First public hearing held on proposed toll hike tied to $26.5 billion road improvement program

As Illinois lawmakers are on pace to institute the state's largest toll hike ever, some motorists and truck drivers attended the first public hearing on Monday night to discuss the possible increase in North Chicago.

The new proposal could cost motorists an additional 45 cents and about a 30% increase for commercial trucks starting next year. A pass through the Illinois toll system already costs anywhere from 30 cents to $1.50 per trip with an iPass and more without it.

During the 5:30 p.m. meeting at the Greenbelt Cultural Center, no one at the hearing outwardly spoke out against the hike. However, at a nearby rest stop, some expressed that they don't support the proposed toll increase. 

"You commute every day, whether it's a job or anything of that nature, yeah, it can become expensive," said Jericho Harris.

Harris says though he doesn't want to see the price increase, he feels like he has no choice in the matter. 

"I don't think people have the option to go around it," he said. "If they just increase it, you just have to deal with that, you know?"

Meanwhile, Joseph Mixon said he avoids tolls "like the plague."

"I take the off ramps, and then go around. I don't take the tolls because they is getting a little bit too pricy," he said.

Back inside the meeting—a different tune, as construction engineers, drivers, and engineers were in favor of the hike for the capital improvement program.

The 15-year program proposal has an estimated $26.5 billion price tag for bridge repair, road widening and new tech.

"This plan wasn't developed overnight and it wasn't developed in isolation. Driving Connections is the result of a multiyear effort of public outreach, planning, and collaboration," said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse.

Tollway executives explained the increase by pointing out the system does not receive taxpayer dollars from the state or federal governments. 

Ahead of Monday's meeting, drivers said the hike would be inconvenient, but unavoidable.

"Right now it's not a great time for adding expenses anyway," said Art Peevey.

"I could take like a separate route, but I mean that's just not very convenient, so I mean, I'll probably just bite the bullet on it," Declan said.

Don Schaefer, president and CEO of Mid-West Truckers Association, represents 4,500 members and says they feel left out of the conversation—adding truckers will likely pass the additional costs to consumers and possibly reroute shipments to avoid the tollway system entirely, particularly for long-haul routes through Chicago.

"You know, those costs are gonna have to be paid by the consumer," Schaefer said. "You know, if we're shipping goods, shipping services, if we're doing something, that just, that's part of the cost of doing business. And, you know, thus it gets, you know, it gets passed on. It has to get passed on."

The increase is not yet official.  If approved, the increases would begin on Jan. 1 and would be adjusted every two years after based on inflation. 

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority will hold 12 more public meetings through July 24. Comments can also be submitted online through Aug. 3.