Beyond 77

The Beyond 77 Study delivers Strategies & Solutions informed by resident feedback and evaluation of existing conditions along the study area. For more information related to the process and deliverables that helped to shape the study, explore the buttons below.

A Beyond 77 Task Force was established to guide the Mobilization Phase. The Task Force was asked to review and approve a Beyond 77 marketing plan, evaluate and prioritize a shortlist of recommendations, bring partners and stakeholders together to collaborate on strategies and solutions, and analyze potential alternative funding solutions.

The CRTPO is advancing towards the next phase of the Beyond 77 implementation process, called the Beyond 77 Coalition, focused on narrowing and assigning the strategies and solutions forged out of the initial study.

Additional information regarding the Coalition will become available as it is organized and made available to the public.

2017 – 2019

• The I-77 Corridor Study is incepted to comprehensively capitalize on past efforts and generate a vision for the parallel network and the east-west connections along the corridor, as well as other modes of transportation.
• The study will be funded using $2 million of NCDOT State Planning and Research Funds and is anticipated to be completed within 2 years.
• In Winter of 2017, interest meetings with elected officials from jurisdictions along the corridor and stakeholder agency leadership were held. The attendees provided meaningful feedback and expressed their thoughts on the significance of the study.
• Technical scoping meetings were held with the Technical Coordinating Committee members from varies municipalities along 77. A draft technical scope and study area was outlined during these meetings and used to develop the advertisement of the RFQ for the study, which closed on August 7th, 2018.
• On October 22, 2018, Charlotte City Council approved the execution of a municipal agreement with NCDOT to accept funding and negotiate the consultant contract, staff ultimately selecting Atkins Engineering Inc, along with four subconsultants: CDM Smith, DRMP, BowStern, and the Conti Group.
• The I-77 Corridor Study official kickoff meeting was conducted on September 13, 2019 at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center, with project plans, phases, and tasks approved by CRTPO staff and the Steering Committee following the kickoff meeting.
• Data collection and the Phase 1 kickoff meeting was conducted on November 5, 2019 at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center.
• Three stakeholder meetings were held on December 17, December 18 and January 28 at the Charles Mack Center in Mooresville, Central Piedmont Community College – Harper Campus in Charlotte and Center City Partners in Charlotte, respectively.

2020 – 2022

• Three stakeholders meetings were held on December 17, December 18 and January 28 at the Charles Mack Center in Mooresville, CPCC Harper Campus in Charlotte, and Center City Partners in Charlotte, respectively.
• The study website, Beyond77, and survey went live on January 16, 2020; officially launching the public engagement campaign for Beyond 77 – Move Us Forward.
• The Steering and Advisory committees participated in several working sessions throughout the study. Topics included existing and future conditions assessment, vision and needs workshop, innovation and technology brainstorming, strategies and solutions workshop, implementation, and funding.
• There were three public engagement opportunities during the study, Phase I – data collection, Phase II – analysis, and Phase III – solutions. During Phase IV, the recommendations and final report were distributed.

2022 – current

• A Beyond 77 Task Force is established to review and approve a five-year marketing plan; coordinate with other major initiatives; evaluate and prioritize the shortlist of recommendations; and determine potential alternative funding solutions.
• The Beyond 77 Task Force completes nine meetings from May 2022 to October 2023.
• The Beyond 77 Focus Group convenes four times from September 2022 to October 2023.
• The Focus Group develops the guidelines and responsibilities of the Coalition, set to form in early 2024.