Post by Logan on Jun 2, 2016 14:34:30 GMT -6
The effort to stop the Interstate 77 toll lanes got new life Thursday when the N.C. House passed a bill to cancel the contract to build the lanes.
House members approved the bill, co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Charles Jeter of Huntersville, 81-27 with strong bi-partisan support.
Though passage sends the bill to an uncertain fate in the state Senate, supporters were encouraged by the 3-1 vote.
“That should send a loud message to Gov. Pat McCrory that this is a bad project for our communities, for our commerce and for our citizens,” said Bill Russell, president of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce.
In a floor debate, Jeter told colleagues the problem is the 50-year contract with I-77 Mobility Partners, a subsidiary of the Spanish firm Cintra.
Read more here: www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article81344977.html
Texas had its own problems with a Cintra regarding State Highway 130 which is a toll road that runs roughly parallel to Interstate 35 starting at Seguin (east of San Antonio), bypassing Austin, and continuing north to Georgetown. The northern segments of the highway are owned by the Texas Department of Transportation while the southernmost segments are owned by Cintra. The expected traffic volume never materialized and the bondholders were left with unpaid debt. The state also assumed the responsibility of maintenance for the southern segments. On the positive side, the new tollway is inspiration for the phrase "I Can't Drive 85".
www.texastribune.org/2016/03/02/sh-130-toll-road-files-bankruptcy/
House members approved the bill, co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Charles Jeter of Huntersville, 81-27 with strong bi-partisan support.
Though passage sends the bill to an uncertain fate in the state Senate, supporters were encouraged by the 3-1 vote.
“That should send a loud message to Gov. Pat McCrory that this is a bad project for our communities, for our commerce and for our citizens,” said Bill Russell, president of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce.
In a floor debate, Jeter told colleagues the problem is the 50-year contract with I-77 Mobility Partners, a subsidiary of the Spanish firm Cintra.
Read more here: www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article81344977.html
Texas had its own problems with a Cintra regarding State Highway 130 which is a toll road that runs roughly parallel to Interstate 35 starting at Seguin (east of San Antonio), bypassing Austin, and continuing north to Georgetown. The northern segments of the highway are owned by the Texas Department of Transportation while the southernmost segments are owned by Cintra. The expected traffic volume never materialized and the bondholders were left with unpaid debt. The state also assumed the responsibility of maintenance for the southern segments. On the positive side, the new tollway is inspiration for the phrase "I Can't Drive 85".
www.texastribune.org/2016/03/02/sh-130-toll-road-files-bankruptcy/