Public Act 100-0739
 
HB5856 EnrolledLRB100 21282 LNS 37545 b

    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Toll Highway Act is amended by changing
Section 19 as follows:
 
    (605 ILCS 10/19)  (from Ch. 121, par. 100-19)
    Sec. 19. Toll rates. The Authority shall fix and revise
from time to time, tolls or charges or rates for the privilege
of using each of the toll highways constructed pursuant to this
Act. Such tolls shall be so fixed and adjusted at rates
calculated to provide the lowest reasonable toll rates that
will provide funds sufficient with other revenues of the
Authority to pay, (a) the cost of the construction of a toll
highway authorized by joint resolution of the General Assembly
pursuant to Section 14.1 and the reconstruction, major repairs
or improvements of toll highways, (b) the cost of maintaining,
repairing, regulating and operating the toll highways
including only the necessary expenses of the Authority, and (c)
the principal of all bonds, interest thereon and all sinking
fund requirements and other requirements provided by
resolutions authorizing the issuance of the bonds as they shall
become due. In fixing the toll rates pursuant to this Section
19 and Section 10(c) of this Act, the Authority shall take into
account the effect of the provisions of this Section 19
permitting the use of the toll highway system without payment
of the covenants of the Authority contained in the resolutions
and trust indentures authorizing the issuance of bonds of the
Authority. No such provision permitting the use of the toll
highway system without payment of tolls after the date of this
amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly shall be applied in
a manner that impairs the rights of bondholders pursuant to any
resolution or trust indentures authorizing the issuance of
bonds of the Authority. The use and disposition of any sinking
or reserve fund shall be subject to such regulation as may be
provided in the resolution or trust indenture authorizing the
issuance of the bonds. Subject to the provisions of any
resolution or trust indenture authorizing the issuance of bonds
any moneys in any such sinking fund in excess of an amount
equal to one year's interest on the bonds then outstanding
secured by such sinking fund may be applied to the purchase or
redemption of bonds. All such bonds so redeemed or purchased
shall forthwith be cancelled and shall not again be issued. No
person shall be permitted to use any toll highway without
paying the toll established under this Section except when on
official Toll Highway Authority business which includes police
and other emergency vehicles. However, any law enforcement
agency vehicle, fire department vehicle, public or private
ambulance service vehicle engaged in the performance of an
emergency service or duty that necessitates the use of the toll
highway system, or other emergency vehicle that is plainly
marked shall not be required to pay a toll to use a toll
highway. A law enforcement, fire protection, or emergency
services officer driving a law enforcement, fire protection,
emergency services agency vehicle, or public or private
ambulance service vehicle engaging in the performance of
emergency services or duties that is not plainly marked must
present an Official Permit Card which the law enforcement, fire
protection, or emergency services officer receives from his or
her law enforcement, fire protection, emergency services
agency, or public or private ambulance service in order to use
a toll highway without paying the toll. A law enforcement, fire
protection, emergency services agency, or public or private
ambulance service engaging in the performance of emergency
services or duties must apply to the Authority to receive a
permit, and the Authority shall adopt rules for the issuance of
a permit, that allows public or private ambulance service
vehicles engaged in the performance of emergency services or
duties that necessitate the use of the toll highway system and
all law enforcement, fire protection, or emergency services
agency vehicles of the law enforcement, fire protection, or
emergency services agency to use any toll highway without
paying the toll established under this Section. The Authority
shall maintain in its office a list of all persons that are
authorized to use any toll highway without charge when on
official business of the Authority and such list shall be open
to the public for inspection. In recognition of the unique role
of public transportation the Suburban Bus Division of the
Regional Transportation Authority in providing effective
transportation in the Authority's service region, and to give
effect to the exemption set forth in subsection (b) of Section
2.06 of the Regional Transportation Authority Act, the
following vehicles may use any toll highway without paying the
toll: (1) a vehicle owned or operated by the Suburban Bus
Division of the Regional Transportation Authority that is being
used to transport passengers for hire; and (2) any revenue
vehicle that is owned or operated by a Mass Transit District
created under Section 3 of the Local Mass Transit District Act
and running regular scheduled service. may use any toll highway
without paying the toll.
    Among other matters, this amendatory Act of 1990 is
intended to clarify and confirm the prior intent of the General
Assembly to allow toll revenues from the toll highway system to
be used to pay a portion of the cost of the construction of the
North-South Toll Highway authorized by Senate Joint Resolution
122 of the 83rd General Assembly in 1984.
(Source: P.A. 97-784, eff. 1-1-13.)