Drivers seek alternate roads after toll hike

A spike in rates has translated to a drop in drivers on Illinois tollways.

The number of car transactions dipped by 4.5 percent since Jan. 1 when fees nearly doubled, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority officials said Tuesday. Truck tolls will not increase until 2015. In 2010, the agency experienced about 820 million total transactions.

The 4.5 percent is better than a 5.9 percent decrease the agency's engineers predicted, spokeswoman Wendy Abrams said.

“We understand that no one wants to pay more in commuting costs, especially during these challenging economic times. And, we also understand that, faced with higher costs, our customers will intuitively experiment with new travel routes,” Abrams said in an email response to a Daily Herald inquiry.

The tollway decided to raise rates in August to fund a $12 billion construction program.

“We are pleased with this slightly favorable outcome and hope that our customers will see that, even with the toll rate change, the Tollway continues to be a great value,” Abrams said.

Some I-PASS users begged to differ.

“I have yet to use the tollway to or from work since Jan. 1,” said Hoffman Estates resident Ron Brewer, who previously used I-90 and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to reach work in Evanston.

“I haven't even bothered to figure out how much I'm saving because this is just an individual protest. Golf Road is just fine. The weather will have to be bad before I use the tollway again,” Brewer said via email.

Gary Kouba, who commutes between Roselle and Woodridge, said he has “boycotted” the tollway since Jan. 1. “I'm glad I did,” Kouba said. “Even with the old rates, it was expensive.

“Using an alternate route adds 1.8 miles to my drive or eight minutes time. Not bad at all. I'm not sure what the politicians are thinking. Do they know the economy has not recovered yet and people are struggling? A five or 10-cent increase would be one thing, but doubling it?”

Administrators projected the hike would generate about $288.6 million in 2012 — or about 42 percent more than in 2011. Early numbers show a 45.7 percent jump thus far. That is expected to level off later in 2012, officials said.