I 294

I 294

It is basically a $24.50 decision that I make about 4 times per week. Should I take the tollway around Chicago or head on through. Sure, $24.50 doesn't seem like that much until you multiply it by about 200. Now, we're talking about $5,000 a year that I could spend on just I94/294.

You have a few alternatives running from Gary, In to Kenosha, WI. My usual path is 94 through the city and then I take US41 from IN to WI. Over the years I have developed a certain immunity to Chicago traffic. I have heard people complaining about how bad traffic was-when really it was not that bad-to me. Still that stop and go traffic can burn excess fuel. It is disheartening to lose that .2 MPG for the whole 1400 mile tank during that 75 miles. I am burning about 3.5 more gallons by going through the city and saving the toll.

So that reduces the savings from $24.50 to about $11. That complicates the equation. I find it interesting and smart, on their part that the tolls are reduced between 10 PM and 6 AM. It “only” costs $18.40 then. It is precisely then that traffic flows through the city and reduces the time saved. I don't use the tollway during those hours.

You can avoid the Waukegan ($7.50) toll plaza southbound by getting off of I94 and going southbound on US 41 to RT 120 and then slide about 2 miles back over to the tollway. It amuses me that every time that I do this how many cars are doing the exact same thing. Note that you will have a chicken coop going this way.

There are factors that enter my decision process. How much do I weigh? It is just harder to get more weight started over and over again. What time is it? If I am heading northbound and it is after 2 PM I take the tollway. Interestingly enough if I hit it after 5PM traffic flows pretty well. In the morning my lines are 5AM-9AM-then I use the tollway. For some reason, southbound traffic takes longer to clear in the afternoon. I extend the afternoon time to about 7PM. The 14 hour clock is also a factor. I don't enter IL unless I believe that I have the hours to clear it.

Trip planning is a must. You can save money and headaches by adjusting your leave time. For instance I like to get out of Green Bay by 10AM. If I leave after 11-I will end up in downtown traffic or on the tollway.

I pass and electronic tolling have definitely changed the occasion. Going through the toll plazas at the speed limit saves a ton of time. Ever time I go this way I get passed by trucker who are paying cash. They are going significantly faster than I am, but must stop, wait in line, and pay their toll 5 times. It seems as it takes them until the next toll to catch up with me again. It just is not practical to not use electronic tolling. For me it was an initial $50 charge on my credit card. Then when the account gets to under $10 they take $40 and put it back on my account automatically.

I remember being in charge of handing my dad 30 cents for the exact change lane when I was a kid. Then I remember always having my $1.25 cents for each of the 6 tolls at the ready as a trucker. As much as I dislike tollways, I have to give them credit for electronic tolling. I used to always go through town because with the jams created by the toll booths equalized the travel times. Now, especially during rush hour, the time saving is measurable. So, you have to make a decision.