In 2007 the city of Charlotte partnered with the N.C. Department of Transportation, the S.C. Department of Transportation, the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization, and other local and regional agencies to initiate the “
Fast Lanes Study.”
This study examined existing and planned major highways throughout a 10-county area and identified corridors that could benefit most from express lanes to help manage congestion during peak travel periods. The initial findings targeted U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) for additional study.
After further evaluation, the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization added the U.S. 74 express lanes projects to its 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, which was adopted in April 2014. Also in 2014, U.S. 74 Express Lanes – I-277 to Idlewild Road became a proposed project.
The proposed U.S. 74 Express Lanes – I-277 to Idlewild Road project was included in Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization’s 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, which was adopted in March 2022.