Illinois Tollway Authority Whacks Drivers With Painful Toll Price Increase
Board Approves Plan That Nearly Doubles Toll Prices
This one is going to hurt.
On Thursday, the Illinois Tollway Board of Directors approved the $12 billion, 15 year capital plan which not only makes infrastructure improvements to the tollway system, but nearly doubles the cost of toll prices for most drivers.
This price boost will cost motorists using I-PASS transponders an additional 35 cents per toll, jumping the current 40 cent toll to 75 cents–an 87% increase. This is the first toll increase for I-PASS users in 28 years.
After a series of 15 listening session meetings around northern Illinois of the state, the board approved the plan on a 7-1 vote based on the overall positive response that came in from the over 1,900 attendees, letters, emails and the Tollway’s website. The Tollway Authority says over 85.5% of the response was positive with only 9.5% of attendees opposing the plan.
The breakdown of support from the online comments that were collected was a slightly different. Online, 72% supported the plan and 22% opposed.
Only board member Bill Morris voted against the plan. Morris tried, but failed to convince other board members to move forward with a milder rate increase.
“This is a practical, financially sound plan that relies on user fees to maintain and improve the Tollway system and take on regional projects that will reduce congestion and improve travel for millions of commuters and businesses,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “We recognize that no one wants to pay more, but this is a reasonable increase that provides tremendous benefits through a toll rate that remains lower than what most others pay across the U.S.”
Tollway press releases seem to bend over backwards to not only extoll the positive benefits of the capital plan, but also document all the private and area government support for the plan.
Yet despite the price increase, the Illinois Tollway will rank 29 of all 41 toll roads in the U.S. as far as cost.
The price increases go into effect January 1, 2012.
They must have used the same survey company that claimed most Chicagoans would welcome changing Marshall Field’s to Macy’s.
Do these IDOT people really believe Illinoisans are this stupid? Most people are glad their tolls are jumping so dramatically?
And as my father has been saying for decades — he recalls when the tollways were originally built — those bonds were all long ago repaid and every mile of the roads were supposed to convert to freeways! 25+ years ago!
Blago was a comedic sideshow with a convenient fallguy. This tollway deal, and those like it before, is really one of the worst frauds on the public in Illinois.
What a courageous vote by the tollway board. They are all appointed political hacks and therefore accountable to nobody. Not like they have to worry about getting reelected or anything.
Can the city of Chicago boot your car for excessive unpaid I-Pass tickets?
No.
Chicago can only boot for city parking tickets and RLC tickets. The Illinois Tollway Authority is a separate entity and does not have an immobilization program.
Lets all bypass the IPass and use all other routes possible. Who needs this? I will drive side streets over paying this increase. fundementally WRONG!!
Bob -
I already do that as much as possible. I live in Downers Grove and go to the NW burbs a lot for work – Addison, Roselle, Hoffman Estates, etc. It would be very easy for me to jump on 355 to get there. But I take RT 53. I would rather drive 15 more minutes than pay $1.50 to drive 10 miles. Maybe it’s petty, but to me in the principle. Same reason I havn’t paid for street parking since the meter deal. I would rather spend 15 minutes looking for space on a side street than pay 25c for 5 minutes to park on the street.
87% increase in the toll rate is reasonable? It smells like IL corruption is at it again. Where is the real authority when we need one?
You can say a million things and complain until the cows come home, but really there is only one word required….
CROOKS
Just looked at my January Ipass bill, $62.00. What a crock from these people. The toll authority has never been accountable to anyone and this proves it, the monopoly of government is a sweet thing if you’re on the money side. 87% increase, why not since all businesses raise their prices 87% when they feel the need. I cant remember all the times our corrupt governors said they’d reign in the toll authority when they were running for election and then squat once they got in. IL is one of the most corrupt states in the Union and here’s another example. Bite it IL drivers and taxpayers, too bad for us.