Volume 12, 2022

Illinois Tollway Staff Packs Santa's Sled through Toys for Tots

Continuing the Tollway’s annual tradition of supporting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, Illinois Tollway employees jumped in this holiday season to help Santa by bringing piles of toys, stuffed animals, games and sports equipment to Tollway headquarters for the Toys for Tots program.


Thanks to their efforts, more than 650 toys were collected in December to help ensure all children have a Merry Christmas in the Chicagoland area.


Tollway workers located across our 294-mile system, including those stationed at 12 maintenance sites, shopped individually for the perfect toys to help bring holiday cheer on Christmas morning to youngsters across the region. All the toys and games were collected and prepared for delivery to the Marine Reserve’s collection site in Aurora for distribution to children who might otherwise have lacked holiday presents.


The Tollway has long participated in the Toys for Tots program to help support youngsters in local communities by bringing a touch of holiday cheer that will last into the new year.

Read more at Inside the Tollway

Illinois Tollway Prepared for Winter Storm Threatening Region with Heavy Snowfall and Strong Winds

The Illinois Tollway deployed its full fleet of 196 snowplows in response to a winter storm that hit the area prior to the winter holiday weekend. The storm brought heavy snowfall and strong winds that affected roadway conditions and reduced visibility, hampering drivers during their daily commutes and holiday travels. The Tollway’s Snow Operations Center opened to manage the agency’s systemwide response to the storm.

Read more at Inside the Tollway

New Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Pedestrian Bridge Opens for Hinsdale and Western Springs

Officials from the Illinois Tollway, Western Springs and Hinsdale announced that walkers, runners and bikers will have access to the new Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Pedestrian Bridge adjacent to 47th Street on Wednesday, December 14. 


The Illinois Tollway is turning over the new pedestrian bridge crossing to local officials ahead of schedule, offering a new convenient connection between Veeck Park and Spring Rock Park and community pathways for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Read more at Inside the Tollway

Illinois Tollway Recognizes Contractors for Outstanding Work in 2022

Approximately 1,500 industry and agency professionals gathered at the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association 85th Annual Meeting and Holiday Party in Rosemont on December 8 to celebrate successful projects completed in 2022.


“Many of the firms here today played an integral role in delivering key projects in our Move Illinois Program,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “The firms we’re recognizing distinguished themselves by bringing high-quality work, innovation and extensive coordination to get the job done on time and within budget.”

Read more at Inside the Tollway

Illinois Tollway Chair Dorothy Abreu Joins with Other Industry Leaders at Hispanic Chamber Meeting to Discuss the Future of Transportation Infrastructure

Greater emphasis on advancing equity is increasingly playing a role in the future of transportation infrastructure in Northern Illinois. 

 

“The Illinois Tollway is delivering our Move Illinois capital program with diversity, equity and inclusion in mind while working to ensure that the work and improvements made have minimal impact on the environment,” Tollway Board Chair Dorothy Abreu told nearly 200 members of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at a breakfast meeting in Chicago.  

Read more at Inside the Tollway

Illinois Tollway Approves Balanced 2023 Budget

The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors approved a balanced 2023 Budget in December with $1.55 billion in revenue allocated to fund maintenance and operations, debt service transfers and capital investments for the 294-mile system. 


The 2023 Budget is an increase of 3.9 percent over the 2022 Budget. 


The 2023 Budget will allow the Tollway to allocate $427 million for maintenance and operations, as well as nearly $1.12 billion for direct funding and debt service on capital investments. 


Annual maintenance and operations costs in 2023 provide for an Information Technology budget of $40.7 million which includes $6.6 million in support of new software to modernize processes, $94.3 million for State Police, Roadway Maintenance and Security and Safety services, as well as $99.3 million for Operations and Business Systems departments to provide customer services support and enhancements.


Funding provided in the 2023 Budget will allow the Tollway to commit $1.47 billion for capital spending in 2023, including funding for the 12th year of the agency’s Move Illinois capital program including systemwide maintenance, continuing work on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project and work to build the new I-490 Tollway Project.


The 2023 Budget is posted on the Illinois Tollway website www.illinoistollway.com for public viewing.