10/1/04-Illinois Tollway officials have approved a plan that would scale back proposed toll increases on trucks by expanding the hours for off-peak discounts. But rates for truckers will still more than double Jan. 1, 2005.
In August, Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposed nearly quadrupling the tolls truckers pay on the Illinois Tollway. With that plan, the toll for a five-axle tractor-trailer would have risen from $1.25 to $4. During off-peak hours – 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. – the toll would have been $3, more than double the current rate. Truckers would not have received a discount for I-Pass use.
The plan approved Sept. 30 increases the number of hours truckers can receive the off-peak rate and allows the discount even if they use I-Pass.
From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., all truckers – paying with cash or I-Pass – will pay the off-peak $3 rate. Additional off-peak hours for truckers using I-Pass will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, and all weekend long. During those additional hours, truckers paying with cash will pay the $4 rate.
All truckers using the toll roads would pay the full $4 from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays – when the Tollway’s routes are clogged with commuters in the Chicago area.
The toll is charged at each toll plaza a truck passes through. On the Tri-State Tollway, truckers must pass through five.
The plan was approved during a meeting of the Tollway Authority Sept. 30. The rate changes are scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1.

9/22/04-The Illinois Tollway is considering a plan that would scale back proposed toll increases on trucks.
In August, Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposed nearly quadrupling the tolls truckers pay on the Illinois Tollway. Under that plan, the current toll for a five-axle tractor-trailer would have risen from $1.25 to $4. If that truck passed through the tollbooth during off-peak hours – between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. – the toll would be $3, nearly triple the current rate. Truckers would not have received a discount for I-Pass use.
The new proposal expands the discount by increasing the number of hours during which truckers can receive the off-peak rate.
From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., all truckers, either paying with cash of through I-Pass, will pay the lower $3 toll. Truckers with I-Pass will also pay the $3 rate from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, and all weekend long.
All truckers using the toll roads would pay the full $4 from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays – when the Tollway’s routes are clogged with commuters in the Chicago area.
The new version of the plan has not yet been approved.
While all trucks will pay more, many four-wheelers will not. Most cars will pay 80 cents, double their current 40-cent toll, under the plan. However, car drivers who use the I-Pass system would pay the current toll of 40 cents.
Tollway officials said they plan to get input from the public in each of the 12 northeastern counties served by the system before any toll increase takes effect. If the Tollway Board approves the new toll rates, construction under the plan could begin late this year. Under that schedule, the new rates would take effect Jan. 1, 2005.

8/27/04-Gov. Rod Blagojevich has proposed nearly quadrupling the tolls truckers pay on the Illinois Tollway, the governor’s office announced.
Under the plan, the current cost for a five-axle tractor-trailer would rise from $1.25 to $4 at most of the current toll plazas, a Tollway spokeswoman said. Trucks traveling through toll plazas during off-peak hours – between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. – would pay $3, nearly triple the current rate.
For example: A trucker running the full length of the Tri-State Tollway through the Chicago metro area now pays $7.40 over five toll plazas. Under the governor’s proposal, that toll would increase to $23.50 – roughly three times the current cost.
Cars will pay 80 cents, double their current 40-cent toll, except I-Pass users, who would face no increase.
The release from the governor’s office was particularly blunt in justifying the increased truck rates.
“The damage caused by one truck equals that caused by 10,000 cars, so it is only fair that trucks pay more,” Blagojevich’s office said in the release.
The governor’s office said the money would pay for road improvements.
If the Tollway Board approves the new toll rates, construction under the plan could begin late this year. Under that schedule, the new rates would take effect Jan. 1, 2005.