Toll hike to fix, extend roads not a done deal

Don't chuck that I-PASS out of the window yet.

Reports that the Illinois State Tollway Authority was poised to raise tolls to pay for new construction are incorrect, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority leaders said. But it's true the agency faces some tough and expensive choices concerning future projects.

"There is no proposal on the table for a toll increase," tollway Chairman Paula Wolff said Monday. "Currently, there is no discussion going on about a toll increase."

There's a lot of work to talk about, though, including widening the Jane Addams Tollway for up to $2.5 billion or extending the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway, along with a western bypass for $3.6 billion.

But all of these ideas are optional for the tollway - not necessary, officials said. And some board directors were quick Monday to express their objections to a toll increase.

"Unless it's proven that it's really needed, I would not be the one proposing it right now or be enthusiastically behind it," tollway Director and Naperville Mayor George Pradel said.

With the ouster of Gov. Rod Blagojevich last year, Gov. Pat Quinn appointed four new tollway board members including Wolff. New Executive Director Kristi Lafleur's first day was Monday.

The revamped administration is in the midst of reviewing big-ticket projects the tollway could grapple with next, that it's nearly completed the $6 billion rebuilding and widening program. With the state's budget crisis, the tollway's considered the only entity in Illinois with the ability to raise revenues for public works, so there has been a lineup of groups asking the agency to adopt particular projects.

But the tollway is nowhere close to a decision, Wolff said.

With 50-year-old pavement, I-90 between the Kennedy Expressway and Rockford badly needs repairs. The agency could simply resurface the highway and has budgeted $342 million for that scenario. Rebuilding the tollway and adding a lane in either direction would cost about $1.9 billion, if the agency acts now. A more ambitious future plan to include public transit options such as the STAR suburb-to-suburb rail line would cost $4.6 billion - but about one-third of those costs are transit-related and the actual construction costs for the tollway are $2.5 billion.

Director Bill Morris said the tollway is not only in transition, it's also trying to regain public trust. The agency was tainted by Blagojevich's corruption arrest in connection with allegations he tried to extort donations linked to tollway projects.

"My position is there's not a plan for a toll increase ... period," Morris said. "I personally think we can't even talk about raising tolls until we have our house completely in order. We have to restore faith that the tollway is an efficient and honest operation."

The Jane Addams should be a priority because it's an existing road, Morris said, adding that a combination of existing funds, borrowing and grants could pay for the work. Other revenue options include creating a premium lane that costs more than standard tolls but would attract drivers because it's less congested, he added.

Other projects under consideration are the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway, the extension of Route 53 into Lake County, and the Prairie Parkway, connecting I-88 and I-80 in the far western suburbs.

"We don't have to do any of them," Pradel said. "Leadership might be saying 'no.'"

Morris said any new highways the agency undertakes should pay for themselves.

Tollway Director James Roolf confirmed the board hadn't talked about toll increases but said the agency's rates are among the lowest in the country. "Obviously, as you look to the future, you have to constantly look at everything," Roolf said.