Jones' plan is the first to propose a way to pay for the toll roads since the governor's report last month outlining ways to eliminate the toll system. Under the proposal, residents in the 11 counties with toll roads would be asked in a referendum vote if they would pay a 5 percent gas sales tax in those counties to eliminate the tolls. At the same time, the existing 5 percent state gas tax would be dropped, keeping the overall rate the same in the tollway counties. The tax would be eliminated in the other counties. The proposal would create a Northeast Illinois Road Commission to levy the gas tax and to run the former toll roads.
People are tired of paying tolls.
But somebody has to come up with a politically bold approach to say how you do it. The plan, which has not yet been formally proposed in the Senate, is meant to appease downstate lawmakers by ensuring their constituents won't have to pay for the roads. Gov. George Ryan would consider the proposal, but lawmakers regularly introduce proposals to change the tollways in election years and few get anywhere, said Dave Urbanek, a spokesman for Ryan. Dismantling the toll road is not a simple feat. A leading opponent of the tollway system, state Rep. Lauren Beth Gash, said she applauds any proposal to address problems at the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.