Photo by Jason Benavides
June 18. By Dave Vieser. After an eight-year absence, Cornelius has voted to rejoin the Lake Norman Transportation Commission (LNTC). The decision was unanimously approved at the Town Board’s Monday June 18 meeting.
“I am confident we will be stronger together as we continue to work with each other to solve all levels of transportation challenges and needs,” said Mayor Woody Washam. Huntersville is also planning on rejoining the commission as well.
Woody Washam | Photo by Jason Benavides
Background
The LNTC was initially designed to help the towns in Mecklenburg County work together on regional transportation issues, providing a unified voice when dealing with the NCDOT or federal transportation authorities.
However eight years ago, as the I-77 toll lane issue percolated, Huntersville and Cornelius pulled out, dissatisfied with the cost—about $80,000 a year split four ways among Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville and Mooresville, vs. the benefit.
The toll lane issue, while still a source of concern, has cooled down while attention has become more focused on alternate transportation modes, including express buses and a possible Red Line commuter rail project.
The organization will be funded as follows, with the amounts based on population:
Iredell County-$10,000
Mooresville $15,390
Statesville $8,360
Davidson $4,330
Troutman $1,296
Cornelius $8,992
Huntersville $17,447
The agreement states that each member community will have two members on the commission: the Mayor and the Town Manager. In Cornelius, Commissioner Robert Carney will be the alternate for Mayor Washam and Deputy Town Manager Wayne Herron will be the alternate for Town Manager Andrew Grant. The LNTC meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of each month.
Other action
At the same meeting, the commissioners approved a revised interlocal agreement governing county-wide public transit.Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, Davidson, Huntersville, Cornelius, Pineville, Matthews and Mint Hill had signed onto the original agreement in 1999 to help govern CATS.
The original agreement was signed just a few months after Mecklenburg County voters approved a half-cent sales tax to finance public transportation systems. The new agreement, which will expire on June 30, 2034, gives more control over the region’s transportation systems to the county and towns, such as Cornelius.
The new pact includes Cornelius, the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville.
