History of Illinois Tollway in Timeline

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA), also known as the Illinois Tollway, is an Illinois administrative agency responsible for constructing, operating, and maintaining toll roads within the state. Established in 1958, the system primarily serves the Chicago area but also includes sections of I-88 extending into northwestern Illinois. Beginning in 2005, ISTHA initiated reconstruction efforts, incorporating more lanes and implementing open road tolling using I-Pass transponders. Currently, the agency manages 294 miles of tollways across 12 counties in Northern Illinois.

1941: Original Toll Highway Authority Established

In 1941, the original Toll Highway Authority was established.

1953: 1953 Law Established Toll Highway Commission

Citizens' groups formed to try to force ISTHA to disband and convert the toll highways in Illinois into freeways, stemming from the 1953 law that established the then Illinois State Toll Highway Commission.

1953: Illinois State Toll Highway Commission Established

In 1953, the Illinois State Toll Highway Commission was established after the construction of the first toll highways in Illinois was delayed by World War II.

August 20, 1958: Jane Addams Memorial Tollway First Segment Opened

On August 20, 1958, the first segment of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway between Devon Avenue and Elgin opened at 3 p.m.

1958: Initial Toll Rates

In 1958, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) set the tolls at 25 cents at the main plazas and 10 cents at the exit ramps.

1958: System Opening

In 1958, the Illinois Tollway system opened in the Chicago area.

1958: First Toll Highways Opened

In 1958, the first three toll highways in the Chicago area, Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Tri-State Tollway, and Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, were opened.

1967: Toll Highway Act

The Toll Highway Act dates from 1967 but has been amended since.

April 1, 1968: ISTHA Assumed Assets and Obligations

On April 1, 1968, under the Toll Highway Act, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) assumed the assets and obligations of the Illinois State Toll Highway Commission.

1983: Toll Increase

In 1983, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) increased the tolls to 40 cents at the main plazas and 15 cents at most ramps.

1983: Previous Adjustment to Illinois Toll Rates

The previous adjustment to Illinois toll rates had taken place in 1983 before the ISTHA board publicly suggested a sudden hike in toll rates after Ryan declined to run for re-election.

June 1984: Legislation Authorizing North-South Tollway

In June 1984, legislation was authorized for the construction of the North-South Tollway, referred to as the DuPage Tollway.

1989: I-355 Opened

In 1989, I-355 was opened as a tollway between Army Trail Road and I-55 near Bolingbrook.

September 1, 1997: Illinois Tollway Website Launched

On September 1, 1997, the Illinois Tollway website officially launched, including online ordering and management of I-Pass transponders.

1999: Discussion of ISTHA Closure

By 1999, Governor George Ryan began to publicly discuss the closure of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) and the abolition of toll collection in Illinois.

2003: Public-Private Partnership with Wilton Partners

In 2003, during Governor George Ryan's administration, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) entered into a public-private partnership with Wilton Partners to renovate the oasis rest stops in exchange for a 25-year lease.

2003: Chairman Mitola Appointed

On August 12, 2009, John Mitola, who was appointed the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) board chairman in 2003 by Governor Blagojevich, resigned for personal reasons.

2004: Adoption of Congestion Relief Program

In 2004, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) adopted a $6.3 billion Congestion Relief Program to expand the tollway system and implement open road tolling.

2004: East-West Tollway Renamed

In 2004, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) voted to rename the East–West Tollway the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.

2005: Conflict of Interest Laws Enacted

In 2005, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority's (ISTHA) employees became subject to conflict of interest laws.

2005: Reconstruction with Open Road Tolling

In 2005, the Illinois Tollway system was reconstructed to include more lanes and open road tolling, which uses I-Pass transponders.

2005: Cash Payment Tolls Doubled

In 2005, with the advent of the I-Pass system, the tolls for cash payments were doubled by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA), while rates for cars equipped with I-Pass transponders remained the same.

November 24, 2007: I-355 Extension Opened

On November 24, 2007, a 12.5 miles (20.1 km) extension of I-355 opened to link I-55 to I-80.

December 9, 2008: Governor Blagojevich Arrested

On December 9, 2008, Governor Blagojevich was arrested on corruption charges including allegations that he solicited campaign donations from Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) construction contractors.

December 18, 2008: Dalley Resigned

On December 18, 2008, Dalley resigned claiming that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan would not grant waivers from the state ethics law that prohibited high level ISTHA executives from being employed by contractors within a year of leaving office.

January 2009: Governor Blagojevich Impeached

In January 2009, Governor Blagojevich was impeached, tried, and removed from office for abuse of power.

August 12, 2009: Chairman Mitola Resigned

On August 12, 2009, John Mitola, who was appointed the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) board chairman in 2003 by Governor Blagojevich, resigned for personal reasons.

2009: Website E-commerce Overhaul

From 2009 to 2010, the Illinois Tollway website underwent a $4.4 million e-commerce overhaul.

2010: I-Pass Usage

As of 2010, 3.3 million Illinois Tollway drivers used I-Pass transponders, which can also be used on the Chicago Skyway and anywhere E-ZPass is accepted.

2010: Website E-commerce Overhaul

From 2009 to 2010, the Illinois Tollway website underwent a $4.4 million e-commerce overhaul.

2010: ISTHA Fiscal Year Budget

In 2010, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority's (ISTHA) annual budget for the fiscal year totaled $696 million.

2011: Move Illinois Capital Program Approved

In 2011, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) approved the $14 billion Move Illinois capital program to address remaining needs of the tollway system.

January 1, 2012: Toll Increase

On January 1, 2012, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) increased tolls by 87 percent, to 75 cents at the main plazas for transponder-equipped cars and $1.50 for those paying cash.

2013: Legislation for High-Speed Rail

In 2013, legislation was passed giving the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) the power to build high-speed rail lines if funding is available.

2017: ISTHA Operations

As of 2017, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) maintains and operates 294 miles (473 km) of tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois.

May 31, 2019: Moody's Downgrades ISTHA's Bond Rating

On May 31, 2019, Moody's Investor Service downgraded Illinois State Toll Highway Authority's (ISTHA) bond rating from Aa3 to A1, with a stable outlook.

July 11, 2019: ISTHA Bond Debt

As of July 11, 2019, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) had $6,248,860,000 in bond debt, maturing as late as 2044.

March 2020: Moratorium on Cash Toll Collection

In March 2020, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) implemented a moratorium on cash toll collection due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 2020: Online Pay Option Instituted

In June 2020, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) instituted an online pay option for video tolling and pay-by-plate customers without I-Pass or EZPass transponders as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

February 25, 2021: Elimination of Cash Tolling

On February 25, 2021, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) announced that cash tolling would be fully eliminated throughout the system, making permanent the moratorium on cash toll collection.

2024: Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Toll Decision

In January of 2024, it was announced that the Longmeadow Parkway bridge, which is maintained by Kane County, Illinois, would be toll-free; the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) had previously planned to operate tolling for the bridge.

2034: Revenue Bonds Repayment Deadline

In 2004, the projects under the Congestion Relief Program were financed by long-term revenue bonds that require the system to remain as toll roads until the bonds are repaid in 2034.