Illinois drivers, say goodbye to those bulky I-PASS transponders – a sleek, sticker revolution is underfoot. In the coming months, motorists in the Land of Lincoln will be transitioning from the traditional transponders to new I-PASS sticker tags. These tags will attach directly to your vehicle's windshield, streamlining your Tollway experience. According to officials, the radio-frequency identification (RFID)-enabled stickers will be up for the taking at various locations by the end of January – with online orders kicking off in February.
The switch is part of a broader move toward adopting fresh tolling tech, as the Illinois Tollway is setting its sights on snappier, cheaper, and overall smoother travels for its customers announced Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse, "The Illinois Tollway is continuing to adopt new tolling technology as it evolves, and I-PASS Sticker Tags mark the latest development in toll collection," she mentioned in a statement obtained by NBC Chicago.
The stickers won't burn a hole in your pocket either, with no deposit fee in sight they're not only easier on the eyes but also easier on the wallet. Motorists can also look forward to tagging all their vehicles under a singular I-PASS account – negating the need to shuttle a single sticker between cars. This new age of toll tagging isn't confined to Illinois, however. As part of the E-ZPass system, these I-PASS stickers will be recognized across 19 states, ensuring that the freedom of the open road doesn't hit a snag at state lines.
For those wedded to their current transponders, fear not, you can cling to that relic till the expiration date etched upon it, after that, it's sticker time. The Tollway states that the stickers are primed for immediate use on local roads but give a heads-up of a possible 24-hour delay for usage on the Chicago Skyway or in other E-ZPass states. Meanwhile, prospective sticker adopters can snatch these up from Tollway customer service centers and headquarters – with dispensers set at Tollway oases, and by February, at Jewel-Osco stores and online, FOX 2 Now reported.
