I-PASS Roadshow Event for New ALL-Electronic Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Interchange

Deborah Bayliss | As of Thursday, August 7, 2014

“We’ve made some changes to ensure that we’re providing the best service possible and we want to share them with our new customers in the Southland and get their feedback. These events will give us an opportunity to let people know that I-PASS is by far the best way to travel the Illinois Tollway – it’s faster, safer and more convenient and it saves people time and money.”--Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur.
“We’ve made some changes to ensure that we’re providing the best service possible and we want to share them with our new customers in the Southland and get their feedback. These events will give us an opportunity to let people know that I-PASS is by far the best way to travel the Illinois Tollway – it’s faster, safer and more convenient and it saves people time and money.”--Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur.

As promised the Illinois Tollway educational events kicked off Tuesday with three I-PASS roadshow events this month giving residents, business owners and others, opportunities to learn about and provide feedback on the agency’s plans to open a new, all-electronic Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Interchange this fall. 

“We’ve made some changes to ensure that we’re providing the best service possible and we want to share them with our new customers in the Southland and get their feedback,” said Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “These events will give us an opportunity to let people know that I-PASS is by far the best way to travel the Illinois Tollway – it’s faster, safer and more convenient and it saves people time and money.”

During the roadshow events, Tollway staff will be on hand to answer questions about I-PASS and how to avoid toll violations so drivers are prepared for the opening of the new interchange in October.

I-PASS roadshow events:

        August 13 at 6 p.m. – Markham City Hall, 16313 S. Kedzie Parkway, Markham

        August 21 at 6 p.m. – Posen Community Center, 14401 Campbell Ave., Posen  

The new $719 million I-294/I-57 Interchange, the fourth all-electronic interchange on the Tollway system, is part of the Tollway’s 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. The interchange will create a long-sought connection between two major interstates in the Chicago Southland that will relieve congestion on local routes, enhance economic development and improve overall transportation throughout the region.  

This is the first interstate-to-interstate connection on the Tollway system where there is no toll collection point on the mainline roadway for customers who wish to pay cash. Tollway customers who would like to pay cash to travel between I-294 and I-57 will still be able to do so at the 159th Street Ramp Toll Plaza or via the 163rd Street Toll Plaza. These are the routes currently being used today. 

This fall, customers who use the I-294/I-57 Interchange without I-PASS will have 30 days from the date of their unpaid toll to pay online – up from seven days on all other parts of the Tollway system. This extended, limited-time offer will expire on December 31, 2014. Beginning January 1, 2015, customers without I-PASS who use the I-294/I-57 Interchange will have seven days to pay their unpaid tolls.

I-PASS rates for the new interchange will be 75 cents for cars and $1.50 for customers who pay their unpaid tolls online. Truck rates will range from $1.50 to $4.00 during daytime hours, with overnight discounts offered. 

The Illinois Tollway operates the nation's largest electronic tolling system, with more than 87 percent of all toll transactions paid electronically through I-PASS or E-ZPass. There are currently more than five million active I-PASS transponders and nearly 3.6 million active I-PASS accounts nationwide.   

Drivers have several options to get an I-PASS transponder, including online via the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com, by calling 800-UCI-PASS (800-824-7277) on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or in person at one of the Illinois Tollway’s Customer Service Centers or at one of nearly 200 Jewel-Osco store locations in Illinois.  

In addition, for the opening of the new I-294/I-57 Interchange, the Tollway is opening a new temporary Customer Service Center at the Secretary of State Office in Midlothian from September through November 2014. This three-month satellite center located in the heart of the Chicago Southland is intended to serve local customers who wish to obtain I-PASS, pay their unpaid tolls or receive other assistance. 

The interchange is expected to serve more than 76,000 vehicles per day and provide direct freight access to Chicago’s south suburbs – saving drivers $4 million annually in fuel. Tri-State Tollway drivers currently using I-80 to get to I-57 will save 25 travel hours per year using the new interchange.  

For more information about the Tri-State (I-294)/ I-57 project with complete details and maps, please visit “Project By Roadway” in the Construction/Planning section on the Tollway’s website www.illinoistollway.com.

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