Chicago Skyway
Chicago Skyway operates a 7.8-mile toll road and bridge connecting the Indiana Toll Road to Chicago's Dan Ryan Expressway under a 99-year city lease, serving commuters and freight vehicles through cash, credit, and E-ZPass/I-PASS electronic payment.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Chicago Skyway does
Chicago Skyway, operated by Skyway Concession Company LLC, is a 7.8-mile toll road and bridge system connecting the Indiana Toll Road to the Dan Ryan Expressway on Chicago's South Side. Its signature engineering feature is a half-mile steel truss bridge — the Calumet "High Bridge" — spanning the Calumet River and Calumet Harbor with 125 feet of vertical clearance. The City of Chicago built the roadway in 1958 and, in January 2005, signed a 99-year operating lease with Skyway Concession Company LLC — the first privatization of an existing toll road in the United States. The asset is now majority-owned by Atlas Arteria Group (66.67%, acquired December 2022), with Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan retaining 33.33%.
The core operating model is toll collection at a single gated plaza. Drivers pay $8.10 for a 2-axle vehicle regardless of time of day, with higher axle classes charged up to $66.10 (7+ axles, peak). Payment is accepted via cash, major credit cards, and E-ZPass/I-PASS transponders through a 17-state interoperable electronic toll collection network. The system is supported by antenna-based transponder readers, video enforcement cameras, an online missed-toll payment portal (paytoll.chicagoskyway.org), and a Skyway Loyalty Program. Atlas Arteria reported proportional toll revenue growth of approximately 9.4% year-over-year in H2 2025 with a 75% EBITDA margin.
Chicago Skyway serves a dual customer base: individual commuters and travelers between Indiana and Chicago, and commercial/freight operators with multi-axle vehicles paying premium rates. The company is privately held, has 51–100 employees, and is led by CEO Luis Tejerina (appointed May 2025), COO Chad Elliott, and CFO Kara Lawrence. Recent strategic moves include Atlas Arteria's $325M notes issuance in October 2025, a leadership refresh drawing from major North American P3 toll operators, and infrastructure modernization (LED lighting upgrades, lead paint abatement, I-PASS Sticker Tag acceptance). The asset operates under a long-duration regulatory moat — a 99-year lease — making this a classic infrastructure concession investment rather than a venture-stage growth story.
Chicago Skyway firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chicago Skyway
- Legal name
- Skyway Concession Company LLC
- Website
- https://chicagoskyway.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Chicago Skyway operates a 7.8-mile toll road and bridge connecting the Indiana Toll Road to Chicago's Dan Ryan Expressway under a 99-year city lease, serving commuters and freight vehicles through cash, credit, and E-ZPass/I-PASS electronic payment.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chicago Skyway industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Toll Road Infrastructure and Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Toll Payment & Toll Account Management (ETC, Toll Tags, Toll Invoicing) (TLABAMAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Back-Office Toll Transaction Processing, Billing & Customer Account Management (TLAJABAC), Toll Violation Management, Collections & Dispute Resolution (TLAJABAG)
Keywords
Where Chicago Skyway is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Chicago Skyway business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Others, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Toll Revenue: The Chicago Skyway generates revenue through toll collection from vehicles using the 7.8-mile toll road. Tolls are collected at the toll plaza via cash, credit cards, or electronic transponders (E-ZPass/I-PASS). Different rates apply based on number of axles and time of day (peak vs off-peak). Atlas Arteria Group reported proportional toll revenue growing approximately 9.4% year-over-year in H2 2025.
- Toll Revenue (Atlas Arteria): Atlas Arteria Group owns 66.67% interest in Chicago Skyway (acquired December 2022), with Ontario Teachers Pension Plan retaining 33.33%. The toll road contributes to Atlas Arteria's overall revenue with proportional EBITDA growing 9.3% year-over-year in H2 2025, maintaining a stable 75% EBITDA margin.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | 2 Axles - Peak and Off-Peak |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | 3 Axles |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | 4 Axles |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | 5 Axles |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | 6 Axles |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | 7+ Axles |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Toll Violation Fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Chicago Skyway product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chicago Skyway operates a 7.8-mile toll road and bridge system connecting the Indiana Toll Road to the Dan Ryan Expressway on Chicago's South Side, featuring the half-mile steel truss "High Bridge" over the Calumet River. The company collects tolls at a single gated toll plaza accepting cash, major credit cards, and E-ZPass/I-PASS transponders, with axle-based and peak/off-peak pricing. The asset is operated by Skyway Concession Company LLC under a 99-year lease with the City of Chicago.
Product overview
Chicago Skyway operates as a single core product: a 7.8-mile toll road and bridge system. The company provides toll collection services through both manual (cash, credit card) and electronic (E-ZPass/I-PASS transponder) methods at its toll plaza. Supporting services include an online toll payment portal for missed payments, a customer loyalty program, and general customer service operations. Infrastructure maintenance is handled through ongoing construction updates and stormwater management programs. The toll road is majority-owned by Atlas Arteria Group (66.67% since December 2022), with OTPP holding the remaining 33.33%.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Chicago Skyway Toll Road A 7.8-mile toll road connecting the Indiana Toll Road to the Dan Ryan Expressway on Chicago's South Side, featuring a half-mile steel truss "High Bridge" spanning the Calumet River and Calumet Harbor. Operated by Skyway Concession Company LLC under a 99-year lease with the City of Chicago since January 2005.
- Online Toll Payment Portal
Quantifiable outcome
- 772 hours of safety training conducted in 2023
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Chicago Skyway
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Chicago Skyway technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature3 records
Chicago Skyway partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- City of ChicagocoreThe City of Chicago retained ownership of the Chicago Skyway while Skyway Concession Company operates the toll road under a 99-year operating lease agreement signed in January 2005. This was the first privatization of an existing toll road in the United States.
- E-ZPass GroupcoreThe Chicago Skyway participates in the E-ZPass electronic toll collection network operating in 17 states. Transponders from any E-ZPass member agency can be used on the Skyway, enabling seamless interstate toll payment.
- Illinois TollwaymajorIllinois Tollway provides I-PASS transponders which can be used on the Chicago Skyway. Illinois Tollway and certain New York toll agencies charge a $0.03 transaction fee per transit if their transponders are used on the Skyway.
- Indiana Toll RoadmajorThe Chicago Skyway connects directly to the Indiana Toll Road. Indiana Toll Road also offers E-ZPass transponders that can be used on the Skyway.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chicago Skyway competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission: Operates a 550-mile toll road system under a public authority model with E-ZPass interoperability. Comparable as a major US toll road operator with similar axle-based pricing, E-ZPass integration, and significant infrastructure footprint, though it is publicly operated.
- Transurban: Global toll road operator managing large urban express lanes networks (including Northern Virginia, where new Chicago Skyway COO Chad Elliott previously worked). Comparable as an institutional toll road operator with sophisticated electronic tolling and asset management capabilities.
- Cintra (Ferrovial): Global toll road concession developer and operator with major US P3 projects including I-66 (where new Skyway CEO Luis Tejerina previously led). Comparable as a strategic toll road concession investor with P3 expertise relevant to Skyway's long-term ownership structure.
- New Jersey Turnpike Authority: Operates two major toll roads (Garden State Parkway and NJ Turnpike) with E-ZPass electronic tolling. Comparable as a large Northeast/Mid-Atlantic toll road operator with similar multi-axle toll structure and E-ZPass network participation.
Direct peers
- Illinois Tollway: Operates the state's other toll roads and issues I-PASS transponders that work on the Chicago Skyway. Same geography, same regulatory jurisdiction (Illinois), and directly competes for Chicago-area drivers' toll spending.
- E-470 Public Highway Authority: Toll road serving Denver metro area with similar electronic toll collection and ExpressToll/GO-PASS interoperability. Comparable as a metropolitan commuter-oriented toll road using similar ETC and license-plate-toll technology.
- Elizabeth River Crossings: Operates the Downtown and Midtown Tunnels in Virginia under a P3 concession agreement with the state. Comparable as a privatized transportation infrastructure concession using electronic tolling, similar in concession length, payment processing model, and asset type to Chicago Skyway.
- I-66 Express Mobility Partners: Operates the I-66 Outside the Beltway Express Lanes in Northern Virginia under a P3 concession. Closely comparable to Chicago Skyway as a privatized toll concession with electronic tolling, public sector counterparty, and similar institutional investor structure.
- Dulles Greenway: Privately operated toll road in Virginia with electronic tolling and similar axle-based pricing. Comparable as a privatized concession-style toll road in a major U.S. metro, similar in asset scope and customer model to Chicago Skyway.
- Indiana Toll Road: The Indiana Toll Road directly connects to the Chicago Skyway at the state border and serves overlapping east-west freight and commuter traffic. Both are privatized toll roads using E-ZPass with axle-based pricing, making them the closest operational and geographic peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Chicago Skyway social profiles
Digital presenceChicago Skyway compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Chicago Skyway financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chicago Skyway leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Chicago Skyway funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chicago Skyway M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chicago Skyway
What does Chicago Skyway do?
Chicago Skyway operates a 7.8-mile toll road and bridge system connecting the Indiana Toll Road to the Dan Ryan Expressway on Chicago's South Side, featuring the half-mile steel truss "High Bridge" over the Calumet River. The company collects tolls at a single gated toll plaza accepting cash, major credit cards, and E-ZPass/I-PASS transponders, with axle-based and peak/off-peak pricing. The asset is operated by Skyway Concession Company LLC under a 99-year lease with the City of Chicago.
Is Chicago Skyway a public or private company?
Chicago Skyway is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Chicago Skyway founded?
Chicago Skyway was founded in 2005. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Chicago Skyway based?
Chicago Skyway is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chicago Skyway make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Toll Revenue is the primary driver. The others are toll Revenue (Atlas Arteria).
Who are Chicago Skyway's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Transurban, Cintra (Ferrovial) and New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Direct peers are Illinois Tollway, E-470 Public Highway Authority, Elizabeth River Crossings, I-66 Express Mobility Partners, Dulles Greenway and Indiana Toll Road.
Does Chicago Skyway have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chicago Skyway.
What industry is Chicago Skyway in?
Chicago Skyway's product category is Toll Road Infrastructure and Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLABAMAC, Toll Payment & Toll Account Management (ETC, Toll Tags, Toll Invoicing), with a secondary code of TLAJABAC, Back-Office Toll Transaction Processing, Billing & Customer Account Management.