Illinois Governor George Ryan's call for fundamentally rethinking the Illinois tollway system creates an opportunity to put forward reforms that will place Illinois at the forefront, nationally and internationally, of tollway management. This is an opportunity that business leaders, elected officials, taxpayers, commuters, and nearly everyone who lives in Illinois should not allow to pass without their input and active participation.
Governor Ryan's statements about wanting a better deal for Illinois motorists from the tollways are most understandable and laudable. Conditions on the tollways today involve too much congestion--partly at the toll plazas, but also because of interchange problems and insufficient roadway capacity along some stretches. The Toll Authority has been slower than some other toll agencies (though faster than others) to implement new technologies for faster, more efficient, and more convenient electronic toll collection.
