and regional transportation experts recently met at Piper Glen TLC in Ballantyne to discuss the city’s long-term mobility plan to keep pace with the city’s booming need for suitable transportation.
Getting transportation right is mission critical,” said Leigh Altman, Vice Chair and At-Large Commissioner of Mecklenburg County.
City Editor Jack here. I was in the room during South Charlotte Partners’ Regional Transportation Summit 2025. A lot of ground was covered, but here are some of the biggest talking points:
Reconstructing I-77 South
- Upgrades are underway for 11 miles of I-77, from Center City to the South Carolina state line
- Toll lanes are planned to be implemented
- Cost estimates should be available by June, with early projections of $3.2 billion
- Construction could begin in 2030
Impact of proposed sales tax
- A proposed one-cent sales tax hike to fund road and transportation projects in the Mecklenburg County area
- If approved, the tax would provide $102 million for local roads in the first year + accelerate projects
The Red Line
- The passenger rail line, recently purchased by the City of Charlotte, is expected to bring commuters into Uptown Charlotte from both the northern city suburbs and the Lake Norman region
- Towns like Cornelius are looking for a solution to solve growing traffic congestion
“We still have a lot of work to do, because we have a lot going on,” said Mayor Vi Lyles, who emphasized transportation options are critical for more people, opportunities, and a strong quality of life for an ever-growing city and region.
