Review of I-77 Express Lanes Project

North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA)

Mercator was retained by the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) to review the public-private partnership (P3) agreement between the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and I-77 Mobility Partners LLC, the private consortium awarded the contract to finance, develop, design, construct, operate and maintain the I-77 Express Lanes Project. The primary purpose of the Mercator review was to identify potential policy options that might address questions and concerns expressed by project stakeholders and members of the public regarding implementation of the high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes concept.

The final report, which was delivered in September 2017, identified a range of potential options for NCDOT consideration related to the project scope and the terms of the P3 agreement. Mercator subsequently advised NCTA on potential options for negotiating changes to certain commercial and financial terms that might address concerns expressed by members of the public and the state legislature.