(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 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.
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. 100-739, eff. 1-1-19.)
|