Illinois Tollway board approves toll hike

[The Northerner]

The Illinois Tollway board today approved a plan that would nearly double tolls to pay for an ambitious $12.1 billion program of expanding and building highways.

Basic I-Pass toll rates from 40 cents to 75 cents, with those who use cash continuing to pay double what I-Pass users do.

The vote was 7-1, with Bill Morris ofGrayslake the lone no vote. The increase will go into effect Jan. 1.

Tollway officials say the new rates will still be a bargain and allow them to reduce congestion, create thousands of jobs and address badly needed improvements like widening and rebuilding to Jane Addams Tollway (I-90) between Rockford and O'Hare International Airport. At 6 cents per mile, the Illinois tollway system would rank in the bottom third among other tollway systems in the country.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-tollway-board-expected-to-vote-today-on-big-fare-hike-20110825,0,1500403.story