Illinois Tollway fatalities halved in 2009 to nine, lowest in 60 year history

Nine people died in traffic accidents on the Illinois Tollway system in 2009, the lowest year's number in the 60 year history of the Chicago area tollroads. Annual traffic deaths have always previously been in the double-digits. In 2008 19 died.

Traffic was down slightly but still there were still close to an average 2 million trips per day on the 460km, 286 mile network of four tollroads in the western part of the Chicago metro area.

Any explanations are bound to be speculative.

Statewide Illinois traffic deaths were down too, the 4th straight year but the Tollway's death rate was especially sharply down. Police say their enforcement efforts were stepped up last year.

Completion of a huge construction program including additional lanes and growing use of the open road toll lanes probably helped.

Transponders - 3.7 million are now in use - and do over 81% of total toll transactions.

4th laning and rebuilds of a long segment of the northern portion of the Tristate Tollway (I-94/I-294) would up lasy year. Under a $3 billion program 120 miles or 42% of the Tollway network was modernized and given extra lanes. All the Tollway's 20 mainline toll plazas now have highway-speed open road tolling.

TOLLROADSnews 2010-01-04