Blagojevich proposes carpool lanes for toll roads

Drivers who carpool will get a break from the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, which today announced plans to create "Green Lanes" for vehicles with two or more occupants.

The tollway also outlined two major construction projects - the rebuilding of the problematic I-290/Route 53 and I-90 interchange plus creating an interchange between I-294 and I-57 in the south suburbs.

The car pool lanes are expected to reduce pollution emissions significantly and speed up commutes for people using them, tollway Chairman John Mitola said. Single-driver cars that sneak into the green lanes will pay significantly higher tolls.

Hearings will start in November on the plan.

Eighty miles of Green Lanes will be instituted in the metropolitan region along I-88, I-355, I-90 and I-294. The cost is about $400 million.

Fixing the I-90 and I-290/Route 53 interchange and buildiing the I-294 and I-57 interchange are pegged at $1.4 billion.

The improvements will be paid for by borrowing the money and increasing tolls for commercial vehicles starting in 2015.