This blog post is outside my normal topic niche. Instead I’m offering a public service to my comrades who reside the sorry state of Illinois; perhaps the worst managed state in the United States. Our governor Pat Quinn is clearly the worst governor in the United States. Our neighboring state of Wisconsin is trying to recall governor Scott Walker. I’d trade Mr. Walker for Mr. Quinn in a heartbeat.
Pat Quinn approved doubling the Illinois Tollway fees during the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression. Everybody I know who drives the Illinois Tollway is looking for a way to avoid the Tollway. I’ve noticed half the cars are gone from the tollway. People are rapidly finding other avenues. The nice thing about a toll way tax hike is it’s voluntary. We can avoid it. Let’s do it!
Here is a great way to avoid the Illinois Tollway fee increase:
1. Go to Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/
2. Click “Get Directions” and put in your start and end addresses.
3. Here is the trick to saving HUNDREDS of dollars in unnecessary tollway fees: Click “ Show Options” under final destination but above the “Get Directions” button.
4. Then click the “Avoid Tolls” with your directions. Suddenly you’ll get a map that shows an alterative route that avoids the tollways.
If you have a GPS, it should have something similar, an option to “avoid tollways”. Let us all make a resolution to avoid using the Illinois tollways if at all possible. I will be doing that starting Monday. Screw the Illinois Tollway!
January 9th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Dave, it’s funny how politicians always think that milking an already beleaguered public is the solution to a State’s or municipality’s financial problems. Here in NY the fines for traffic violations have so skyrocketed that a single ticket can nullify an individual’s entire paycheck for a week. All these insane practices only drive the average hard-working stiff trying to eke out a living deeper into debt and despair.
January 9th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Hi Nothingprofound,
I sent an email to the Illinois Highway that I blogged about this topic, not that it matters. It is unimaginable government totally ignores those who voted for them, but that is the reality. My one vote is unimportant, but as a blogger I can make a tiny difference. If I can get even a few people to avoid the tollway, then I’ve taken money out of the politicians’ influence.
Dave
January 10th, 2012 at 1:36 am
The funny thing is that the solution to plummeting tollway revenue will be to raise the tolls again….
January 10th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
The best way to avoid Illinois toll fees is to move out of Illinois! I am.
January 10th, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Hi Martin,
I hope the tollway traffic is reduced by half so they don’t make an extra nickel. I’m testing out alterative routes right now. I’ll be damned if I contribute one single penny to the Illinois tollway!
Dave
January 10th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
Hi Steve,
Illinois really does suck. I wish I could get out of Illinois. Steve, you are lucky if you can escape this state!
I do have a proposal…a governor swap with Wisconsin. Give us Scott Walker and Wisconsin can get our tax-happy Pat Quinn. I’m sure Wisconsin would be aghast at the very idea. I wish it was possible to recall the governor in Illinois. I’d volunteer to gather signatures!
Dave