Illinois Tollway rate increases

The Illinois Tollway board has approved a significant increase in toll rates scheduled to take effect in 2027. Under the approved plan, I-PASS passenger vehicle tolls will rise by an average of 57%, from 7 cents to 11 cents per mile, while commercial vehicle tolls will increase by 30%. Following this initial hike, rates will undergo biennial adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index, with annual increases capped at 4% and biennial increases capped at 8%.

The rate increase is intended to fund the Tollway’s $26.5 billion ‘Driving Connections’ capital program for infrastructure and mobility upgrades. This move follows the passage of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act, which redirected funds from the state’s Road Fund to public transit, necessitating the toll hike to offset the loss.

Public response to the proposal has been largely negative, with 83% of nearly 9,000 respondents opposing the hike. Critics, including the Illinois Policy Institute, have questioned the necessity of the increase, noting that the agency collected over $1.75 billion in 2025 against $442 million in operating expenses. Some critics have characterized the decision as “political cronyism,” while Tollway officials maintain that passenger rates will remain below the national average of 16 cents per mile.