NCDOT is opening a community engagement center for the I-77 toll project following community pushback, aiming to gather input as early designs continue to develop.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ The North Carolina Department of Transportation is opening a new community engagement center, aiming to rebuild trust and gather input on the controversial I-77 South Express Lanes project.
Mayor Vi Lyles and members of the Charlotte City Council attended the opening on Monday, March 30, at 10 a.m., with the mayor providing welcoming remarks.
The center, located at 1023 W. Morehead Street, Suite 150, sits within the project corridor and is designed to give residents direct access to project information and decision-makers.
The move comes after months of pushback from neighbors, particularly in historically Black communities along the corridor, who have raised concerns about potential impacts, transparency and long-term effects of the project.
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Officials said the center will serve as an ongoing hub for community engagement, offering residents the opportunity to meet one-on-one with NCDOT staff, ask questions and share feedback that could influence the projectโs design.
โIf you have questions about your street, your neighborhood, or your property, you can schedule a one-on-one meeting with a project engineer or a right-of-way specialist โface-to-face. No waiting, no run around. Just real people sitting at real tables expressing what they want to see and happen,” Mayor Vi Lyles said.ย
The space will also host community events and provide updates on milestones, while allowing visitors to explore early design concepts and discuss potential improvementsโ including ideas like reconnecting neighborhoods and expanding greenway access.
Appointments can be madeย online or by phone, but walk-ins are also welcome during operating hours.
NCDOT said the I-77 South Express Lanes project is still in its early phases, with designs only about 10-15% complete. Officials emphasize that current maps are preliminary and subject to change as community input is gathered.
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According to the agency, early conceptsย show no expected displacement in several historic Black communities, including McCrorey Heights, Biddleville, Lincoln Heights and the West End, and no residential displacement is anticipated north of the John Belk Freeway.
For any residents who could be affected in later phases, NCDOT said it will provide relocation assistance and follow federal protections through its right-of-way process.
Still, for long-time residents like Colette Forrest, who has lived in Wesley Heights for 26 years, says they will have to wait to see if actions will speak louder than words.
โI have been in Charlotte long enough to see a lot of talk and nothing that benefits the least of these or the black community,” Forrst said. “Time will have to tell.โ
The community engagement center will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.ย
NCDOT said community input gathered at the center will play a key role as the project moves forward, with updates, events and new information continuing to be shared online.
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