Darren Bailey proposes eliminating Illinois tolls

Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey has called for the total elimination of tolls in Illinois and the cancellation of upcoming toll increases. Bailey argues that higher costs for motorists and commercial vehicles will exacerbate inflation and increase the cost of living for residents and businesses.

In the coming months, Illinois motorists face a 45-cent increase per toll, while commercial vehicle tolls are set to rise by 30%. This represents the largest increase in the history of the Illinois Tollway Authority. The increases were approved as part of a $1.3 billion statewide transit bill intended to fund highway modernization and public transit systems, including Metra, Pace, and the Chicago Transit Authority.

Bailey has not provided a specific plan to replace the revenue lost from the toll system or to fund public transit without these increases. Governor JB Pritzker has criticized the proposal, labeling it unrealistic and lacking fiscal realism.