Illinois Tollway to drive tolls higher starting in January

Driving the Illinois Tollway is about to get more expensive starting next year, now that members of the tollway's board have approved the first fare increase in 15 years.

Wednesday's vote was unanimous for the measure, which raises tolls for most of us by as much as $0.45 per toll gate, and commercial trucks by as much as $0.30 per toll.

It also locks in automatic toll increases tied to the rate of inflation every two years starting in 2029, as part of a $26 billion dollar measure designed to improve the area's toll roads.

Executive director Cassaundra Gause told board members before the vote that the overall toll of $0.11 per mile is still below the national average for other tollway authorities.

"Nearly 1.7 million drivers rely on the tollway system every day, and their expectations are clear," Gause said. "They want a system that is safe, a system that is reliable and prepared for the future."

Chief financial officer Kathy Williams said the plan was crafted after months of discussions with stakeholders: "Our goal with this proposed toll rate increase is to carefully balance project benefits with costs for drivers."

During the meeting, every person who spoke during the public comment period was in favor of the increase, including one woman who said the measure "will help ensure that families like mine can continue to reach life's most important moments safely and efficiently."

But the tollway admits that 76% of commenters online oppose the increases.

After the vote, the American Council of Engineering Companies, which represents the engineering industry, released a statement praising the plan. "We applaud the visionary approach of the Tollway's leadership and board and thank Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly who made this investment possible," it said in part.

But a spokesperson for the conservative Americans for Prosperity bashed the increase. "Illinoisans already face the highest overall tax burden in the country. Gov. Pritzker should be looking for ways to lower that burden, not piling on another massive increase," said the group's deputy Illinois Director Brian Costin.