Black Political Caucus seeks court order to halt NCDOT’s I-77 South express lanes procurement in Charlotte

Legal challenge emerges as I-77 South toll project advances in procurement and design discussions

The Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg is preparing to ask a court for a temporary restraining order aimed at stopping the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) from moving forward with key steps tied to the planned expansion of Interstate 77 through Charlotte. The contemplated filing comes amid renewed debate over the I-77 South Express Lanes project, a proposed network of managed toll lanes extending roughly 11 miles between Charlotte’s urban core and the South Carolina state line.

The project is being advanced as a public-private partnership. NCDOT has described the plan as a congestion-management effort intended to provide more reliable travel times on a corridor that carries significant commuter and freight traffic. The agency’s published materials also frame the project as part of a regional express-lanes network connecting to existing managed lanes on I-77 and I-485.

Where the project stands

NCDOT has already initiated procurement activity. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was released on Aug. 15, 2025, with subsequent addenda issued in October 2025 and January 2026. The RFQ process is typically used to shortlist private-sector teams before soliciting final bids through a Request for Proposals (RFP). While NCDOT has continued to update procurement documentation, the timing of an RFP and a final contract award remains a focal point for local officials and opponents seeking additional review.

In parallel, the agency has presented preliminary design concepts for the corridor, including elevated segments intended to reduce direct impacts to nearby neighborhoods and community sites. Public meetings and community forums over the past year have included competing proposals ranging from at-grade widening to elevated and parallel-lane alternatives.

Equity and neighborhood impacts at the center of the dispute

Opposition has intensified in historically Black communities along the corridor, including west Charlotte neighborhoods near Uptown that have long cited the legacy of prior highway construction. Community leaders have raised concerns about displacement risk, noise and air pollution, and the distributional effects of tolling—particularly whether priced lanes provide meaningful congestion relief while limiting access for lower-income drivers.

Local government debate has also sharpened. In recent weeks, multiple Charlotte City Council members have publicly signaled interest in pausing or delaying the project to allow additional community engagement and review of alternatives. At the regional level, the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) is a key player in the project’s history and governance, including prior decisions related to advancing the corridor through long-range planning and prioritization.

What a temporary restraining order could change

A temporary restraining order is an emergency court measure that can temporarily halt an action while a broader legal dispute is considered. If filed and granted, such an order could slow or suspend near-term steps in procurement, potentially affecting NCDOT’s schedule for moving from qualification screening to final bid solicitation.

• Project scope: managed toll lanes along I-77 South through Charlotte, roughly 11 miles
• Estimated cost cited in public project materials and coverage: about $3.2 billion
• Procurement status: RFQ released Aug. 15, 2025; addenda issued through Jan. 28, 2026
• Key issues in public debate: displacement risk, historic neighborhood impacts, air/noise concerns, and toll affordability

Community opposition has increasingly focused on whether major design and financing decisions are being made before residents see final impacts and alternatives.

No court filing had been publicly detailed in the materials reviewed at the time of publication, and NCDOT has continued to present the project as active in both community engagement and procurement planning.