As a frequent traveler to and through Illinois, I feel entitled to comment on the governor’s proposal to double tolls for people who pay cash at the gate.
First, allow me to state that I am a fan of toll roads. I believe that all limited-access highways should be toll roads nationwide. Despite all the whining and carping about people who are too cheap to pay tolls, toll roads reduce the burden on taxpayers as well as fairly–and equally–charge people for their use (or lack thereof) of a resource. Taxes, on the other hand, charge everyone the same amount for a road some may never use.
That said, The United States Constitution prohibits the creation of “privileged classes” of people. The governor’s proposal, if passed and put into practice, creates a privileged class of people: those with cash and those without cash. I hope the governor is looking forward to a lawsuit, because if he penalizes me for not signing up for I-PASS (I have no reason to; I come to Illinois often but not so often I need an account with the state) I will be the first one to file suit.
Tolls must be raised equally across the board for a given class of vehicle or not raised at all.
