2 days ago
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I-77 program offering free rides reaches milestone
I-77 Mobility Partners is celebrating another milestone in its ongoing efforts to improve regional mobility and enhance connections to essential services.
In July, the company surpassed more than $100,000 in free rides on the I-77 Express lanes for participants in its groundbreaking I-77 Community Assistance and Rate Equity Solutions (CARES) Program – a venture that provides improved access to financial well-being, health care, education and additional opportunities.
'We believe this is one of the first programs of its type in the country,' says David Garcia, CEO of I-77 Mobility Partners. 'As a proud member of the Charlotte and Lake Norman region, we understand the peace-of-mind that reliable travel can offer all our neighbors as they travel to job interviews, doctor's visits and other important appointments.'
An Innovative Solution
I-77 Express is a public-private partnership between the North Carolina Department of Transportation and I-77 Mobility Partners that developed an innovative solution to a critical transportation corridor that was often plagued by congestion. After responding to a competitive state-led procurement process, I-77 Mobility Partners secured more than $500 million in private financing – money that did not come from taxpayers' pockets – allowing the NCDOT to make major improvements to 26 miles of I-77 roughly 20 years ahead of schedule.
Those improvements have decreased travel time for all drivers – not just those who chose to use the express lanes. For example, average weekday peak period speeds in the free general-purpose lanes have increased 30-40% since prior to construction in 2015 – and that's despite a 13% increase in traffic volume.
I-77 CARES
Piloted in partnership with the Mecklenburg County Department of Community Resources in 2023, the I-77 CARES Program began by offering five free rides per month to any resident who received assistance through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Program.
As demand grew, I-77 Mobility Partners formally launched the program in 2024 by expanding its scope to residents in Iredell County and doubling the number of free trips each month to 10.
Notably, the company pays all costs associated with the program, including reimbursing the counties for the time it takes their employees to verify the applicants' information.
A Wonderful Program
'I rely on my father to take me to my medical and dental appointments,' wrote one participant in a recent poll of the program. 'So, the plan gets me to my appointments on time.'
Another wrote, 'I appreciate this program so much. It helps me get my grandson from daycare. I feel much more comfortable in the toll lanes away from all the traffic.'
And yet another wrote, 'Thank you so much for this wonderful program. We appreciate you so much.'
Additional Donations
In addition to the more than 17,000 free trips it has given away through the I-77 CARES program, I-77 Mobility Partners is on track to donate more than $750,000 to area schools and nonprofits. In particular, it is focused on promoting STEM education in Title One schools, reducing teen-driver accidents and eliminating food scarcity.
'I-77 Express has proven that managed lanes offer drivers the choice of reliable travel times while improving traffic flow and speeds in the free, general-purpose lanes,' says Rob Boisvert, Director of Corporate Affairs for I-77 Mobility Partners. 'Moving forward, we will continually search for ways in which we can further improve the surrounding community and the people we serve.'
