Reports
By Mary Tyler & Frank Manzo IV
Media contact: Todd Stenhouse, 916-397-1131, [email protected]
Countryside, IL: The Illinois Tollway, an independent transportation agency that is officially known as the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and maintains five major thoroughfares across twelve counties in northern Illinois, has supported nearly 150,000 jobs through $14 billion in infrastructure investments since 2012 according to a new analysis by the nonpartisan Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI). Tollway projects have generated a $28 billion boost to the state’s economy during this period—a 200% return on investment—while generating nearly $100 million in state and local tax revenues each year.
Funded by user fees that rank the 8th-lowest amongst comparable highway systems across the country, the Illinois Tollway carries approximately 1.7 million vehicles per day and commercial traffic comprises roughly 13% of all vehicle miles travelled on the system.
In 2012, the last time the Tollway raised passenger toll rates, it launched a 15-year, $15 billion modernization project called “Move Illinois.” ILEPI Researchers used Tollway quarterly finance reports and industry-standard IMPLAN economic modeling to analyze the impact of these investments through the first quarter of 2026.
“The Illinois Tollway operates and maintains some of the region’s most important transportation infrastructure assets,” said ILEPI Transportation Analyst and study coauthor Mary Tyler. “While the system is not funded by state tax dollars, the data shows Move Illinois has delivered both for the economy and for state taxpayers.”
Data shows that Tollway projects have also delivered superior roadway conditions on the state’s most heavily travelled thoroughfares. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), 100% of Illinois Tollway lane miles are in acceptable condition, exceeding the statewide average for all roadway systems (76%). Approximately 47% of tollway lane miles are classified as being in excellent condition, compared with about 35% of roadway miles statewide.
“The Move Illinois capital program demonstrates the long-term value of sustained infrastructure investment backed by a dedicated revenue source,” said ILEPI Economist and study coauthor Frank Manzo IV. “Over the past 15 years, the program has modernized the Illinois Tollway system while delivering measurable benefits for Illinois residents, businesses, and visiting motorists.”
The economic impacts associated with Illinois Tollway projects have been especially pronounced for the state’s skilled construction workforce. Average wages for directly employed construction workers have increased by more than 61% since 2012, outpacing inflation, with researchers estimating that Move Illinois projects contributed nearly $150 million to support the state’s growing registered apprenticeship system.
“Investments in vital infrastructure such as the Tollway aren’t just creating good jobs that keep pace with rising costs, they are fortifying a workforce pipeline that will support our state’s construction industry for generations to come,” added Manzo.
In June 2026, the Illinois Tollway announced “Driving Connections,” a proposed 15-year, $26.5 billion capital program that would continue this investment strategy through 2042. The program includes major infrastructure projects such as a reconstruction of the I-88/I-355 interchange, a full interchange at I-294 and Irving Park Road, modernization of the I-294/I-80 corridor with advanced traffic management technology, early design work for the I-294/I-90 interchange, and numerous systemwide improvements designed to renew aging infrastructure, reduce congestion, and improve safety and mobility throughout the Tollway system.
“While transportation agencies continue to face long-term funding pressures, the Illinois Tollway offers an example of how a dedicated, user-supported funding model can deliver large-scale investments without creating additional burdens for state taxpayers,” Tyler concluded.
The Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization founded in 2013 to deliver actionable research and expert analysis on public policy issues impacting businesses, working families, and taxpayers.
