A measured approach to tollway speed limits

A recent letter to the editor suggests that the Illinois Tollway is behaving “negligently” by taking a measured approach to the state’s new speed limit law. We appreciate the author’s passion for this issue, but with due respect to him, the law in question does not actually grant the Tollway the sweeping authority to change our speed limits to 70 mph throughout the tollway system, and particularly in the areas closer to Chicago, which the author wishes for.

Rather, the new provisions in the Illinois Vehicle Code still mandate that the Tollway be guided by expert traffic engineering studies, which the Tollway promptly conducted upon passage of the new legislation earlier this year.

The Tollway’s studies, performed by a nationally renowned independent engineering firm, concluded that approximately 30 percent of our system (85 miles of toll road) can safely handle an increase to 70 mph. As a result, our patrons will soon see increased speed limits on parts of I-88, I-90 and possibly on the Tri-State Tollway. It is certainly possible that additional speed limit increases could be implemented as extensive construction projects across the tollways conclude in coming years.

As responsible leaders of the Illinois Tollway, we will continue to review speed limits in the context of current legislative authority granted to our agency, safety performance across our system (which, I am pleased to say, is among the highest in the nation), congestion history, roadway design and construction schedules, among other factors. The Tollway’s highest priority has always been — and will remain — the safety of our customers.

Kristi Lafleur

Executive director

Illinois Tollway