The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is backing down on its price hike to truckers. According to the Chicago Tribune, the agency announced on Tuesday that it would reduce the rate by $1 for those haulers with electronic transponders during off-peak travel times. There were fears that truckers would use local roads to avoid paying the increase in tolls.
Trucks with I-PASS will now pay $3 instead of $4. The current charge is $1.50. The increase is part of Illinois' $5.3 billion plan for reconstructing and expanding the 274-mile tollway system. Officials are trying to increase the number of I-PASS users.
"There are two goals here," Kathleen Cantillon, an agency spokeswoman, told the Tribune. "One is to give truckers some relief and help reduce the fears of diversion of trucks on the toll road. And the second is to get the trucks to travel during off-peak hours."
The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority decided to reduce the toll increase after meeting with tollway officials, trucking group representatives and Illinois Sen. Susan Garrett.
