Illinois political candidate proposes eliminating all state tolls
An Illinois gubernatorial candidate says he plans to eliminate all toll roads in the state if he is elected Governor.
The state of Illinois has been working on a 30% toll increase since late 2025, with plans for the increase to go into effect on January 1st, 2027. Now, Gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey says that he plans to not only stop the toll hike, but eliminate tolls entirely, should he be elected Governor.
According to a video statement made by Bailey, he has a four point plan that he would implement if he becomes Governor. The plan would include stopping the January 1st toll hike, appointing new tollway leadership, halting state borrowing and shifting focus to paying off existing tollway road projects, and speed up state debt payoffs. Bailey says these steps would pave the way to a toll free Illinois.
Additionally, Bailey has plans to shift state spending away from Mass Transit in Chicago and use it to “do the right thing” for all motorists in Illinois.
“The money the state is spending on Mass Transit in Chicagoland could be used to maintain existing toll roads,” A Bailey campaign spokesperson said to Axios. “We can afford to do the right thing for Illinois motorists. We just need the political will to get it done.”
Bailey’s campaign includes a callback to previous promises by Illinois lawmakers back in the 50s – “Free by ‘73.” In the 1953, the State Toll Highway Commission was created with the idea that the roads would be financed by revenue bonds, and tolls on the roads would be used to pay the bonds back. Once the bonds were paid off using the money collected from tolls, the roads would become free. This was expected to be completed in 1973 – “Free by ‘73.”
By 1968, the Commission was reorganized into the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, and the idea that the roads would eventually become free was discarded.
“In 1973, Illinois promised our roads would be toll-free. $27 billion dollars later… we’re still paying for a “temporary” toll,” Bailey wrote in a post to X.
In 1973, Illinois promised our roads would be toll-free. $27 billion dollars later… we’re still paying for a "temporary" toll. pic.twitter.com/XOMHg8DmGb
— Darren Bailey (@DarrenBaileyIL) July 25, 2026