Tollway pushes largest toll tax hike on drivers in Illinois history
The tollway authority will vote on raising passenger tolls by 45 cents.
The Illinois Tollway is now pursuing the largest passenger toll hike in Illinois history, which would raise both the cost of travel and goods transported in the northern part of the state.
The tollway board on June 18 proposed its first passenger toll hike since 2012. It would be the largest passenger toll hike in state history.
Passenger drivers would see an increase of 45 cents per toll, driving the average up to $1.24, based on the most recent data. Commercial tolls could rise 30% from an already all-time high.
The average tollway driver hits about two of these toll plazas each day, based on agency reports.
According to the legislation which allows for the proposed toll tax hikes, it would also introduce “a biennial escalator tied to the Consumer Price Index-U, capped at 4% per year, beginning on January 1, 2029, to fund the 2026 capital plan.”
The tollway board, which will vote on the hike, was appointed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker who himself an ex-officio member, as is his appointed state secretary of transportation.
By law, before voting the board must hold public meetings in each county the proposed toll hikes would take effect.
The toll hike, estimated to bring in up to $1 billion more a year, is being considered to help fund the 15-year, $26.5 billion Driving Connections capital plan, according to a press release.
Revenue bonds also would be used to support the plan, which includes more than $6.6 billion “to reduce congestion” on the Veterans Memorial Tollway.
Another $3.5 billion would be dedicated to projects on the Reagan Memorial Tollway, including adding a new access point, and $3 billion is slated for projects on the North Tri-State Tollway, including bridge reconstruction and road improvements.
This is all for a tollway system that was supposed to become free more than 50 years ago. From then until 2024, drivers paid at least $27 billion in Illinois tolls.
Moreover, the proposed hike comes when the tollway is taking in more toll revenue than ever, according to the most recently available data.
The tollway reported more toll revenue in 2024 than in any year in its history, with most of it coming from commercial vehicles.
According to the Illinois Trucking Association, the proposed hike would ultimately raise the price of everyday items transported by trucks in the state.
The authority has also collected more in tolls each year since 1973 than it needed to operate and maintain the system, with these net revenues peaking in 2024.
If the board approves the hikes, it must publicize any changes at least 30 days before they take effect. That means Dec. 2 is the latest the board could approve hikes to take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
With tollway revenues at all-time highs, it’s time residents weigh in.
You can tell the tollway board to reject the tax hike here or attend the public meeting coming to your northern Illinois county this July and tell them in person.
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/stop-the-toll-hike/