Tollways, I-PASS etc. (Chicago: photo radar, credit card, buy)

[KCWKEN]

I'm new to the whole tollway/IPASS business. I've never lived in an area that had tollways. Can anyone advise on the pros and cons of getting an Ipass vs. paying the tolls. Can I get an Ipass while I still have out of state plates etc. If paying the tolls, do you have to have exact change? The last time I visited Chicagoland, I kept chucking change in the dopey toll basket, and it never registered that I'd paid, I think I must have dumped $3.00 worth of coins into the one at I-88 and Roosevelt Rd. and it never turned green and I finally had to run it.

All tips and tricks on negotiating the wonderful world of tollways are appreciated.

Ken

[DonkeyTeeth]

I'd get the IPass if at all possible. Most of the tollways have started open-road tolling, which means you don't even have to stop. It also means there are usually much fewer lanes for cash paying cars. If you do any kind of frequent highway driving, you'll be miserable if you always have to worry about change and pulling into the right lane.

[mdz]

If you're going to be here for any amount of time and using the tollway system, definitely get the ipass. If I'm not mistaken it's 50% the cost of paying in cash.

[M TYPE X]

Originally Posted by KCWKEN

the wonderful world of tollways

Luke, I am your Father! Join me on the Dark Side of the Force!

[ahava]

Definitely get an I-Pass. During rush hour the cash lanes get backed up, and it's a wonderful feeling to fly past all those cars from the open road tolling lanes...assuming those aren't backed up too, of course. It doesn't matter if you have out-of-state plates. You can buy the I-Pass online, that's what I did. It took a week or two to arrive. You have to pay $40 for tolls and then when your balance is under $10 they automatically charge your credit/debit card another $40. Alternatively you can just send them a check when your balance is under $10, but personally I think it's easier to not have to worry about it.

[Drover]

I don't see any cons to getting an I-Pass. You spend less times at toll booths and you only pay half as much as you would versus using cash, The only possible drawback I see to I-Pass is there's really nothing stopping them from judging your speed by how long it took you to get from tollbooth A to tollbooth B and automatically dishing out speeding tickets accordingly. It hasn't happened yet and there's no serious discussion about implementing such a scheme, so it's basically just a bit of paranoia on my part. But there's really little to nothing stopping them from doing it.

[AnonymousCoward]

The I-Pass lanes are shorter, and open road tolling is really, really nice where they have it, not to mention tolls are usually 1/2 price! A lot of people downstate and in southern Wisconsin who travel through or in the Chicago area find an I-Pass worthwhile. For someone actually living in the Chicago area it's a no-brainer.

Most Jewel-Osco stores carry the I-Pass, but you can get one without even going to the store directly from the tollway people:

http://www.illinoistollway.com

How it works:

$10 for the deposit on the I-Pass
$40 prepaid from your credit card, automatically refills

After you have the I-pass, logon to the above website to register it, mount it to your windshield with the weird velcro-like tape, and you are good to go. It might be a good idea to use a cash lane the first time just to make sure it works. Oh and watch your speed in work zones, especially if there are signs about photo radar in use.

[Drover]

You can avoid putting the velcro tape on your windshield by using any of the various toll pass holders like EZ-Share, SharePass, EZ-Clip, etc. (Google any of the three.)

[M TYPE X]

Wow! You only pay half price! and they could monitor you!
... toll roads are great! Sign me up! Let's build MORE!

... this coming from someone who is eagerly awaiting the I-355 extension.

[Drover]

You don't like tolls? Go fill up your gas tank in Wisconsin, where the taxes are about 10 to 15 cents a gallon higher.

You pay for it one way or the other.