Volume 02, 2022
I-PASS Assist Expansion Making Travel Expenses More Affordable
Illinois Tollway customers in need of assistance are finding access through the enhanced I-PASS Assist program, with drivers opening more than 2,000 new I-PASS Assist accounts since the Tollway rolled out the expanded program in June 2021.

Those new accounts, which included more than 160 new accounts opened in January, nearly doubles the number of I-PASS Assist accounts used by Illinois Tollway customers to help them access the benefits of I-PASS.
Illinois Tollway Ensures Small and Diverse Businesses Engaged as Industry-leading 3-D Design and Construction Efforts Continue
The Illinois Tollway has been at the forefront of developing Building Information Modeling – or BIM – and the use of digital files for deliverables in design and construction.

BIM enables engineers to create 3-D models of projects and then integrate the digital files through planning, design, construction and asset management processes. Benefits from using the digital files include not only time and cost savings, but also increased accuracy during to deliver better construction projects.

As part of its ongoing adoption of this advancing technology, the Tollway’s Department of Diversity and Strategic Development and Engineering Department partnered to offer several opportunities in February for small contractors to expand their knowledge of model-based construction software and equipment and learn how the new technology is being incorporated into Tollway construction contracts.
Illinois Tollway Celebrates Engineers Week
The Illinois Tollway celebrated Engineers Week by participating in activities that set the groundwork to get students interested in engineering careers, help recruit new talent to positions at the Tollway and support contractors and engineers that do business with the agency.

Engineers Week 2022, February 20-26, is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers.
Tollway Environmental Staff Share Tips on How to Help Pollinators
Stretching across Northern Illinois, the Illinois Tollway system is on the route traveled each spring by thousands of migrating Monarch butterflies – also the state insect of Illinois.

As part of the Tollway’s ongoing efforts to plan, design and construct roadway projects using best practices to protect and enhance the natural and physical environment, the agency has developed a pollinator program with these Monarchs and others.

With that in mind, Tollway Senior Environmental Planner Kelsey Musich participated in the DuPage Area STEM Expo to celebrate Engineers Week showing students how to build a puddling station to help those weary wing’d creatures on their annual journey from Mexico to the northeast United States and southern Canada.

A puddler is what a male Monarch would use to gather not just the proteins from soil, but also other minerals from the ground and absorb for the energy.

Check out the video here to see how to build a puddler using just a few simple materials and help save the Monarchs. 
Illinois Tollway Continuously Testing New Technologies to Improve Roadway Safety
Truck tires. Mattresses. Even a dishwasher.
Those are among the big, heavy pieces of debris that have been found on the Illinois Tollway.

It’s the job of the Tollway’s Roadway Maintenance division to quickly, efficiently and safely remove these items off the roadway and away from live traffic.

Keeping motorists safe is a top priority for the Tollway and quickly clearing debris off roadways is one of the primary responsibilities. At the same time, the lives of Roadway Maintenance personnel are equally important, so the Tollway looks for innovative ways to help its crews do their jobs safely.