(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Illinois Tollway Board approved around $70 million in contracts on Thursday, as part of its move to offer windshield stickers that would collect tolls, much in the same way transponders have done since the ’90s.
Chief Operating Officer Jeff Donoghue said drivers can connect stickers to their I-PASS accounts in minutes — and they don’t require a deposit or batteries.
“Great, new technology that’s a significant improvement over our existing transponders,” he said.
Each sticker is estimated to cost between $8 – $10 less than the hard, plastic transponder it will eventually replace, and it can be mailed to drivers.
“The cost of the stamp alone is more than the cost of the sticker tag, so is a key saving for the tollway, but it also means fewer violations, fees and fines for the customer,” he said.
Donoghue said drivers can keep their old transponders as long as they haven’t expired. The transponders are expected to remain functional for the foreseeable future. Drivers can request a sticker starting in January 2024, and the tollway plans to begin mailing them directly to customers next summer.
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