Yesterday 2/22 pulling out of Rockford going toward Chicago around 2:20pm?

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

Probably my relief driver Charley, especially if there was a white "O'Hare" sign in the lower windshield. I got into RKF at about 1:45, that's my last trip, another guy takes the bus and leaves RKF at 2pm, but has 2 other stops before he leaves and gets on I90, he's a little slow, so 220pm is probably about the right time, would have been bus 69083. We were pretty close!
Gilly

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Man! I see those busses all the time. Everytime one of them cuts me off I wonder if it's you!

BTW this speedpass thing is awesome. It totally unclogs traffic. There's absolutely no traffic on the tollways. I was doing loops today around Chicago. Who woulda thought that day would come!

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

Yeah, some of the guys don't show alot of courtesy, that's for sure. Works both ways though. The things are governed to about 70 +-, so it can be frustrating at times, between the vehicles that do "the speed limit" and the ones doing 80+, it's hard to blend in, plus you always stick out like a sore thumb. Added to this is that everyone thinks the worse fate on the Interstate is to get stuck behind a bus, which I know isn't pleasant. Myself, I try to get along, but sometimes it's tough going when no one wants to "meet you half-way". So far in the past year I've had 2 "bad" driving reports (800 number on the back of the bus) and 1 "good" one. Most people don't care much one way or another and we don't get many calls. I try to at least make sure I won't slow too many people down by trying to pass a slowpoke. The problem is you'll come up on someone and want to pass, it'll be clear and you'll take the left lane, then the car you want to pass will speed up, and/or someone doing 80+ will come up behind you when you're out in the left lane. Like I say, real frustrating.

Gilly

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Click here to see the items I have up for auction at EBay

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I love those speedpass things too! MD just added them, but the drivers there haven't clued in yet that you can drive through the tolls at 70 mph without any problem. Us Virginianers will have to do some training.

Gilly: I used to be a UPS driver and know what you mean about the governor thing. If I remember right, my truck was also governed, but there was almost never a time when I needed to drive that fast. The routes were so well designed that it was rairly necessary.

One thing I always liked best about the truck was the view of young ladies in their cars driving by!!

Another UPS driver buddy of mine got flashed by a gal once.

"Everyone loves the UPS Guy!!"

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Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
1980 240-D manual, 297,500 miles. Totaled by inattentive driver.

What's the toll up there in Chicagoland up to now? I see our illustrious governor upped it yet again unless you have I-Pass. Since I live downstate, why would I buy I-Pass? I am up there to visit 2 or 3 times a year... and yet I get to pay the same as an out-of-stater. Only in IL... Or should I say Chicagoland. Sheesh...

Chris

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

The tolls are double without the I-pass -- but the I-pass doesn't cost anything -- you need to let them charge $40 to a credit card -- all of which goes to pay tolls (deducted as you pass through) -- and allow them to replenish the $40 automatically if it goes below $10.

Traffic is clearer because all (a lot anyway) of the trucks are using non-toll roads (freeways for our California friends) -- which is clogging those roads up!

I don't use the tollways too often (maybe a dozen times a year), but we have the I-pass (and have had it for about 6 months) -- it lets you go though the gates so much faster (no waiting behind lines of people digging for change) without stopping and now, the added bonus, the rates did not go up for I-pass users -- win/win.

Illinois is also looking to have reciprocal agreements with other states, so your I-pass, in the future, will get you through other state's tollways too.

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Dan

1986 560SL (52.5k miles) sold 11/24/04

1987 560sl (55.6k miles)

I still find it very troubling that as an IL taxpayer, I need a credit card to use an IL tax-funded road. I find it unacceptable. I would not use anywhere close to $40 worth of I-pass in a given year! As a matter of fact, I have not used a toll road anywhere but in Chicago (driving from my g/f's house in Rockton into the city) in the past 5 years or so, so reciporical agreements mean nothing to me.

It sounds to me like business as usual for the Chicago political machine. Inconvenience the entire state to benefit the Chicago area. Sorry if that comes off sounding harsh, but we've seen this for years. The Chicago toll system is an example of government inefficiency and political corruption at its worst. I know a couple guys (nephews of a former governor) who brag about going to "work" at the Tollway and playing cards all day. Not that I was suprised to hear it...

Chris

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

Chris -- there is no time limit on your I-pass account --- you don't have to use the $40 in one year. You can also provide them with a small deposit for the I-pass device and then replenish the account by check or other means at your convenience (the Jewel stores here in Chicagoland are I-pass outlets) and you can manage your account on the Internet at https://www.getipass.com/ipass/LoginPin.jsp. Plus there are plenty of other roads in the area, so you don't have to use the tollways.

As mentioned above, the tollways are much easier to navigate now -- mostly thanks to I-pass.

I used to live downstate (grew up in Champaign) -- so I know that there is a constant conflict between the Chicago area and downstate. You should take advantage of Chicago and all it has to offer -- your tax money does pay for it too!

I wish you safe travels (tollways or free)!

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Dan

1986 560SL (52.5k miles) sold 11/24/04

1987 560sl (55.6k miles)

Yes, Chicago does have a lot to offer, and it's a lot more attractive when you don't have to live there, which I did for far too long.

Hi Daniel -- thanks for the well-wishes! I don't mean to sound like such a sourpuss, but Chicago is just SUCH a financial drain on the state. Working at a downstate school, I can also attest to the unfairness of distribution of funds to educational institutions. And how good old Governor Rod promised to keep the Paris work camp open during his campaign only to close it, and increase funding to the Kankakaa work camp. That's a whole different story, better left for another day! I am sure you understand, given your background.

I do enjoy Chicago in small doses. Problem is, I am usually so worked up at the terrible drivers on I-57, I-90/94, and the tollway, that by the time I get downtown I am too pissed off to enjoy anything! Well, that and the fact that I can't afford frequent trips into the city. Sticker shock on everything from gas to food to parking garages!

Anyway, I'm sure I'll use the tollways here and there, but I doubt I'll bother with I-pass. It just seems a hassle... though I am probably making a mountain of a mole hill. Fundamentally, though, I am still opposed to the idea of inconveniencing any IL tax payer. I am sure I'm not the only downstater who is not interested in messing with I-Pass and will thus end up paying double tolls.

BTW -- how much of the toll collection actually goes to paying for the road itself? I'll bet that $ finds its ways to all sorts of shady places it was never intended to benefit.

Anyway, thanks for your understanding. I didn't mean to come off quite so strongly!

Chris

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

I chuckled at your statement regarding the financial drain-- some of the locals I talk with complain that downstate doesn't pull its weight and that tax money from here heads down there -- I guess I'm still too much a downstater to agree with that, but its telling how different Chicagoans and all other Illinoisans are!

I agree with your I-57 90/94 remark -- if it isn't bad drivers then its construction season. I typically get a headache driving back from Champaign.

With the exception of actual construction (for which I am not sure) -- I think the toll ways are suppose to pay for themselves -- that is, the toll keepers, gates etc. as well as the IL State Police Tollway district (it is seperate from the rest of the IL St. Police) -- I would guess that some of the money collected pays for improvements too (repaving, new lanes, tow services, Oases). Plus -- the Skyway (a seperate entity all too itself) was just sold to a private company (European) -- which paid Chicago a lot of money for the pleasure of running the tollway and keeping those tolls (which were just raised recently too) for 99 years. see: http://a.abcnews.com/Business/wireStory?id=203589 I'm not sure you can use I-pass there?

I didn't think you were coming off too strong -- but I also didn't want to be the standard bearer for the toll system -- I live in the area so I-pass makes sense to me -- and as the others have stated, its made the tollways that much easier to drive.

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Dan

1986 560SL (52.5k miles) sold 11/24/04

1987 560sl (55.6k miles)

I guess it's all perspective. You've been down here and seen how it works, though. It just frustrating to watch the Chicago machine make decisions that will effect the entire state... esp. budgetary decisions. Chicago is an expensive place!

Have a good one!

Chris

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

I use the tollway about once a month. I find the I-PASS a real convience, I "purchased" one I pass that I use for all three of my vehicles. The one positive side of the tollway system is that they have their own dedicated snow plows which they keep the roads relatively clear when it snows. The road repairs are usually better than the non-toll roads.

I can understand your point about having to pay tolls at all. I live in the suburbs where I can park my car for free. I will never live where I have to pay to park my car.

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Ray
1998 Mercedes E320, 200K Miles
2001 Acura 3.2TL, 178K Miles
1992 Chevy Astro, 205K Miles

You would not believe how traffic has cleared up on the tollways. It used to take me 2hrs to get from Oakbrook to Skokie. Now it takes me 20 mins. There's absolutely zero congestion in the I-pass lanes and only 2-3 cars max at the manual booths. I made it from Champaign to Elmhurst yesterday in 2 hours flat. Took 30 minutes from I-80 all the way to the hotel. (Sorry JB, I was only in Champaign for 2 hours)

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman