Chicago Construction News staff writer
The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors has approved a $26.5 billion capital program that will guide work across the agency’s nearly 300-mile system through 2042, along with new toll rates for passenger and commercial vehicles beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
The Driving Connections program is intended to address congestion, aging infrastructure and the transportation demands of the growing Northern Illinois region through work on roads, bridges, interchanges and system access.
The toll rate increase will be the first in more than 15 years. The Tollway said the new rates will remain below the national average, while future biennial adjustments for all vehicles will be tied to the Consumer Price Index.
“This is about planning responsibly for the future of a transportation system that is critical to our region,” Tollway Board Chairman Arnie Rivera said in a statement. “The Driving Connections capital program earned the support of the Tollway Board of Directors because connecting people and businesses through smart planning, strategic partnerships and collaborative projects will deliver benefits for the entire region.”
The $26.5 billion program will be funded primarily through toll revenue. The Illinois Tollway, a user-funded system, receives no state or federal tax dollars. Revenue generated by the toll increases will support maintenance and operations, as well as debt service on revenue bonds used to finance capital improvements.
The new program follows more than two years of strategic planning, analysis and public engagement, including 13 public hearings across the 12 counties served by the Tollway. The agency said it received more than 13,000 comments, with affordability, road maintenance and reduced traffic delays among the priorities identified by customers.
“We listened, we planned and now we have a responsibility to deliver,” Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse said.
“Nearly 1.7 million drivers rely on this system every day, and our responsibility extends well beyond the next construction season. We know where congestion is growing, and we know how our infrastructure ages. Driving Connections gives us a responsible path to meet those needs and keep Northern Illinois moving for the next generation.”
The program will focus on rebuilding and rehabilitating roads and bridges, improving interchanges and access, reducing traffic delays and carrying out other systemwide work.
The Tollway pointed to previous capital projects as evidence of the potential benefits. Improvements to the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, or I-90, reduced travel times by approximately 25 minutes, according to the agency, while the I-294/I-57 interchange project is saving drivers up to 13 minutes.
The need for additional work comes as congestion continues to affect the Chicago region. According to transportation analytics firm INRIX, the average Chicago driver spends about 100 hours a year in traffic, costing an estimated $1,800 in lost time. That compares with a national average of 43 hours annually.
Tollway officials said the Driving Connections program is designed to improve travel reliability, strengthen connections for people and businesses and support the movement of goods throughout the region as transportation demands continue to grow.
