Well. It’s about time the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority did something about the Deerfield Toll Plaza. Hats off to them for finally deciding to raze this traffic stopper. And let’s thank them also for agreeing to the addition of a northbound entrance ramp at Lake-Cook.
But at what cost? If I understand this right, the razing of the toll plaza ends up costing me about a third more than I pay now in tolls. Let’s see. On a typical trip north to Wisconsin, assuming I get on the Tri-State Tollway at Willow, I now pay 80 cents in tolls–40 cents at Deerfield and another 40 cents at Waukegan.
To make up for the loss of the 40 cents collected at Deerfield, the authority is now going to charge me 75 cents at Waukegan and another 50 cents at Willow–a total of $1.25, or 45 cents more than I pay now. And what do I get for this extra 45 cents? The convenience of not having to stop and pay 40 cents at Deerfield? Give me a break! (The same higher costs–let’s call it tollway authority “highway robbery”–apply if you get on via the Edens spur, Golf Road and Lake-Cook.)
A more reasonable solution would be to keep Waukegan at 40 cents and charge 50 cents when accessing the Tri-State from the Edens, Golf, Willow or Lake-Cook. Just what does the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority plan to do with this windfall anyway? We have a right to know.
