Illinois Tollway’s automatic toll payment machines cost as much as they collected in four years, but are now permanently idled. Most were incapable of making change, so overcharged drivers nearly $500,000.
The Illinois Tollway’s automatic toll collecting machines are now dead weight, representing a $20 million investment that went wrong.
The tollway board purchased over 100 toll-collection machines in early 2017 to replace the aging toll baskets that were pricey to repair. The machines are now in storage because of the potential for drivers touching them to spread COVID-19.
The machines collected nearly $20 million during four years of operation, roughly making their purchase and maintenance costs a wash. But the Daily Herald reported 80 out of 110 machines didn’t provide change to drivers paying cash, which over the years tallied an estimated $463,992.
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