In 2007, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) partnered with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, the Charlotte Department of Transportation and other regional agencies to conduct the Charlotte Region Fast Lanes Study. This regional study analyzed existing and planned highway corridors in 10 counties in greater Charlotte and identified highway segments where the introduction of express lanes could reduce congestion. The study identified the I-77 North corridor as a high priority.
In 2009, NCDOT conducted a feasibility study considering the conversion of the existing HOV lanes on I-77 to express lanes and extending the converted lanes to Catawba Avenue (Exit 28) in Cornelius. In July 2011, the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO)-the region's Metropolitan Planning Organization-amended its 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) to include a project creating one express lane in each direction on I-77 with a combination of HOV conversions and new construction.
In 2012, NCDOT refined its plans for the I-77 Express Lanes and explored the possibility of teaming with a private developer to implement the project in response to new legislative developments allowing P3s in North Carolina. In June 2012 CRTPO amended its 2035 LRTP and 2012-2018 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to include the conversion of the existing HOV lanes to express lanes, adding a second express lane on I-77 between I-85 (Exit 13) and I-485 (Exit 19) and building two new express lanes between I-485 and Catawba Avenue.
In May 2013, CRTPO again amended its 2035 LRTP and its 2012-2018 TIP to include express lanes along I-77 from I-277 (Brookshire Freeway/Exit 11) in Mecklenburg County to N.C. 150 (Exit 36) in Iredell County. In July 2013, NCDOT gained federal environmental approval for the I-77 Express Lanes Project.