Illinois Tollway Notes

[Rick Powell]

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/illinois-new-mass-transit-bill-means-trips-to-ohare-will-get-more-expensive-heres-how-much-tolls-will-go-up/3845868/

A major toll increase (up to 60%) will be coming to the tollway system!

The toll increase was advertised as part of the overall transit funding package, but as I read it, the toll increases are going to be completely self-contained within the tollway system to help fund their next major capital improvement program and none of the toll increase will go to the 3 service agencies (CTA, Pace, Metra) or the new "NITA" regional transit overseeing agency. There will be more going to the tollway and less to the the IDOT and local highway agencies due to additional transit funding from the sales tax on fuel and from the interest earned on the state's road fund which otherwise would have gone largely to highways. The increased tollway funding sort of offsets the loss of funding on the "non-tolled" system, especially in the Chicago and suburban area, but lots of grumbling downstate where they got some additional help for the bus transit systems but not for highways.

[Joe The Dragon]

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/illinois-new-mass-transit-bill-means-trips-to-ohare-will-get-more-expensive-heres-how-much-tolls-will-go-up/3845868/

A major toll increase (up to 60%) will be coming to the tollway system!

The toll increase was advertised as part of the overall transit funding package, but as I read it, the toll increases are going to be completely self-contained within the tollway system to help fund their next major capital improvement program and none of the toll increase will go to the 3 service agencies (CTA, Pace, Metra) or the new "NITA" regional transit overseeing agency. There will be more going to the tollway and less to the the IDOT and local highway agencies due to additional transit funding from the sales tax on fuel and from the interest earned on the state's road fund which otherwise would have gone largely to highways. The increased tollway funding sort of offsets the loss of funding on the "non-tolled" system, especially in the Chicago and suburban area, but lots of grumbling downstate where they got some additional help for the bus transit systems but not for highways.

Will the EOE tolls go up per point?

[Revive 755]

Will the EOE tolls go up per point?

I haven't seen the actual text of the bill but it certainly sounds like it.  If true, this isn't going encourage use of IL 390 and the future I-490 (since I-490 will have three places to get hit with the extra 45 cent toll (see Page 4/33, https://agency.illinoistollway.com/documents/20184/101637/20240418%20EOWA%20LAC%20Meeting%20Presentation.pdf/2e8b8583-d1b8-94fd-a3fa-9fa063ca64b6?version=1.3&t=1715633565067) versus one using I-90 and I-294.

[Joe The Dragon]

Will the EOE tolls go up per point?

I haven't seen the actual text of the bill but it certainly sounds like it.  If true, this isn't going encourage use of IL 390 and the future I-490 (since I-490 will have three places to get hit with the extra 45 cent toll (see Page 4/33, https://agency.illinoistollway.com/documents/20184/101637/20240418%20EOWA%20LAC%20Meeting%20Presentation.pdf/2e8b8583-d1b8-94fd-a3fa-9fa063ca64b6?version=1.3&t=1715633565067) versus one using I-90 and I-294.

Just cut some tolling points even with out the added 0.45 that link needed to be about the same price not $0.50 or more higher
Maybe they can them JR tolling points for less or have an virtual ticket system to make it all count as one trip with the 0.45 fee.

[3467]

The tollway is getting an extra billion a year for construction. If they don't do route 53 what do they do?Ike and Stevenson?
Bring back 53 ? I DOT has been dragging its feet on the land issue

[Revive 755]

^ That is probably one of the main reasons the increase does not sit well with me.  There should have been some project(s) announced before the tolls got bumped, or some signs that the existing tolls were not enough to maintain the current roadways.

There are plenty of potential projects I can think of that would go over a billion rather quickly.

[3467]

Also does it say where the projects have to be because the holidays are in District 2and 3 . So could they do a Galena Bypass or a Yorkville Bypass?

[ET21]

I would have to imagine 53 is the next target, especially with the pending Bears infrastructure coming up.

I wouldn't mind having them take over and do a HOV/Express lane for I-55 from 294 to the Ryan, though that's been in talks for decades.

On another sidenote, more gantries are now up for NB/SB 294 between Plainfield Rd and Ogden. It looks like the new sections between Cermak and Ogden on the SB side is almost complete. Ogden to 55th Street is pretty much ready to open, and median barriers are all that remains from 55th St to Joliet Rd. 

[ChiMilNet]

IL 53 (or would it be future I-355 extension) would make sense for ITHSA, but make sure it includes the entire section North of I-90 plus the long needed extension into Lake County.

I-55 between at least I-294 and I-90/94 and I-290 between I-294 and the Circle/Burne Interchange would be good to have them manage HOT express lanes (and for good measure, take the lead on maintenance with IDOT still chipping in the funding for the non-tolled lanes).

[Plutonic Panda]

Are we thinking an IL 53 extension might happen after all? Because it doesn't seem that long ago it was going to happen and then it was killed with people saying it is dead for good. What would be different this time?

[3467]

I DOT had been dragging its feet on turning it over to DNR for a park but the size of this though and the influence of the construction unions on this deal.....I wouldn't write it off yet.
If it's a billion a year then it has to be spent somewhere .
Anyway it's so vague now I am just speculating
Maybe someone will find the details.
How much construction money?
Where can they spend it In the state?