Illinois Lawmaker Proposes Tolls on I-80 Outside Chicago

An Illinois lawmaker has introduced a bill that proposes turning a segment of Interstate 80 outside Chicago into a tolled route.

The bill from Rep. Lawrence Walsh (D-Joliet), filed as HJR50 in March, would authorize the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to include in its toll system the portion of I-80 — specifically between State Route 47 and I-294, which loops around Chicago and is already tolled. In its entirety, I-80 runs from San Francisco to Teaneck, N.J.

Walsh

Interstate 80 is the subject of an ongoing IDOT study to identify a solution to the route’s operational and capacity needs. More than $1 billion is needed to repair the road, according to the agency.

Read more…