Illinois Tollway Lowering Cost of I-Pass

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – The Illinois Tollway tomorrow begins offering discounted costs for I-PASS transponders to customers opening a new I-PASS account ahead of the Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Interchange opening in October.

“The I-PASS is helping drive Illinois into the future offering a safe, fast and reliable way for our commuters to traverse our world-class transportation system,” Governor Pat Quinn said. “This reduced price will help ensure that everyone can take advantage of the incredible benefits the I-PASS has to offer.”

“The initial I-PASS payment may have been an obstacle to some of our customers so we took a substantial step to reduce that burden.” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “Lowering the upfront cost of obtaining I-PASS will make it easier for all of our customers to have access to the benefits it offers.”

As part of a broader campaign to educate customers about the new, all-electronic interchange and encourage them to get I-PASS, the agency is temporarily lowering the cost to $30 for a new I-PASS account from the current $50 or $60.

For new customers, both the initial pre-paid toll amount and the minimum rate to replenish I-PASS accounts will be reduced from $40 to $20 for customers who open new accounts through December 31, 2014.

Additionally, the deposit required to obtain an I-PASS transponder will be permanently reduced from $20 to $10 for all account types.

For existing customers who replenish their accounts manually, a $10 deposit refund will automatically be applied to their I-PASS account balances in the form of a credit to their pre-paid toll accounts. Cash refunds will not be issued. Existing customers also can have their minimum rate to replenish I-PASS accounts reduced from $40 to $20 upon request.

To take advantage of these offers, new and existing customers must call 800-UCI-PASS (800-824-7277) weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit one of the Illinois Tollway’s Customer Service Centers.

These offers are not available online or at Jewel-Osco store locations.

Completing the first phase of the new interchange in October will create access from northbound I-57 to northbound I-294 and from southbound I-294 to southbound I-57, including a new interchange at 147th Street.

I-PASS discounted rates for the new all-electronic interchange will be 75 cents for cars and $1.50 for customers who pay their unpaid tolls online. Truck rates will range from $1.50 to $4.00 during daytime hours, with overnight discounts offered.

In July, the Tollway announced three new initiatives for customers planning to use the new I-294/I-57 Interchange that will make traveling on the new interchange ramps as convenient as possible.

This fall, customers who use the I-294/I-57 Interchange without I-PASS will have 30 days from the date of their unpaid toll to pay online – up from the seven days that applies to other parts of the Tollway system. This limited-time offer will expire on December 31, 2014. Beginning January 1, 2015, customers without I-PASS who use the I-294/I-57 Interchange will have seven days to pay their unpaid tolls.

For added convenience, the Tollway in September also opened a temporary Customer Service Center at the Secretary of State Office in Midlothian. This satellite center located in the heart of the Chicago Southland will remain open through November 26, 2014 to serve local residents who wish to obtain I-PASS, pay their unpaid tolls or receive other assistance.

In addition, the Tollway earlier hosted three I-PASS roadshow events to give local residents an opportunity to get an I-PASS transponder, learn how to avoid toll violations and ask questions and provide feedback to Tollway staff.

The Illinois Tollway operates the nation’s largest electronic tolling system, with more than 87 percent of all toll transactions paid electronically. Currently, there are more than 3.6 million I-PASS customers with more than 5 million active transponders.

While all of the Tollway’s recently constructed interchanges have not included a cash payment option, this is the first interstate-to-interstate connection on the Tollway system where there is no toll collection point on the mainline roadway for customers who wish to pay cash. Tollway customers who would like to pay cash to travel between I-294 and I-57 will still be able to do so at the 159^th Street Ramp Toll Plaza or via the 163^rd Street Toll Plaza. These are the routes being used today.

The new I-294/I-57 Interchange will be the fourth all-electronic interchange on the Tollway system. Other all-electronic toll collection points include the Illinois Route 47 Interchange on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Balmoral Avenue Interchange on I-294 and the Eola Road Interchange on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88). The $3.4 billion Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project will be the first all-electronic toll road on the Tollway system.

The $719 million I-294/I-57 Interchange is part of the Tollway’s 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. The interchange will create a long-sought connection between two major interstates in the Chicago Southland that will relieve congestion on local routes, enhance economic development and improve overall transportation throughout the region.

The interchange is expected to serve more than 76,000 vehicles per day and provide direct freight access to Chicago’s south suburbs – saving drivers $4 million annually in fuel. Tri-State Tollway drivers currently using I-80 to get to I-57 will save 25 travel hours per year using the new interchange. The full interchange is expected to be completed in 2024.

More information about I-PASS can be obtained by visiting www.illinoistollway.com.

About Move Illinois

The Illinois Tollway’s $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, will improve mobility, relieve congestion, reduce pollution, create as many as 120,000 jobs and link economies across the Midwest region. Move Illinois will address the remaining needs of the existing Tollway system; rebuild and widen the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) as a state-of-the-art 21st century corridor; construct a new interchange to connect the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57; build a new, all-electronic Elgin O’Hare Western Access and fund planning studies for the Illinois Route 53/120 Project and the Illiana Expressway.

About the Illinois Tollway

The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80).