The Illinois Tollway released the big news Thursday that the long-anticipated “all new, all electronic toll road” formerly known as the Elgin O’Hare Western Access project will be rechristened Illinois 390 when it’s completed in 2017.

The tollway press release also came right out and said the toll for travelling the 10-mile stretch from Lake Street to Route 83 will be $1.90. The 20-cents-per-mile toll will make that stretch of road the “most expensive passenger-car ride in the Tollway system,” according to the Chicago Tribune and other sources.

According to the Illinois Tollway press release, the first section of Illinois Route 390 from Lake Street (U.S. Route 20) to I-290 is scheduled for completion at the end of 2015, with toll collection expected to begin in 2016. The second section from I-290 to Busse Road (Illinois Route 83) is scheduled for completion at the end of 2017.

The Illinois Route 390 tolling plan features all-electronic toll collection with overhead gantries at six locations along the 10-mile mainline roadway in addition to one ramp toll for the Ketter Drive entrance ramp to westbound Illinois Route 390.

As stated above, through-trips for passenger vehicles will be 20 cents per mile for the 10-mile trip, but they’ll range from 20 cents to 60 cents per transaction for I-PASS customers. The tollway says the $1.90 toll for the 10-mile trek is similar to the I-PASS toll paid to travel on the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355) south extension between I-55 and I-80.

Business rules and toll rates for commercial vehicles and customers who wish to pay cash are under development and will be announced next year, the press release said.

The Tollway said it selected the mainline tolling system for Illinois Route 390 because the roadway will have 31 entry and exit points or an average 2.9 entry and exit points per mile. The greater number of mainline toll collection points located closer together will reduce the cost of shorter trips and ensure that the rate paid for shorter trips is as fair and equitable as the rate paid by the driver traveling the entire length of the corridor.

“This plan is broadly supported by local communities who emphasized the need for equitable tolling along Illinois Route 390,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “Local residents and others can continue using this roadway for short trips, while gaining access to greater mobility throughout the region.”

Fun Facts

It’s an all-electric tollway

• First all-electronic tolling (AET) roadway on the Tollway system.
• 90 percent of drivers currently traveling in the Elgin O’Hare corridor have I-PASS, and of those without I-PASS,
  nearly one quarter indicated that they would obtain one to use the new roadway once it opens.
• For those who don’t obtain I-PASS, the Tollway is exploring alternative payment methods.

How it will work

• The Illinois Route 390 tolling plan features all-electronic toll collection with overhead gantries at six locations along the 10-mile mainline roadway in addition to one ramp toll for the Ketter Drive entrance ramp to westbound Illinois Route 390.
• Through-trips for passenger vehicles with I-PASS will be 20 cents per mile for the 10-mile trip and ranging from 20 cents to 60 cents per transaction. The ramp toll at Ketter Drive will be 25 cents for I-PASS customers.
• Passenger vehicles traveling the full 10-mile length of Illinois Route 390 will pay $1.90, similar to the I-PASS toll paid to travel on the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355) south extension between I-55 and I-80.
• Tolling along Illinois Route 390 expected to begin following construction of major roadway segments. Toll collection along the first segment from Lake Street (U.S. Route 20) to I-290 is expected to begin in 2016.
• Business rules and toll rates for commercial vehicles and customers who wish to pay cash are under development
  and will announced next year.

SOURCE: Illinois Tollway