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* Illinois Chamber President Todd Maisch in Crain’s…
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce believes that business and labor can work together. Here are three areas where they can in Illinois. […]
Business and labor both like to build productive assets for our economy. Unfortunately, the state of Illinois has a history of waiting until the last minute to decide what our critical infrastructure needs are and how to pay for them.
The harsh reality is that our typical answer—an increase in the gas tax—will not meet our future needs. Increasing fuel efficiency and a move to electric vehicles will leave our roads, bridges and transit to the ravages of perpetual underfunding. Illinois leads the nation in the vitality of our transportation system. We must have a better way.
Tolling our interstates, allowing public private options and deciding how we fund our waterways and airports are absolute musts. They may not be instantly popular, but we cannot wait for these complicated issues to be addressed years from now. These issues must be addressed now.
Just for a little context, Illinois raised the Motor Fuel Tax by 19 cents per gallon in 2019 and pegged it to inflation. The most recent MFT increase before that was in 1990 - 29 years earlier.
* The Question: Should Illinois convert its interstate highway system to a tolled system? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:33 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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What a truly stupid idea. To quote Rod, what was he thinking???
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:42 am
I get that tolls make more sense as EVs proliferate and gas taxes start to drop off. I’d be conceptually OK with more tolls if the gas tax went away. But you really can’t have both more tolls and a gas tax.
Comment by Save Ferris Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:42 am
Resounding no
Public private ventures almost always cost more and take away union jobs.
Look at the disasters of so many public private ventures.
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:44 am
I’m not particularly a fan of taxes on specific item just in general, either the gas tax or a toll. At least not when the primary goal is just funding. If you’re trying to do some social engineering (like making it harder to smoke) then specific taxation serves a purpose. But to fund public services I think you cast the net wide and spread the “pain” around as many people as possible, mostly through income tax so it’s not regressive.
Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:44 am
The future of electric vehicles is uncertain. Government leaders seem to be on board, but the public, especially in rural areas are not interested. I will never buy an electric vehicle, and there are millions of people like me in Illinois, and across the country.
Comment by James Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:45 am
== The harsh reality is that our typical answer—an increase in the gas tax—will not meet our future needs. Increasing fuel efficiency and a move to electric vehicles will leave our roads, bridges and transit to the ravages of perpetual underfunding. Illinois leads the nation in the vitality of our transportation system. We must have a better way ==
The challenges to funding interstate highway maintenance are not just heaped on IL alone. The national push towards EVs demands a national solution. US Congress should address it now, not just IL. If it is that big of a priority, then tackle it at the federal level. Great opportunity for bipartisanship.
Comment by CJA Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:45 am
I voted no. My fear is the legislative leadership and governors will fall to the temptation of using toll revenue to supplant highway funding rather than supplement. Democrat, Republican, party is irrelevant.
Additionally, didn’t the legislature and governors re-allocate highway and road funds for other state services in the past?
There is no trust.
Comment by Morambe Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:46 am
Can we make it just apply to cars and trucks with out of state plates? /S
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:47 am
No. Record high cash balances in the Road and Construction Funds even with significant Rebuild Illinois spending occurring.
Comment by Oldtimer Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:47 am
Privatization is always bad. Period. This is just more corporatists looking to profit off public utilities.
I’ve lived in multiple states in my life, and every state has a story about a toll road that was projected to not be a toll road after X date, and guess what: they always are toll roads in perpetuity.
Also tolls and fees are regressive in nature.
So basically, the normal rule applies: assume the Chamber of Commerce is full of it.
Comment by Homebody Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:49 am
Hades no! But I’ll tell you what, Chamber of Commerce dude, let’s put that plan on the ballot along side another proposed constitutional amendment for a progressive tax and see which wins.
Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:50 am
I voted not but would make an exception for out of state plates.
Comment by T.S. Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:50 am
No. And certainly not in the way Todd envisions it. The “public private options” is the tell. This isn’t about addressing infrastructure needs as much as it is finding ways that private enterprises can make money off the tax payers. And tolls are an incredibly regressive form of taxation.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:51 am
Yes. Drive through many States with an interstate toll system much larger than ours in non-urban areas, including most if not all of our surrounding States, and others like Kansas and Nebraska, and the difference in maintenance is clear immediately.
If electric is eventually going to be the dominant vehicle, as many keep insisting, then the money has to come from somewhere and it won’t be gas.
Comment by fs Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:52 am
I voted no. Your ability to get to and from work shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. There should be options for people who can’t afford to use the tollway. The gas tax seems like a fair trade off and if politicans can be responsible it should actually work to keep the roads in decent shape. The chamber got their lockbox amendment, I don’t see why we need this
Comment by lol Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:54 am
I oppose the privitization aspect of this for the reasons already stated.
I would however support something like a user fee. Public transit users pay a fare to offset the costs of the system on which they rely. There’s no reason why drivers shouldn’t as well and there are sound arguments why it shouldn’t be just a gas tax.
If anything the gas tax should be seen as a sin tax rather than as a mechanism to fund transportation.
Comment by JJJJJJJJJJ Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:55 am
Yes. The roads are more and more being built for the sake of transportation companies, intermodal and Amazon and they should pay for it. Just spend some time south of Joliet near 80 & 55, or the 94 corridor up to Milwaukee.
Also add speed cameras. Set them for 15+ over the speed limit and the State would still make a small fortune. 44k dead/yr in US on the roadway is too high and it needs to stop.
Comment by P. Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 9:55 am
public/private ventures suck. They are always ways for the private sector to profit from public goods.
Also they’re hell on labor. Absolutely not that.
The tolls I probably would not mind as much as that, but I would want a tax/fee swap (from gas tax to toll) and then the cost of a EV registration should return to the mean.
Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:00 am
Why not charge EV’s a tax when they hook up their cars to charge them.
Just configure the charging units to add the road tax to their electric bill.
Comment by MOON Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:01 am
I voted no.
Converting all interstate highways to toll roads would make Illinois an odd duck, and would divert a great deal of interstate travel around our state.
I personally believe it would fail to fund improvements sufficiently.
I am convinced the “Interstate System,” which has historically been a Federal Program, needs to be resolved at the federal level, not, on a state by state patchwork approach.
Beyond this, creating an extensive tollway system may have latent discriminatory effects upon the poor, the working poor, and some segments of the working class citizenry.
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:03 am
You can’t trust the chamber of commerce on anything, ever. Private roads and bridges? No way.
I agree that the longer term funding of roads will need adjusting, given the switch to electric vehicles. But increasing the use of tolls is the wrong way.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:08 am
No.
Indiana. Look at privatization. Consider Evansville and Bloomington lack interstate access to Indianapolis.
Oklahoma. Look at the non-toll freeways in urban areas.
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:08 am
Huge NO . . . This will end up having drivers use non-interstate roads more than they already do while traveling.
Comment by Blues Fan Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:08 am
I mean the Tollway is so beloved why not extend it statewide? Sheesh. Read the room/state.
“may not be instantly popular”
LOL.
How about may NEVER be popular.
The Chamber is really assembling a collection of bad ideas. The Todd Maisch Omnibus of stinkers should find a long-term home in the Rules Committee.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:09 am
= they always are toll roads in perpetuity =
Except in one state, Kentucky, where the toll roads actually did become freeways. If Kentucky could keep its promise, why couldn’t Illinois as well as a number of other states?
Comment by cover Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:10 am
Voted no on principle, but many former public run transportation, water and utility functions have been privatized and I am not sure the results have been as negative as opponents suggest.
Comment by Back to the Future Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:11 am
No - too hard to pay for us cash operators -no coin booths now days
Comment by Red Ketcher Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:19 am
Anonymous
It isn’t interstate standards. And won’t be until next year. See … https://i69finishline.com/
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:21 am
Voted no. Even though there may be a case for some limited public-private partnership projects, going wholesale to all tolled highways is too far. While the collection of gas taxes is about the most efficient method, a new method will be needed is what the discussion should be based on fuel efficiency and electrification.
Another issue is procurement method and oversight done at IDOT versus private groups. IDOT has had to tighten up their procurement methods over the decades to provide better public accountability in quantifying procurement selection results.
Lastly, the work effort at IDOT may be more an issue with so many vacancies. Recruiting and retention needs more attention. IDOT seems to do ok hiring good candidates but only when there is an economic downturn. There has been a handful of reposted openings lately. This makes me think there is either a lack of qualified people applying or an imbalance of salary vs responsibilities.
Comment by From DaZoo Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:23 am
== Oklahoma. Look at the non-toll freeways in urban areas.==
The urban areas are literally the only portion of I-44 that aren’t a toll road in Oklahoma. And those toll-free urban areas make up a very, very small portion of that over 300 mile interstate. Much more than we have in Illinois.
Comment by fs Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:27 am
@From DaZoo: == Lastly, the work effort at IDOT may be more an issue with so many vacancies. Recruiting and retention needs more attention. IDOT seems to do ok hiring good candidates but only when there is an economic downturn. There has been a handful of reposted openings lately. This makes me think there is either a lack of qualified people applying or an imbalance of salary vs responsibilities. ==
You just described every state agency when they are hiring for positions that exist in the private sector. Too slow to hire, can’t retain people, under pay for everything.
Government can’t rely on employees taking crap pay and putting up with crap bureaucracy forever out of the goodness of their heart.
Comment by Homebody Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:28 am
I first thought no, but after contemplating it, it may be time to change the infrastructure to match the technology of today. Gas taxes are less obvious, but are still a tax per mile, and are still a tax paid to use a road. By including it in the price of gas it seems more invisible, but it’s still there in function.
But changing it would likely best be done at the federal level and not the state level. Probably something similar to how the federal drinking age was established.
–I will never buy an electric vehicle, and there are millions of people like me in Illinois, and across the country.–
Progress through attrition is nothing new. You are overstating your importance in the matter.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:29 am
He lost me at “public private options.”
I think we all know how that little game is played.
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:31 am
fs
I-244 in Tulsa was one of the worst interstate freeways ever driven on. I-35 in south Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City), over the years, has been and still is a washboard. Both far worse than I-55 in Illinois.
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:32 am
Sure. If 100% of the revenue goes to funding high-speed rail and a robust public transit system.
Comment by Ruth Dakin Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:34 am
I voted yes but only if the gas tax is reduced and no to private partnerships. Only the private enterprises win in the ownership.Also, I agree that this discussion needs to start happen on the federal level. The federal government sends back funding to the states and that money will be getting smaller.
Comment by snowman61 Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:35 am
===Both far worse than I-55 in Illinois. ===
55 is in the best shape that it’s been in as far back as I can remember.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:37 am
Voted Yes- because a user fee probably makes sense goingforward, and would allow for the possibility of a single highway transit agency. But- I am a hard NO on public/private funding. Rich Daley burned that to ash for 99 years.
Comment by West Sider Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:37 am
== I-244 in Tulsa was one of the worst interstate freeways ever driven on. I-35 in south Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City), over the years, has been and still is a washboard. Both far worse than I-55 in Illinois.==
I believe those are also portions that are not toll.
Comment by fs Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:38 am
fs
That is my point. In a state where the major interstate freeways are tolled, the free ones aren’t maintained as well.
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:40 am
Anyone Remember, the fact that other States poorly apportion and prioritize their overall receipts, would not require Illinois to follow that same model.
Comment by fs Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:42 am
Illinois doubled the motor fuel tax and tagged it to inflation. The state also raised the car registration fee by $50 in 2019. On top of all that, Illinois already has tolls on the state highways which were originally supposed to be temporary. Drivers are paying plenty already.
Comment by Kane County Critic Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:44 am
fs
Which state does a good job, in your opinion? Every state ever driven in with tolls, the non-tolled roads are worse than in non-tolled states.
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:45 am
===a hard NO on public/private funding===
Local 150 got a bridge project approved using that formula not long ago.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:45 am
Either way, there’s nothing in today’s question about that topic, so move along.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:46 am
Yes on tolls, but only if the gas tax is significantly reduced. The state can’t demand everyone go electric and then tie the fate of our roads to a gas tax. That’s infrastructure suicide.
P.S. LOLing at some of y’all.
“We demand these complainers come to the table with ideas of their own”
“OK, here’s an idea…”
“NO. They have to be *our* ideas, dummies…”
Comment by JB13 Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:47 am
Voted “yes”, but would absolutely say no to any sort of public-private partnership. I’m fine with starting to expand the toll system gradually through the state so long as it is coupled with a reduction in the gas tax. As someone else mentioned that is a de-facto tax per mile, but it’s also being a sort of sin tax for choosing a less fuel efficient vehicle.
I’d be okay with every Illinois resident being issued an I-Pass transponder for free with their license plate, or otherwise build the technology into the plates. The open road tolling gates already use ALPR technology to catch scofflaws, so why not just lean into that more and do away with the transponder altogether? Sure, someone with a stolen plate could argue about getting charged for tolls they didn’t incur but that’s a quick police report to make those tolls go away.
Modern problems require modern solutions, and while I loathe regressive taxes, I don’t see a better way to prepare for this eventual shift to more EVs that consume just as much road wear/tear as my Prius but pay next to nothing into the system. For each EV that rolls out onto Illinois highways, the burden of paying for those roads falls more and more on the working poor.
== No - too hard to pay for us cash operators -no coin booths now days ==
Pay-by-plate seems to be doing quite well and has made the process fairly seamless. We don’t need to pay people to work tollbooths anymore. Just bill the plate and be done with it.
Comment by Leap Day William Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:48 am
===”NO. They have to be *our* ideas, dummies…”===
Don’t be a snowflake. Have you seen what happened to Martwick when he floated that graduated tax?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:53 am
My eyes glazed over at private-public. Sure… Let’s sell off our highways like Chicago did parking. That went great, right? Everybody loved that. /s
Comment by benniefly2 Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:57 am
I voted Yes with little conviction.
I do think we’re eventually going to have to do something about the gas tax. It’s a long way off, but EVs are only going to grow, so the gas tax revenue will shrink.
I’d want to see numbers. Can the roads that aren’t already toll actually generate much revenue? I dunno.
I’m skeptical, but I voted yes if only because there are already plenty of Nos, lol.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 10:58 am
NO, but with exceptions for new construction of links that will reduce excessive traffic on existing free interstates. One example would be the I57 to I65 link to Indiana.
Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:02 am
No.
Tolls should result in a decrease in gas tax, but what portion of the gas tax is used to pay to upkeep the interstates? I can’t see the taxes being reduced enough to make a difference and still fund state routes and local roads.
Then in a place like Springfield you will have people refusing to get on I-55/72 to go from one side of town to the other and local congestion and road use will increase and cause problems.
And Rich is right I-55 is in really good shape overall. There is still one stretch around Pontiac that is kinda crummy. Drive 55 south of St. Louis to Memphis and its crumbling.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:05 am
Looks like the “Somethin’ For Nuthin’” posse is winning this one. Too bad. Hope the mooches wake up someday.
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:05 am
I voted yes. But the question should be slightly rewritten. Should Illinois introduce more or convert some of its highway into a tolled system? Yes. That’s probably what the Chamber of Commerce was advocating.
Converting the whole system is impractical and not what anyone is pushing for.
Comment by Lakefront Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:08 am
===For each EV that rolls out onto Illinois highways, the burden of paying for those roads falls more and more on the working poor===
You are forgetting the extra $100 charged on top of the annual registration fee.
Illinois motor fuel tax is $0.559 per gallon, so $100 is the equivalent to the tax paid on almost 180 gallons of gas.
That seems like a pretty fair compromise, considering electric cars are rated at 80-120 mpg equivalent.
Just a couple years ago electric cars only paid $36 for 2 years registration. Now it’s $251. How much more do you want to penalize people for doing something they are being encouraged/pushed to do?
Comment by SomeGuy Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:11 am
I voted no but would be open to the idea in the future as electric car use increases and if they can’t figure out a different method for taxing electric car drivers for using the roads. They absolutely need to contribute to maintaining highway infrastructure but both tolls and gas tax for non-electric cars is unacceptable.
Comment by Aaron B Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:12 am
I voted no. This is a better version of the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax. Remember that one?? That was real popular
Comment by Bertram Weeks Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:13 am
=== That’s probably what the Chamber of Commerce was advocating.===
Then the Chamber should’ve made that explicit. This wasn’t an off the cuff remark. It was an op-ed.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:13 am
I voted “No” for this specific reason;
I’d like to see more exhausted from federal funding of the interstate system in Illinois to where a reasonable amount in maintenance is seen as the equation. I’m not a hard “No”, but I’m farther to any “Yes” thinking than “No”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:15 am
I voted yes. The tollway roads are in much better shape compared the interstate roads throughout Illinois. I think it’s a good idea, as the tolls are all electronic nowadays.
It could possibly create more jobs at the Tollway System if we go statewide.
Comment by B Team Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:18 am
Eliminate the MFT.
Enact a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) or toll-based system.
For all intents & purposes, the MFT is a VMT: the more you drive, the more you pay.
Get ahead of the transition to EVs or whatever will be next when combustion engine vehicles are no longer the vehicle of choice. It will be a very long change to complete elimination of gas cars, but it is certainly going that way.
Roads aren’t going away, but the combustion engine will.
Comment by Inverted Pyramid Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:18 am
===The tollway roads are in much better shape compared the interstate roads throughout Illinois===
294 is a mess.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:20 am
Maisch has been quite lazy and simplistic to thought and word, be they remarks or an op-ed
Both opportunities are chances to clearly, in a pithy and smart way, make cases to policy, not “circle-sitting around a candle dorm thinking”
Commenting, say like here in real time, that’s off the cuff, it’s less organized. Speaking on behalf of things or writing policy thoughts, well…
To bring it back to the QOTD, a great deal of the open-ended discussions leading to the QOTD, the Chamber itself could decide a policy to push with an op-ed platform.
Would one call this policy driven or “thoughts” driven… at least the QOTD asks *to* the policy thinking
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:20 am
==Yes on tolls, but only if the gas tax is significantly reduced.==
Roads need more funding. If you are suggesting a dollar for dollar trade off then that isn’t going to work.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:35 am
My understanding is that semi trucks cause far more damage to roads than cars or other vehicles.
Consider raising toll rates on semi trucks so they can pay for the damage they cause.
Comment by Techie Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:41 am
Voted yes to the question. Yes, we should have an entirely tolled interstate highway system. From an economics standpoint, having users pay in proportion to their use is fairest. It disincentives unnecessary travel, and it collects revenue from passers-through. Open road tolling has been here for two decades and has proven to work well.
Practically speaking, however, this is a third rail issue. It is not worth expending the political capital. But if we did, it should just be an expansion of the public Illinois Tollway, not a public/private deal. We would still want a tax on gas, but it should be exclusively used for local roads and mass transit.
Comment by thechampaignlife Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 11:50 am
I believe the locks on the rivers are federally, owned, and operated as is the interstate highway system the state of Illinois should stick to state highways and local roads let Todd know that the taxpayers of Illinois don’t need the fund federally owned assets through illinois gas tax
Comment by Tax payer onIllinois river Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 12:00 pm
Business leader says don’t tax us, tax others for things we depend on.
Comment by Soapbox Derby Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 12:02 pm
I’m a yes….but the devil is in the details to get it all to work fiscally.
Rod, with all his faults, was the Godfather of open road tolling. Had to eat up all my Necco wafers when I got the I-Pass box.
Comment by Jerry Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 12:04 pm
=I believe the locks on the rivers are federally, owned, and operated=
And years ago barge operators opted to increase the taxes they pay on fuel to support the inland waterway trust fund. Doubtful that will ever happen with highways.
Many of those locks are nearing 100 years old and are crumbling. Major upgrades and repairs are just about to happen after decades and decades of asking. Its not a funding model or repair model we want to follow on the interstate highway system.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 12:04 pm
==that the taxpayers of Illinois don’t need the fund federally owned assets ==
While federal funds are often used, states are responsible for maintaining those roads. States contribute plenty of state funds to managing the interstate system.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 12:16 pm
== If electric is eventually going to be the dominant vehicle … ==
From experiences friends have had with electric or hybrid, they are most effective in local driving or relatively short commuting. Outside of the Chicago metro area, that occurs primarily on city streets and State highways, not Interstates. They aren’t very effective / convenient for multi-hour drives, which primarily make use of the Interstates (unless you are a dinosaur like me that deliberately takes 2 lanes most the time). So any new tolls would be on top of the gas tax, not a substitute for it.
And I definitely oppose the public / private partnership that would take a taxpayer funded public good, the Federal Interstate system, and transform it into a subsidized profit center for a private entity.
You want more money for the Interstate system? Get the US Congress to divert some of the bloated US military budget to rebuilding the Interstates. After all, that’s where the original funding for the Interstate System came from, starting during Eisenhower’s Presidency.
Note: I am ignoring a few of the early toll road / turnpike systems built by the states pre WW II because those were not a nationwide effort.
And some of the later toll road add-ons to the Interstate system. Those were sold as only having tolls until paid for, but the tolls never went away.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 12:23 pm
“I will never buy an electric vehicle, and there are millions of people like me in Illinois, and across the country.”
Personal preference I guess, but as a rural Illinoisan, I’ve driven a Leaf for years and know many folks that are converting. Heck, even my local township is installing places for EVs to charge at as part of a downtown revitalization project.
There might be millions of IL citizens people that have vowed to never buy an EV but other than my plate sticker, it’s cheaper all around than a gas guzzler.
Comment by Macoupin Manny Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 12:28 pm
A mileage tax annually would be fair regardless of the car being electronic or combustion. A once a year check of the odometer could be easily done with a phone app and/ or by any number of car-related businesses. There would be offsets or discounts off that tax for certain exceptional situations. Fair and easy.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 12:31 pm
the current tollway should be gone. don’t add another.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 12:37 pm
I voted no for reasons different than what has been stated. If the interstate highways are converted to toll roads, the FHWA will likely want their money back. The State can’t afford to repay the federal government for the billions of dollars that have been spent on the interstate system.
The FHWA typically pays for 90% of the construction costs for interstate projects. IDOT is responsible for the remaining 10 percent.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 12:39 pm
My problem with a mileage tax would be determining which road maintaining entity gets the money. If some person drives mostly on county roads and/or city non-state roads then the tax money ought to go to that bucket. If he drives mainly on interstates in that bucket and if mostly on state roads in that bucket. How to fairly divide?
Good grief there are county roads that are in atrocious conditions, but that load ought to be picked up by the county citizens and not residents in another part of the state.
Maybe make a division based on where the car is domiciled? 10% local, 10% county, 40 % state, 40% freeway?
Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 12:46 pm
I voted yes. I’m against what that guy stated, especially the public private part, but that’s not what the poll question asked. I’m for paying for roads by usage rather than a gas tax. Electric cars are heavier and more destructive. I think we should pay based on the number of miles driven.
Comment by Lurker Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 1:05 pm
So you want to make the public pay a fee to drive on roads that the public paid for through their federal and state taxes? I vote no.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 1:11 pm
Voted no. Going to have to go to a mileage tax.
Comment by Blue Dog Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 1:19 pm
===If Kentucky could keep its promise, why couldn’t Illinois===
The proposal is not for temporary tolls. Stick to the topic at hand.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 1:48 pm
“determining which road maintaining entity gets the money”
This is solved using the existing MFT formula. Local agencies get approximately 50% of the MFT. County allotment is based on number of vehicles registered in the county. Towns and cities are allotted their share based on number of people in the municipality. Township allotment is based on the number of lane miles under their control.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 1:53 pm
I pay enough tolls and taxes in this state. No thanks.
Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 1:57 pm
Voted No, for the reason “Some Guy” gave above. EV drivers already pay for their share of road use through higher license plate fees. I had a plug-in hybrid know how much cheaper it is to drive on electric instead of gas. My next car will be all-electric and I’ve got no problem with forking over some of that money saved at the pump through increased license plate fees.
Comment by Dysfunction Junction Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 1:57 pm
==Maybe make a division based on where the car is domiciled? 10% local, 10% county, 40 % state, 40% freeway?==
Something like that. I imagine, tied into the Secretary of State database, a computer would get your certified mileage report for the year, compare the owner address with their work address, and generate a set of offsets or discounts to pass on to a computer at Revenue. You’d get a mileage tax notice from revenue like you do for other tax data. There would be a worksheet in your taxes where you plug in the mileage tax but can apply discounts the legislature creates, based on certain circumstances, like your income, the weight of the car, type of engine, whatever. Below a certain annual mileage target, you’d get a credit or refund instead of paying any tax. That encourages public transportation and fuel efficient vehicles and walkable neighborhoods.
But I’d try to go simpler on distributing the revenue and just put all the mileage taxes in one bucket, then use an agreed proportioning formula to assign distribution to city, county, state roads, public transportation, etc. based on public input to the legislators and IDOT. That formula would be adjusted periodically but informed by the folks who actually build the roads.
Comment by Give us Barabbas Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 2:05 pm
I am OK with a mileage tax, user pays according to use. The current gas tax along with higher plate fees for EV’s is a bridge mechanism that will probably be OK for the next 5-10 years.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 2:20 pm
No, and I had similar thoughts to Cool Papa Bell. I hardly use the interstate anymore, and I can get any place I need without the interstate. In Illinois, somebody could probably get just about anywhere without using the interstate. All it would take is extra time and maybe some extra miles. So not only could this lead to increased traffic in places like Springfield, it could lead to increased traffic on state highways across the state.
Comment by MyTwoCents Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 4:19 pm
I voted yes, but only with no toll stops and only in rural areas.
==Consider Evansville and Bloomington lack interstate access to Indianapolis.==
Consider I-69 which will be completed by late next year
https://i69finishline.com/about-the-project/
Comment by Vote Quimby Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 4:40 pm
Oops I answered a question already answered. My bad.
Comment by Vote Quimby Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 4:41 pm
The thing I would not like to see are Counties, especially, getting over-awarded. Many of them have flatly not maintained their county roads for decades, and they would be looking at this road money as the solution to their own mismanagement, and of course others would continue to mismanage and do whatever with the money.
Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 4:47 pm
No. If they become toll roads, I and many others will be using other state and county roads. Heavier traffic will cause the roads to deteriorate, and will the tolls help to pay to repair them?
Comment by Pipeline Tuesday, Jan 31, 23 @ 6:03 pm