‘Plan B’ opts for less painful toll hike in short term

The Illinois tollway can fix its roads and build new ones at a fraction of the cost of the official plan, an agency official says.

Tollway board Director Bill Morris introduced a Plan B Monday, recommending a 15-cent toll increase compared to the agency’s proposed 35-cent to 45-cent boost at most plazas.

“It can be done without the 35-cent increase in basic tolls now,” said Morris of Grayslake, adding that the higher increases would be tough on the average driver.

Tollway Chairman Paula Wolff said she hadn’t a chance to review Morris’ report in detail. “I’m pleased he worked on it and came up with an alternative,” she said. “It will be considered, and we’ll move forward with a series of public hearings and see what people have to say.”

The tollway in July introduced a $12 billion, 15-year capital plan. It would:

Ÿ maintain existing roads for $8 billion;

Ÿ expand the Elgin-O’Hare Expressway east into the airport and construct a western bypass around O’Hare;

Ÿ build an interchange at I-57 and the Tri-State;

Ÿ study expanding Route 53 into Lake County; and,

Ÿ widen the Jane Addams Tollway.

Funding is based on toll hikes of 35 cents at 40-cent plazas, 45 cents at 50-cent plazas and increases at ramps ranging from 15 cents to 45 cents.

Morris’ plan would raise tolls by 15 cents at 40-cent plazas with corresponding increases elsewhere. His concept is for a 10-year — not 15-year — capital plan and he recommends reviewing expenses and revenues every three years to see if more toll increases are needed.

Morris’ proposal allows for maintenance of roads, widening the Jane Addams and for work on the Elgin-O’Hare and I-57/Tri-State interchange. He acknowledged that projects such as Elgin-O’Hare and the interchange likely will require an additional rate hike.

“If you do 15 cents now and a nickel or dime in three years and a nickel or dime in another three years, it makes more sense than doing it all at once,” Morris said.

Morris also called for a share in economic development profits generated by the Elgin-O’Hare and I-57/Tri-State projects through special taxing districts to capture new sales or amusement taxes.

That idea, however, won’t be popular among local mayors who pushed back against a similar concept specific to the Elgin-O’Hare.

“Generally, when an interchange is built, there’s tremendous economic development in the community ... We have to have shared pain with shared benefits,” Morris said.

Wolff said the original plan made sense to a number of board members because it met the agency’s capital needs and priorities after a lengthy air-out process.

But, she added, “We’re open to other suggestions. We may discover there’s a better way to do it and that would be great.”

Another Morris recommendation is to generate revenues on new construction by using congestion pricing, in which drivers pay more during peak times to use express lanes.

His plan also assumes the eventual extension of Route 53 north of Lake-Cook Road, providing Lake County communities reach a consensus on the design of the controversial project.

Public hearings start Thursday.