Illinois Tollway Notes

[JoePCool14]

That's what I'd prefer to see. Transit should not be funded by tolls, especially when those tolls are from mostly suburban drivers.

[Brandon]

I know where some of that increased toll revenue could go towards and was recently shot down in the recent state senate session

*cough MASS TRANSIT cough*

Can't tell if you're sarcastically supporting that or not. The idea of raising toll prices, taking that revenue and building mass transit with it when the highway network needs improvements is pretty disgusting.

No I wasn't joking, mass transit in this country is one of the most underfunded aspects of transportation. The local network could be so much better if there at least had a somewhat decent annual budget to improve on. The IL Tollway isn't hurting for money, all its roads are in pretty good shape.

If you're concerned about the rest of the highway network, maybe those tolls can help IDOT

In that case, the expressways should be sold to ISTHA.

[I-55]

I know where some of that increased toll revenue could go towards and was recently shot down in the recent state senate session

*cough MASS TRANSIT cough*

Can't tell if you're sarcastically supporting that or not. The idea of raising toll prices, taking that revenue and building mass transit with it when the highway network needs improvements is pretty disgusting.

No I wasn't joking, mass transit in this country is one of the most underfunded aspects of transportation. The local network could be so much better if there at least had a somewhat decent annual budget to improve on. The IL Tollway isn't hurting for money, all its roads are in pretty good shape.

If you're concerned about the rest of the highway network, maybe those tolls can help IDOT

In that case, the expressways should be sold to ISTHA.

This is number one on my list of things that have hindered Chicago traffic: not allowing toll roads in Chicago city limits has led to the expressways being underbuilt. I guarantee that if ISHTA owned them there would be significantly less delays.

[Henry]

I know where some of that increased toll revenue could go towards and was recently shot down in the recent state senate session

*cough MASS TRANSIT cough*

Can't tell if you're sarcastically supporting that or not. The idea of raising toll prices, taking that revenue and building mass transit with it when the highway network needs improvements is pretty disgusting.

No I wasn't joking, mass transit in this country is one of the most underfunded aspects of transportation. The local network could be so much better if there at least had a somewhat decent annual budget to improve on. The IL Tollway isn't hurting for money, all its roads are in pretty good shape.

If you're concerned about the rest of the highway network, maybe those tolls can help IDOT

In that case, the expressways should be sold to ISTHA.

This is number one on my list of things that have hindered Chicago traffic: not allowing toll roads in Chicago city limits has led to the expressways being underbuilt. I guarantee that if ISHTA owned them there would be significantly less delays.

That problem is not limited to Chicago, because a lot of the US's largest cities don't have any toll roads running through them either (New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, etc., and toll bridges don't count). Houston is currently the largest city with a toll network that includes Beltway 8 and the radial Hardy, Westpark and Ft. Bend toll roads. They truly are a big help to that city, which has gone on to rebuild its freeways and do the most excellent job at it too.

[Revive 755]

This is number one on my list of things that have hindered Chicago traffic: not allowing toll roads in Chicago city limits has led to the expressways being underbuilt. I guarantee that if ISHTA owned them there would be significantly less delays.

Not allowed or most of the unbuilt corridors were already dead when the funding that would have allowed them to be built toll-free starting running low?

(and assuming the Skyway is only counting as a toll bridge).

[thenetwork]

That's what I'd prefer to see. Transit should not be funded by tolls, especially when those tolls are from mostly suburban drivers.

Look at the PA Turnpike's mess with the state.  The Pike was required to fork over millions to the state for off-turnpike, mass- and alternative-transit options (bike lanes, etc...).

Now, you need to take out a loan to traverse the entire PA Turnpike because of skyrocketing tolls, and some mass transit options that were to have benefited from the toll sharing are STILL doing major cutbacks (SEPTA in Philly) and wanting more money from the golden goose.

Imagine that formula being applied to the Chicagoland area -- passenger vehicles would be paying $5-$7 just for that short I-80/I-294 stretch in no time!

[JoePCool14]

Yikes, good point. Ultimately, the real problem is corruption and theft of our tax dollars for things that have no right to be funded. But that will be a problem as long as the sky is blue.

The only real course of action for transit is for transit to raise their ticket prices and stop fare-jumpers.

[Rick Powell]

There was an initiative several years ago from the regional planning agency CMAP that included tolling existing lanes and lane expansions on Chicago-area expressways and using a portion of the proceeds to fund alternative transportation. See the bottom left slide on p. 4, Exhibit B of this link. Although it was supposed to be finalized in 2019, I don't think the proposal has gone too far in an implementation any time soon. The realities of construction inflation and the resulting complications in bonding capacity covering the cost of highway expansion or conversion projects don't leave much room for any additional proceeds to be skimmed off the top, from what I've seen.   

https://nwmc-cog.org/transportation/transportation-committee/transportation-documents/meeting-documents/nwmc-trans-agenda-1-25-18

[ChiMilNet]

For the record, I do NOT support, in any way, using tolls from the ISTHA (or any other agency) to fund mass transit. The tolls should remain funding just the tollway operations, maintenance, and expansion. It is unfortunate mass transit in Chicagoland is facing a funding cliff, but there are many reasons for that which I won't get into here. However, I would support the conversion of more expressways in Illinois (and other states) to tolled facilities in exchange for much needed upgrades and maintenance. IL 390 serves as a good example as it was converted to a tollway, and finally it was extended and given expanded capacity (yes, at a cost). However, no way that would have happened in our lifetimes with it remaining with IDOT (that discretionary funding just isn't there). I-290 and I-55 are just two examples in Chicagoland that would benefit from toll conversion. Downstate IL even could benefit from if there were any actual willpower to try to sell it. Yes, I know it would be a very uphill battle (however, I-55 in Springfield, I-55/70 Metro East, anyone???).