Illinois Tollway

[tvketchum]

Originally Posted by richard5933

There are numerous signs at every toll plaza in IL telling drivers that they have 7 days to pay online if they don't pay at the plaza. No change? Just make note of the toll plaza number and pay online later on with no penalty.


Avoiding IL? Not always that convenient - imagine driving from Wisconsin to Indiana (or points east) without going through IL?

SS Badger, or the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Although the Badger carries a hefty fare, the Mackinac Bridge not so much. But if time is the issue, there are non-toll, traffic light clogged roads one can take.

[drmox]

It's easy to bash Illinois for tolls, red light cameras, potholes, and high taxes on gas and diesel. However, inexplicably we are the first state when driving west bound on I-80 to be toll free. After getting absolutely fleeced by NY, PA, OH, and IN, the deep thinking politicians of Illinois give motorists passing through Illinois a free pass. Missing out on the Golden opportunity to score toll revenue from out-of-state drivers, and instead sticking it to resident commuters with tolls on Chicagoland tollways.
Driving across Illinois can be accomplished on a tank of fuel, so fueling up in Indiana, and not stopping until Iowa, you can also avoid our excessive fuel prices.
We should target our tolls more toward out-of-state drivers. You can't truly call it revenue, when it comes from your own residents.
I need to run for governor.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by tvketchum

SS Badger, or the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Although the Badger carries a hefty fare, the Mackinac Bridge not so much. But if time is the issue, there are non-toll, traffic light clogged roads one can take.

This makes little sense as an alternative route from SE Wisconsin. The route through the UP adds at least a day and a half to the trip, and the ferry would be more expensive than just taking the toll roads. I didn't say it was impossible to avoid the tolls, just not convenient. And yes, there are surface roads which will take one around Chicagoland, but again they will add considerable time and lots of stop 'n go traffic.