ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Illinois Tollway has approved a new capital program that will result in the largest toll rate hike in state history.
The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors voted to approve the $26.5 billion “Driving Connections” program, which would focus on rebuilding and rehabilitating roads and bridges throughout the tollway system. Project funding would also go toward financing project bonds.
The program will be funded through an increase in toll rates, with passenger cars paying 45 cents for I-PASS users and 30% for commercial vehicles using I-PASS. The tollway expects that the average I-PASS toll will increase from $0.07 to $0.11 per mile, which tollway officials maintain is below the national average of $0.16 per mile. Tolls would also increase every other year to adjust for inflation…