Illinois Tollway debuts SmartRoad

The 7775 Illinois Tollway and Pace Suburban Bus, along with regional project partners and local officials, have activated the I-90 SmartRoad on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. It includes advanced technology to provide real-time roadway information to drivers and a dedicated Flex Lane for Pace buses to use whenever traffic conditions warrant.

The 16-mile SmartRoad incorporates active traffic management using cameras, sensors and overhead gantries to more quickly bring detailed road information. Flexible infrastructure and new technology enables the Tollway to communicate with drivers in real time to provide traffic incident information, lane closures, traffic pattern changes and travel times.

The Tollway also will be able to add new ‘smart’ features as they become available in the future.

The new road has also been designed to accommodate public transit for the first time, with the new Flex Lanes dedicated for Pace bus travel. Pace also will operate three new Park-n-Ride stations constructed along the Tollway.

The inside Flex Lane is available to buses and emergency vehicles and will allow Pace passengers to avoid traffic delays and reliably maintain their schedules when travelling on the tollway.