Illinois Tollway Approves Toll Increases for 2027

The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve toll increases for passenger and commercial vehicles, set to take effect January 1, 2027. The decision authorizes a 45-cent increase for most passenger vehicles using IPASS and a 30-percent increase for commercial vehicles, marking the first hike for passenger tolls since 2012.

The increases are a key funding component of the Tollway's "Driving Connections" capital program, a 15-year, $26.5 billion initiative aimed at rebuilding roads, reconstructing interchanges, and improving system safety and congestion. Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse stated the funds are necessary to cover annual maintenance, operations, and debt service costs, noting the agency does not receive state or federal tax dollars for these expenses. The board's authority to raise tolls was granted by a $1.5 billion transit funding package signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker in December 2025.

Tollway Chief Financial Officer Cathy Williams told the board that even with the hike, passenger vehicle rates will remain among the lowest in the nation. After the increase, the average passenger toll will be about 11 cents...