Toll Rate Questions

When does the toll rate increase take effect?

The toll rates will change for cars at midnight on January 1, 2012.

Are toll rates going up for trucks, too?

No. Toll rates for trucks are not scheduled to increase in 2012. The toll rate increase for trucks is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2015.

Are there any discounts?

Yes. Cars with I-PASS pay 50 percent less than customers who pay cash. I-PASS transponders can be picked up at an Illinois Tollway Customer Service Center or at Jewel-Osco. I-PASS transponders can also be ordered online at www.illinoistollway.com.

What are the new toll rates?

Rates vary by road, toll plaza and ramp. The Illinois Tollway offers drivers many ways to get information about the new toll rates. Signage with the new toll rates is posted at every toll plaza. In addition, drivers can stop at a manned tollbooth or any of the Tollway Oases to pick up a complete list of the new toll rates. You also can find out what your new rate is at www.illinoistollway.com by downloading a rate table or by visiting the Illinois Tollway Virtual Map, an interactive, user-friendly map designed to assist customers find location-specific information about toll rates, mile markers and Oasis locations.

I didn't know about the toll rate changes – how has the Tollway told the public about this?

The Tollway underwent a very public process, including 15 public hearings in August, to discuss the toll rate changes and the new Move Illinois Capital Program the toll increase supports. In addition, the Tollway began posting signage on the roadway and posters at its Customer Service Centers in November with information about the new toll rates. Additional public service announcements are airing on NBC Channel 5 and FOX-TV, as well as on the overhead radio that plays in Jewel-Osco stores throughout Illinois.

Is the money from this toll increase being used to fund the state's budget?

No. All tolls collected on the Illinois Tollway are invested back into the Tollway and will be used to fund the 15-year, $12 billion Move Illinois Program. The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system, which means that no state or federal tax dollars are used to support maintenance and operations.

Why do you need to raise toll rates?

A toll rate increase is necessary to fund the new $12 billion Move Illinois Program. The Illinois Tollway has developed this comprehensive, 15-year capital program to complete the rebuilding of the 52-year-old system and to improve mobility, relieve congestion, reduce pollution and link economies across Northern Illinois. More details are available at www.illinoistollway.com.

Why do rates vary on different parts of the Illinois Tollway?

Rates on the Illinois Tollway vary by roadway, toll plaza and ramp. There is variation in the cost per mile depending on which section of the Tollway you travel.

The Illinois Tollway sets its toll rates at a level necessary to maintain and operate the system while retiring its bond debt. Rates for new roadways are established based on estimated costs of a project in the year in which the new roadway will be built.

Since the original Tollway system was built in 1958, there have been three extensions to the Illinois Tollway:

• I-88 from IL Route 56 west to its current terminus near Dixon in the 1970's
• I-355 from I-55 to Army Trail Road in the 1980's
• I-355 south extension from I-55 to I-80 in 2000's

Rates on newer roadways are higher than other sections of the Tollway system because it cost more to build them due to inflation and other economic factors.

 

The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system, which means that no state or federal tax dollars are used to support maintenance and operations. Further, only those who use the system pay for it.

Can I get change at the manned toll booths?

Yes. Toll collectors at manned toll booths can provide up to $3 in change.

Can I use half-dollar coins or $1 coins to pay tolls?

Yes. You can use both types of coins at the automatic coin baskets on ramps and manual toll collection lanes.

Can I use dollar bills to pay tolls on ramps?

No. Paper money is not accepted at automatic coin baskets on ramps. The Tollway accepts all coins, including $1 coins, in the automatic coin baskets on ramps. To avoid searching for exact change and to receive a 50 percent discount on toll rates, drivers can consider getting an I-PASS transponder.

What will happen if I put a dollar bill into the coin basket on a ramp?

The toll payment will not be counted and it will be considered a violation.

I didn't have coins to pay the toll on the ramp – what can I do?

The Illinois Tollway grants a 7-day grace period to pay your unpaid toll. Making a payment can be done online at www.illinoistollway.com or through the mail. Make note of the location, as you will be required to identify the unpaid toll location when submitting the unpaid toll payment. Payments must be received by the Tollway within the 7-day grace period or the unpaid toll will be considered a violation.

What should I do if the light won't turn green?

Customers should stop and pay the correct amount of money for the toll. If you have done this and the light still does not turn green, you can proceed. Under most conditions, it takes between 5-10 seconds for coins to be counted in an automatic lane. Paying additional money is not necessary.

Will I get a violation if I paid the toll and the light didn't turn green?

The violation enforcement system is structured so that violation notices are not issued when toll machines are jammed or malfunctioning. The most common reason that the lights do not turn green is that the automatic coin basket is jammed due to bent/mutilated coins, debris, garbage or other foreign materials thrown in by other customers. When jams occur in automatic lane machines, a maintenance alarm is automatically triggered, and a service representative is dispatched to clean and realign the machine.