Toll increase bullies drivers

The Illinois Tollway does not need an outrageous 88 percent toll increase at this time.

Even Director Bill Morris’ proposed 38 percent increase is too much. How many people who drive the toll road have seen their incomes increase by 38 percent to 88 percent in recent years? Pay cuts of 38 percent to 88 percent are more likely.

Governments continue to increase taxes and fees to perpetuate their self-sustaining, self-protecting bureaucracies at the expense of the taxpaying public. Government must find ways to deliver more with falling prices, not with price increases.

Recently, the Daily Herald ran an article using a carefully selected group of toll roads in other states to make the Illinois toll increase look modest by comparison. Of the states not included in the article, consider Kentucky. Kentucky once had nine toll roads totaling over 650 miles — more than double the Illinois Tollway. But since November, 2006, Kentucky has zero miles of toll road in their state.

What happened? They built the roads, paid-off the bonds, and ended the toll burden. Also, their gasoline tax, state sales tax, and income tax are all lower than Illinois. Yet, their state finances are in much better shape than Illinois. It can be done.

Some of the projects the Illinois tollway proposes are of dubious value. For example, the proposed I-57/I-294 interchange project is strictly a gift to road contractors and unions, in true Blagojevich tradition. Life in the South suburbs will not improve one iota as a result of this project.

Bullies will always keep taking until the victims say “no.” It’s time to say “no” to increased tolls in Illinois.

Bill Edwards

Libertyville