Electronic toll collection and commercial vehicle operations toll plaza modification test and implementation.

The Illinois Tollway began the electronic toll collection in earnest with the rollout of public operations in January 1998. Initial "I-PASS" market penetration was in passenger cars. However, with commercial vehicles constituting ten percent of all vehicles on the Tollway system, and the need for further operational efficiencies and improved plaza traffic flow, the Tollway wanted to use electronic toll collection for commercial vehicles, also. What remained unclear was how safely, economically, to provide non-stop accommodations for commercial vehicles in conventional toll plazas. A test plan was developed and conducted, providing results used to guide design and construction. These commercial vehicle lanes have been successful, and popular.