An Illinois gubernatorial candidate says he plans to eliminate all toll roads in the state if elected governor.
The state of Illinois has been working on a 30% increase in tolls since late 2025, and that increase is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. Now, gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey says he not only plans to halt the rate increase but also to eliminate tolls entirely if he is elected governor.
According to a video statement by Bailey, he has a four-point plan that he would implement if he becomes governor. The plan would include halting the January 1 toll increase, appointing new toll road officials, ending state debt, and focusing on paying off existing toll road projects, as well as accelerating the repayment of state debt. Bailey claims these measures would pave the way for a toll-free Illinois.
In addition, Bailey plans to redirect state spending away from Chicago’s public transit system and use it to “do the right thing” for all Illinois drivers.
“The money the state spends on public transit in the Chicago metropolitan area could be allocated to maintaining existing toll roads,” a spokesperson for Bailey’s campaign told Axios. “We can afford to do the right thing for Illinois drivers. We just need the political will to make it happen.”
Bailey’s campaign includes a reference to earlier promises made by Illinois lawmakers back in the 1950s: “Free by ’73.” In 1953, the State Toll Highway Commission was created with the idea that the highways would be financed through revenue bonds and that tolls would be used to pay off those bonds. Once the bonds were paid off with the money collected from tolls, the highways would become toll-free. This was expected to be completed by 1973: “Toll-Free by ’73.”
In 1968, the Commission was reorganized to become the Illinois State Tollway Authority, and the idea that the highways would eventually become toll-free was abandoned.
“In 1973, Illinois promised that our roads would be toll-free. $27 billion later… we’re still paying a ‘temporary’ toll,” Bailey wrote in a post on X.
In 1973, Illinois promised that our roads would be toll-free. $27 billion later… we’re still paying a “temporary” toll. pic.twitter.com/XOMHg8DmGb
— Darren Bailey (@DarrenBaileyIL) July 25, 2026
