The Illinois Tollway is preparing for the holiday season and is working to help reduce stress for travelers during Hanukkah and the upcoming Christmas and New Year's holidays. The heaviest traffic is expected on December 21 and 22, with nearly 1.7 million vehicles projected to travel on the 294-mile Tollway system each day. On an average day, 1.5 million vehicles use the Illinois Tollway. To assist with holiday travel, the Illinois Tollway is offering their I-PASS Assist program and interoperability with E-ZPass.

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The I-PASS Assist program offers income-eligible individuals and families the cost-saving benefits of I-PASS with fewer upfront costs for prepaid tolls and no deposits required. Through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Revenue, the Illinois Tollway is able to verify the eligibility of households through a secure web form that requires minimal information to determine if household income falls below the required threshold based on Federal Poverty Guidelines.

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E-ZPass is accepted in 19 states and within more than 35 tolling agencies, including the Illinois Tollway. E-ZPass holders receive a 50% discount on tolls on the Illinois Tollway's five roadways. As a member of the E-ZPass IAG consortium, travelers can use their I-PASS while driving their own car or a rental car.

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The Illinois Tollway is also offering roadside assistance to travelers who may experience issues while on the road. Drivers can call *999 to get help from Tollway roadway maintenance crews or from Illinois State Police District 15, who patrol the Tollway system 24/7. Motorist aid patrols are available to help stranded customers change tires, jump-start batteries, add coolant, dispense fuel, transport customers, move vehicles away from traffic, and call for a tow truck.

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To further assist with holiday travel, the Illinois Tollway is suspending temporary maintenance and construction lane closures from noon on December 23 through 9 a.m. on December 27, and again from noon on December 30 through 9 a.m. on January 3. However, some construction work zones may remain in place, so drivers are reminded to slow down and obey work zone speed limits.

The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that maintains and operates 294 miles of roadways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80), and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway. The agency receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations.

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