Illinois Tollway considers real-time congestion pricing to modernize system

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (WTVO) — The Illinois Tollway is considering charging drivers “congestion pricing” rates at different times of day as part of an effort to modernize the system.

As part of the “dynamic pricing” plan, tolls would automatically adjust in real-time due to traffic conditions, increasing during congested times and decreasing when traffic is lighter, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

The Tollway authority released its “roadmap for the Tollway” in July, which is “guiding decisions over the next two decades in a region and world with rapidly evolving mobility requirements, travel patterns, technologies, economic conditions and social needs,” according to executive director Cassaundra Rouse.

Part of the plan said the authority would “regularly update toll rates and explore dynamic pricing.”

The plan outlined several initiatives to modernize the tollway system, which would include the use of artificial intelligence; however, it did not elaborate on how this technology would be incorporated.

The tollway authority’s to-do list also included converting existing lanes or creating new “opportunities for express lanes.”

Nationwide, other states have incorporated managed lanes in the following ways:

• High occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, which are free to carpoolers with multiple occupants;
• High occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, free for carpoolers but not solo drivers;
• Express toll lanes (ETL) that charge a fee for their use
• Congestion/dynamic pricing, which increases fees during rush hour.

According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), of the price-based managed lanes in 11 U.S. states, 58% have dynamic pricing and 33% have rush-hour based tolls.