Volume 08, 2023

Tolling Industry Professionals From Across The Country Meet At Illinois Tollway To Advance National Tolling Interoperability

Gasperec Elberts Consulting Designs A Bright Future With Assistance From Illinois Tollway's Partnering For Growth Program

After launching a small engineering firm in 2017, Lisa Gasperec and her business partner, Megan Elberts, landed several contracts with the Illinois Tollway, working as subconsultants on projects that helped their four-person firm begin to grow.

But they were still working to win their first Tollway job as a prime when they learned in 2021 of a new Tollway initiative designed to offer more opportunities for small and diverse businesses to manage projects as prime contractors while still providing them with any needed assistance.

Illinois Tollway Assists Hundreds of Customers During Dangerous August Heat Wave

The Illinois Tollway deployed special around-the-clock Hot Weather Patrols in August when dangerous heat and humidity moved into the area in late August, resulting in Tollway workers checking on or assisting more than 500 drivers who were stopped along the Tollway system during the four-day heat wave.

The special 24-hour-a-day Hot Weather Patrols provided an extra layer of safety to customers traveling on our roads during the dangerously high temperatures and humidity, augmenting the Tollway’s regular rotation of H.E.L.P. trucks, motorist aid patrols and the roadway coverage provided by Illinois State Police Troop 15. 

During the heat wave, Tollway road workers assisted or checked on more than 200 drivers stopped along the Tollway’s busiest road, the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), nearly 125 on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), and 100 drivers on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88).  

K.I.S.S. Event, Children's Museum, Oak Lawn

Thank you Children's Museum in Oak Lawn for supporting the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police Troop 15 by hosting our Kids Identification and Safety Seat (K.I.S.S.) event on Saturday, August 26. Working together, we can help parents and caregivers keep their kids safe every trip, every time.

The Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce calls its annual convention each August “a treasure trove of connections waiting to be explored” and the Illinois Tollway went all-out to tap into that wealth of connections. 

“The Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce convention is an ideal place for the Illinois Tollway to find talented entrepreneurs and innovative businesses provide valuable goods and services,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “We offer contract opportunities not only for construction and professional engineering services, but also for providers of goods and services specifically for small and diverse businesses.” 

Tollway Supervisor Lends Helping Hand With After-Hours Volunteer Food Deliveries

Working as supervisor at the Illinois Tollway’s M-14 maintenance site keeps Mike Velasco busy, but he still manages to find time for what’s become almost a second career—collecting and delivering food and other essentials to people in need.

“I’ll help out whenever I have some spare time, whenever I can lend a hand, whether it’s after work on weekdays or on the weekends,” said Velasco, a 31-year veteran of the Tollway.