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Commuter alert: Legislators risk killing IDOT's plan to add I-55 toll lanes
The Chicago Tribune ^ | March 24, 2017 | Randy Blankenhorn

Posted on 04/16/2017 7:13:21 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

In a matter of days, time will run out on a plan that could cut down on commuting times, pave the way for even less traffic congestion, and potentially give taxpayers a break.

For reasons that remain unclear, the General Assembly has ignored the Illinois Department of Transportation's I-55 managed lanes project, and the cost of doing nothing has the potential to harm the state's ability to do business for years to come.

The I-55 managed lanes proposal would add an express toll lane between the Veterans Memorial Tollway in the southwest suburbs and the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago. The corridor accommodates 170,000 vehicles a day, but is expected to handle 250,000 by 2040. With 10 hours of congestion a day, the situation on I-55 is bad and getting worse.

Under the current concept, the free lanes remain free. The tolled lane would be available to those who want to use it, while freeing up capacity in the regular lanes. Another element would add dynamic pricing in the toll lanes, which would allow tolls to rise and fall depending on demand at various times of day, helping to "manage" congestion.

The end result would build reliability into an expressway system that badly needs it.

Once capacity is added to I-55, IDOT's vision is for the expressway to be used as a reliever while similar improvements are planned and made on Chicago's Eisenhower, aka Interstate 290, another major artery in need of upgrading.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: chicago; congestion; construction; deadline; delays; developers; economy; expresslanes; funding; growth; i55; idot; idto; illinois; infrastructure; legislature; p3; ppp; proposals; resolution; spending; traffic; transportation

1 posted on 04/16/2017 7:13:21 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Ah yes, the international toll lane use private funding to pay for roads scam.

Just more from the g[r]ift of privatizing government functions

2 posted on 04/16/2017 7:16:27 AM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

The smell of bullshit on an Easter morning, only in the Trib...


3 posted on 04/16/2017 7:19:49 AM PDT by bar sin·is·ter
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

If Chicago is losing population, why is traffic expected to increase by 50% over the next 25 years?


4 posted on 04/16/2017 7:20:07 AM PDT by Cowboy Bob
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

At first glance, IDOT (in the headline) read: “idiot”.


5 posted on 04/16/2017 7:26:08 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (The fear of stark justice sends hot urine down their thighs.)
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To: Cowboy Bob
why is traffic expected to increase by 50% over the next 25 years?

To handle all the "amber-lamps"?

6 posted on 04/16/2017 7:28:29 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (The fear of stark justice sends hot urine down their thighs.)
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To: Cowboy Bob

Continuous mass exodus?


7 posted on 04/16/2017 7:30:43 AM PDT by Fightin Whitey
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Actually, “express lanes” tolls or no tolls (if no tolls then restricted to cars with passengers not just the driver) do work.

They have them across southern California. As bad as traffic is, I have seen it much worse, before the limited access express lanes were added. Some years back when visiting we would plan the trip to LAX in hours, two or more. Now, when heading back to LAX the drive time is under an hour if using the express lanes on each Interstate we connect to along the way.

What I really miss is the cheap shuttle flights on little planes I used to get using a small Inland Empire airport to/from LAX. I guess the tickets were too cheap. The companies doing the flights went out of business.


8 posted on 04/16/2017 8:13:27 AM PDT by Wuli
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Lexus lanes are great! They do a wonderful job of separating the peasantry and riff-raff from important people like doctors and lawyers and such.


9 posted on 04/16/2017 8:27:24 AM PDT by catnipman ( Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Reviewing the congestion on Toll Roads throughout Chicagoland, tell me again how this will work?


10 posted on 04/16/2017 8:27:32 AM PDT by RedWing9 (Jesus Rocks Zero Sucks)
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To: ROCKLOBSTER

Ditto.

And it made more sense that way.


11 posted on 04/16/2017 8:35:44 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: ROCKLOBSTER

At first glance, IDOT (in the headline) read: “idiot”.

The first glance was correct.

When driving on the Illinois expressways, note the signage.

Mile markers at each quarter mile, on three or more signs, facing both ways across the highway.
More frequent in some areas.

If you do not have a cell phone/ GPS, you are not calling anyone to tell them your location.


12 posted on 04/16/2017 8:40:27 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT (Go Trump!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

When Trump & Sessions get ALL the illegals cleaned out of the confines of the USA, ALL congestion on roads in EVERY state will decrease.


13 posted on 04/16/2017 9:45:05 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

“Commuter alert...”

Typically when you see a headline like this it means that there’s something in it for the guy writing the story. If I had to guess here, I’d say he has a REALLY CUSHY retirement job lined up with the private company that will build and operate this boondoggle...at least if they follow the Texas model.


14 posted on 04/16/2017 9:52:21 AM PDT by BobL (In Honor of the NeverTrumpers, I declare myself as FR's first 'Imitation NeverTrumper')
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To: catnipman

They used to have them in Moscow for senior Communist party members. The limousine liberals liked the idea some much that they’ve brought them here, along with the rest of their Communist agenda.


15 posted on 04/16/2017 10:32:47 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: Cowboy Bob

Exactly! Ride the train!!


16 posted on 04/16/2017 12:18:24 PM PDT by hsmomx3
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To: catnipman

You don’t pay the toll to use the road — you pay to keep the riff-raff off the road you want to use.


17 posted on 04/16/2017 12:36:33 PM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA

“You don’t pay the toll to use the road — you pay to keep the riff-raff off the road you want to use.”

I know. But the problem for me is that I AM the riff-raff!


18 posted on 04/16/2017 4:49:04 PM PDT by catnipman ( Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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