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Aurora Beacon-News
March 25, 2002
By Guy Tridgell
SPECIAL TO THE BEACON NEWS
Toll increases, one of the most unpopular issues in Illinois politics, likely will resurface now that the primary
election is over.
Tollway officials are preparing a plan to increase tolls and reconstruct key parts of the crumbling roads.
The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, which manages the 274-mile tollway system, is making it clear the
issue cannot wait any longer. Without a major infusion of cash before 2004, the owners of the tollway bonds can
trigger an automatic toll increase.
Expected to be wrapped into the toll increase proposal will be funding to build the Interstate 355 extension
between Bolingbrook and New Lenox.
"They are setting themselves up to do something," said state Rep. Brent Hassert, R-Romeoville. "I
would assume if they brought a plan forward, it would be in the next month or so."
The toll authority, unlike other state agencies, is mostly autonomous. It can raise tolls without approval from
the General Assembly or the governor. Typically, though, the agency looks to them for direction.
After legislation failed last year that would have raised tolls before gradually turning tollways into freeways,
the authority decided to take matters into its own hands.
"Our goal is to have something for the board to discuss this spring," said tollway spokesman Joelle
McGinnis. "Our top priority is addressing the needs of the existing system."
Any increase would be the first since 1983, when the average toll increased a nickel, from 35 cents to 40 cents.
When the tollway opened in 1958, tolls were 30 cents.
Before a toll increase can be passed, the matter is subjected to public hearings in each of the 12 counties with
a toll road. Gov. George Ryan, who authored the plan rejected by the General Assembly last year, appears to have
given the authority permission to do what is needed.
Rumored increase to 70 cents
In one rumored scenario, the toll authority will present a plan that mirrors Ryan's previous proposal to build
I-355 while increasing the average toll to 70 cents.
State Sen. William Mahar, R-Orland Park, said a December meeting with Ryan convinced him the governor will demand
that any increase include I-355 money.
"We came away from the meeting with two conclusions," Mahar said. "One, something is going to
be done with the fiscal condition of the tollway. Two, he totally supports the I-355 extension. Both of them will
be tied together."
Supporters of I-355 said such a package represents the best chance of finding money to get the road built.
"All I can say is it really isn't on our front burner," Ryan spokesman Dennis Culloton said. "We
have much bigger budget problems to deal with."
Speculation is tollway officials and Ryan want to resolve the financial problems of the agency before the end
of the summer. If not, any progress on the issue might grind to a halt amid what is shaping up to be a nasty campaign
this fall.
Push to act before year-end
There is also urgency to act before the next governor, who appoints authority members, takes office early next
year. Some fear by the time a new governor and a new batch of tollway appointees are chosen, it will be too late
to avoid an automatic toll increase in two years.
An ardent tollway supporter, Hassert said if that happens, tollway users will be socked with higher tolls and
no promise that I-355 will ever be built.
"These things should be put to bed in the next six months," Hassert said. "If we don't, we put
ourselves back another two years and we don't get anything in return."