Question of the day
Monday, Jul 20, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Marni Pyke…
As Illinois tollway leaders promote a new $26.5 billion capital plan and related rate hike, one underlying justification is that passenger vehicle fees haven’t risen since 2012.
That’s small comfort to truckers who face a 30% spike in 2027 under the agency’s proposal despite paying annual cost-of-living toll increases for years, industry representatives said. […]
As an example, I-PASS rates for a large truck at the Tri-State Waukegan plaza would grow from $15.90 now to $20.65, if the new plan, Driving Connections, is approved. […]
“My expenses for tolls are going to go up almost half a million a year,” said Moran, who spends about $1.2 million in tolls annually. “That’s a lot of money and it’s going to roll right back to the consumers.” […]
The agency cited a national report finding gridlock costs commercial trucks $7,588 annually. […]
The Mid-West Truckers Association stated tolls have spiraled between a total compounded amount of roughly 85% and 100% over the last 20 years. That’s because of increases of 40% in 2015 and 10% in both 2016 and 2017, then annual inflation increases in 2018, the association said.
* The Question: Should the proposed commercial vehicle toll hike be reduced? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
- Anyone Remember - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 1:51 pm:
No. Trucks cause a disproportionate amount of road damage, and are subsidized by passenger vehicles.
- Think Again - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 1:51 pm:
Voted yes - increased tolls will lead to two eventualities - increased costs on consumer goods, and worse traffic/potholes on state routes like Lake Street/Route 20 ( an alternate to the Jane Addams)
- Cool Papa Bell - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 2:01 pm:
Yes - If I understand this and truck tolls have already been boosted then they shouldn’t increase as much.
- Leslie K - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 2:02 pm:
No. Wasn’t the tollway system supposed to go toll-free once costs were recovered? If it isn’t (and clearly, it isn’t), then the users with the most impact should bear the most cost.
- Pundent - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 2:20 pm:
No. Moving a heavy container of goods on an Illinois tollway and paying $20 per toll for that container doesn’t seem egregious.
- Benjamin - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 2:23 pm:
No. If this is the price we the consumers have to pay for goods to be delivered by truck (instead of, say, rail or barge), then so be it. It just makes those other, more environmentally friendly options look better.
- Toll free in 73 - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
NO tolls should be eliminated.
- Louis G Atsaves - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 2:41 pm:
Nothing like an affordability question. Everything that comes off a truck delivery has a transportation expense attached to it, including tolls.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 2:46 pm:
===Wasn’t the tollway system supposed to go toll-free once costs were recovered?===
There were some promises made, but in the end, it was either raise gas taxes or keep the tolls.
- Old Guy - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 3:26 pm:
Users and those who do the most damage should pay more.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 3:28 pm:
No. I took my kid to camp in Indiana this summer. Between IL and IN on the Skyway, my tolls were $25 each way. The increased cost passed along to consumers from the commercial vehicle toll hike is de minimis. Tolls are expensive. So are good roads.
- Banish Misfortune - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 3:42 pm:
Everything I’ve ever read indicates that commercial vehicle tolls do not cover the wear and tear that these vehicles cause on the roadway. I therefore support the increase. If the companies complaining about the increase can demonstrate that that is not true then it might be reconsidered. I doubt that that is true.
They just want further subsidies.
- Flexible One - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 3:49 pm:
The amount they will have to pay is substantially higher than what they are required to pay now which will be passed on.
- Distant Viewer - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 4:16 pm:
I don’t think the argument that “the cost will be passed on to the consumer” holds any water. The cost would be born even more by Illinois consumers in the form taxes without the fee. We end up paying for roads one way or another.
- Pundent - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 4:24 pm:
=I don’t think the argument that “the cost will be passed on to the consumer” holds any water.=
Good point. A lot of these trucks are merely passing through on their way to other states. Keeping their tolls lower means that residents of this state would have to pay more to generate the same tax dollars. It’s one of the reasons that hotel taxes are as high as they are. It’s a lot easier to extract money from a taxpayer that doesn’t vote in your state.
- Annon'in - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 4:27 pm:
Votes no. Maybe fewer trucks, less congestion and speedier trips.
- Frida’s Boss - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 4:51 pm:
“-Votes no. Maybe fewer trucks, less congestion and speedier trips.”
Sure Jan
- Stix Hix - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 5:43 pm:
– Between IL and IN on the Skyway, my tolls were $25 each way.–
Umm, just pointing out, the Skyway is not a part of the Illinois Tollways.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Jul 20, 26 @ 9:19 pm:
Nothing is having a more direct and obvious impact on the cost of consumer goods than the man at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Iran War. Tarriffs. Immigrant labor shortages.
There’s about 300 miles of toll roads in Illinois. Crossing them costs $100 more in diesel thanks to Trump’s war in Iran.