The Tollway's analysis of its operating conditions, costs and revenues prompted a response from Business Leaders for Transportation.
By Guest Author- July 1, 2000
The “Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Report: Alternatives for Restructuring the Tollway System” is a welcome addition to the public debate concerning the adequacy of the metropolitan Chicago transportation system While the report was designed primarily to investigate the possibility of reducing or eliminating tolls and reducing congestion, there are other broad issues that need to be addressed, including the way both road and transit services are funded, the allocation of transportation revenues to northeastern Illinois, and the way the overall system is governed. These larger questions deserve careful attention and we look forward to contributing to the public debate. However, the comments below relate to the more specific issues raised in the Toll Highway Authority report. Our response is based on these principles:
- The region’s road and rail network is vital to our economic health, and funding priority must be given to maintenance and reconstruction of the road and rail system;
- Transportation system development should be consistent with fully integrated land use and transportation plans for the region;
- Transportation funding should rely on user fees and incorporate vehicle pricing to reflect true costs of building and maintaining roads.
We offer the following conclusions and recommendations
- Substantially increased funding, beyond currently anticipated toll revenues, is needed to insure the system is adequately maintained.The report states that a maintenance program based on currently anticipated revenues would address only the most critical areas of need and “would result in a severely deteriorated tollway system.” Total capital expenditures would need to double from the anticipated $531 million to $1.1 billion in order to fund needed maintenance for years 2000 through 2004, and quadruple to $2.1 billion to fund necessary rehabilitation, reconstruction and improvements to relieve congestion on the current tollroad system.
- Expansion of the tollroad system should be considered only after a comprehensive financial plan is in place that gives priority to keeping the existing system in good condition. Therefore, extensions of the Toll Highway system should not be constructed now. This conclusion is based only on the inadequacy of current toll system funding. It is not meant to take a position on the need for any proposed extensions. Expansions should be consistent with integrated land use and transportation plans for the region and should provide for the potential use of the right-of-way for transit service.
- Tolls should be continued. Tolls are an integral part of funding the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. User fees are a sound way to fund transportation improvements. Road funding should incorporate principles of vehicle pricing to reflect true costs and assist in managing congestion to lessen the need for costly capacity expansion projects. Tolls or toll increases should be part of any comprehensive transportation funding program.
- The I-PASS system should be expanded, and other methods to improve revenue collection efficiency and reduce congestion should be considered. Variable pricing should be implemented to encourage I-PASS use, off-peak travel, and reward carpooling. By making the system more efficient, variable pricing could reduce capital requirements for expanding road capacity in some sectors of the system.