Illinois Tollway

Illinois Tollway's Dixon (M-12) Maintenance Site Team wins 2024 Go the Extra Mile safety award for their participation in 63 Toolbox Safety Talks, positive feedback from managers and supervisors, and zero reported incidents - their second consecutive year of incident-free operations. The motivation for establishing this internal award in 2018 was to set a continued standard for safety practices at Illinois Tollway facilities. Best put by Chairman Arnie Rivera, "Safety is at the heart of everything we do. The Dixon team's commitment to teamwork and holding each other accountable serves as an excellent example of how a strong safety culture can drive outstanding results." Congratulations to the staff at Dixon (M-12). Keep up the great work! Read more here: https://bit.ly/3EblxTD #SafetyFirst #GoTheExtraMileForSafety

Learn more about growing your business. Get registered today: https://lnkd.in/gg8CE7EE #IllinoisTollway #SmallBusinessSuccess

The Tollway is Hiring Visit the Lake County Spring Job Fair in Waukegan April 16th, 2025 | College of Lake County | 1-4pm Hosted by State Rep Mayfield and State Senator Johnson, College of Lake County, CMS, IDES, Job Center of Lake County, and Lake County Workforce Development.

The Illinois Tollway made a strong impact at the 2025 IBTTA Technology Summit, held in Dallas. Our CIO, Michael Shay, led a forward-thinking panel exploring how data analytics, AI, and connected vehicle technology can drive efficiency in maintenance and maximize ROI. The session highlighted the practical applications of predictive analytics and intelligent asset management, showcasing the potential for operational excellence. Meanwhile, our Chief of Business Systems, MICHAEL CATOLICO, participated in a dynamic discussion on technology's evolving role in tolling operations. He shared insights into leveraging machine learning and AI-derived data to enhance user payment behaviors while emphasizing the importance of responsible AI governance to ensure decisions remain ethical, bias-free, and secure. We're proud to contribute to conversations shaping the future of transportation technology! #IllinoisTollway #IBTTA #Innovation #Technology 📸 Sadie Lebo

Congratulations to the Illinois Tollway's Acting Chief of Diversity & Strategic Development Marlene Vick for being honored as Outstanding Community Outreach of the year at the African American Contractors Association's Membership Awards Gala this week. Vick accepted the award at the 31st annual gala for her incredible work "provided to our community, organization and the local economy for the year 2024." Thank you to AACA for this great honor!

More than 100 women-owned business leaders of Illinois came together for a leadership panel honoring women trailblazers in state and local government in celebration of Women's History Month. Among panelists was Illinois Tollway's Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse, speaking about her journey to her leadership role alongside Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, Illinois House Assistant Majority Leader Eva-Dina Delgado, Deputy Governor Bria Scudder, Acting IDOT Secretary Gia Biagi, and One Family Illinois CEO Delphine Rankin. Providing advice and inspiration to the future women leaders of tomorrow, the women-led panel served as an empowering message for others to strive towards achieving their professional career goals.

That’s a wrap on the WTS Greater Chicago Chapter Awards Videos! We had the privilege to spend a few hours this week with the 2025 Woman of the year Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse at the Illinois Tollway. It was truly an honor to hear firsthand her approach to leadership and the impact promoting women and diversity in the transportation industry can have.    Join us on May 1st for a celebration of award winners and to hear more of their inspirational stories! Registration for the event is open for our chapter partners and opens to the public next week!

The Illinois Tollway celebrates Arab American Heritage Month this April, recognizing the history and impact of those in the transportation industry and beyond. #ArabAmericanHeritageMonth #DiversityInTransportation

Celebrating Women’s History Month with the Illinois Tollway! We kicked off Women’s History Month early by inspiring future women leaders at our "Introduce a Girl to Engineering" STEM event! Local Girl Scouts had the unique opportunity to engage in interactive, hands-on STEM activities led by our talented Tollway women engineers. It was an incredible day filled with innovation, learning, and fostering the next generation of trailblazers in engineering and transportation. Throughout March, the Illinois Tollway continued celebrating women’s contributions and achievements. On March 3rd, we honored National Women in Construction Week by recognizing the talented women shaping the construction industry. We also joined the Construction Management Association of America luncheon, where Chicago women in construction were honored for their remarkable contributions to the industry. On International Women’s Day, we spotlighted the powerful leadership and impact of women across transportation. As part of a special series showcasing women leading Illinois transportation agencies, NBC 5's Kye Martin sat down with our very own Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. In a candid interview, Rouse shared her inspiring career story, her dedication to mentoring other women in the industry, and her vision for the Tollway’s future. She also provided updates on our next-generation I-PASS Sticker Tags and the ongoing progress of the I-490 Tollway—a transformative project set to ease congestion, stimulate economic growth, and enhance connectivity, including western access to O’Hare International Airport. We closed out the month with a special “Honoring Women Trailblazers” event, celebrating exceptional women leaders in state and local government. The event featured an empowering panel discussion with Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, Illinois House Assistant Majority Leader Eva-Dina Delgado, Deputy Governor Bria Scudder, Delphine Rankin, CEO of One Family Illinois, Gia Biagi, Acting Secretary of IDOT, and our own Cassaundra Rouse, Illinois Tollway Executive Director. Together, these trailblazers shared their insights and experiences, inspiring others to lead with purpose and determination. Women’s History Month serves as a powerful reminder to honor women’s accomplishments while championing gender equity and inclusion. Together, we’re paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future in transportation and beyond. #WomensHistoryMonth #STEM #WomenInEngineering #WomenInConstruction #WomenTrailblazers #IllinoisTollway #Mentorship #Leadership

In recognition of Women in Construction Month, Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Chicago Chapter invited Illinois Tollway leaders to engage with over 100 engineering professionals about the experiences of women in leadership within the transportation industry. Chief Financial Officer Cathy Williams started with a presentation updating members on our capital programs and was later joined by Deputy Chief of Program Implementation Cindy Williams and Executive Project Manager Laura Thompson for a Q&A and advice session for women aspiring to gain leadership roles in the industry. Thank you CMAA for helping promote, support, educate, and develop these professionals leading the delivery of programs and projects within the built environment!