Public Can Comment on Proposed Toll Hikes

The Illinois Tollway will hold hearings starting this week to get the public's opinions on a proposed a $12 billion capital plan that motorists would pay for by paying higher tolls.

Tolls would increase by 35 cents at a typical mainline toll plaza. Revenue from the increase would fund capital improvements through 2026. The plan includes:

• Reconstructing and widening Interstate 90 from Interstate 294 to Rockford.
• Reconstructing more than 20 miles of the central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and the Edens Spur (I-94)
• Preserving the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88)
• Preserving the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355)
• Repairing roads, bridges and maintenance facilities
• Other capital projects, including local interchanges

Cash-paying motorists currently pay double the tolls of I-PASS users. When rates increase, those who pay cash would continue to pay double that of I-PASS users. Some tolls will increase by 35 cents. The 35-cent hike would be applied to 40-cent tolls. Other toll plazas would increase by 45 cents.

A press release from the tollway states that this is the first rate hike since 1983, but that is not taking into consideration that the rates doubled for non-I-PASS toll users in 2005.

The Tollway will present details of the plan at the upcoming public hearings. Also the Tollway is seeking feedback on its Web site.

Here is a complete schedule of the planned public hearings:

4-6 p.m. Aug. 18:

• Kane County—Kane County Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Building A, Geneva

7-9 p.m. Aug. 18:

• Cook County—Chicago Ridge City Hall, 10455 S. Ridgeland Ave., Chicago Ridge

• DuPage County—DuPage County Government Center, 421 N. County Farm Rd., Wheaton

• Will County—Village of New Lenox, 1 Veterans Pkwy., New Lenox

7-9 p.m. Aug. 19:

• Boone County—Community Building, 111 W. 1st St., Belvidere

• DeKalb County—NIU-Convocation Center, 1525 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb

• Lake County—Libertyville Civic Center, 135 W. Church St., Libertyville

• McHenry County—Village of Huntley, 10987 Main St., Huntley

7-9 p.m. Aug. 22:

• Lee County—Comfort Inn, 154 Plaza Drive, Dixon

• Ogle County—Comfort Inn & Suites, 1122 N. Seventh St., Rochelle

• Whiteside County—Sterling Municipal Building, 212 3rd Ave., Sterling

• Winnebago County—Clock Tower Resort, 7801 E. State St., Rockford

4-6 p.m. Aug. 23:

• Cook County—Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Ct., Schaumburg

7-9 p.m. Aug. 23:

• Lake County—Buffalo Grove Village Hall, 50 Raupp Blvd., Buffalo Grove

“Over the past year and a half, the Tollway has worked to engage business owners, community leaders, elected officials, environmental groups and other stakeholders to learn about which transportation projects are important to the growth of the Midwest region,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “The plan we’ve presented reflects their insights, and now, we want to hear from our customers and other members of the communities we serve through these public hearings.”

All of the public hearings will be webcast live on the tollway’s Web site to provide access for those unable to attend the hearings in person. In addition, the tollway is soliciting comments on its Web site and posting video of all public hearings at illinoistollway.com.