Illinois Department of Transportation

About the TODS Program

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) administers a Tourist Oriented Directional Signing Program (TODS) along various highways. This program involves installing blue-background signs at intersections in rural areas to advise tourists of businesses or attractions not visible from a State-maintained highway.

The program includes all sections of rural non-freeways except those passing through urban areas with populations of 2,500 or more where the number of businesses would make such signing impractical. It does not apply to Interstate routes or other full freeways or highways under the jurisdiction of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

How the Program Works

Where space is available at a rural State-maintained highway intersection with a crossroad, IDOT will make, install and maintain one TODS sign in each direction. Each sign may identify up to four businesses/attractions.

To be eligible for signing, a business/attraction cannot have an entrance along a State highway where they could have their own signing. Where they are not located on the crossroad, additional signs known as "trailblazers" may be necessary to direct tourists to their location.

There is a $50 nonrefundable application fee. In addition, there is a $65 annual fee for each sign. The total fee for an individual business/attraction depends upon how many TODS signs are installed.

What Businesses are Eligible

Businesses/attractions must be oriented toward tourism with the major portion of their income or visitors derived during their normal operating season from motorists not residing within 25 air miles.

Eligible businesses/attractions include, but are not necessarily limited to, those offering gas, food and lodging, campgrounds, orchards/tree farms, produce stands, wineries, marinas, fishing/bait facilities, stage theaters, amusement parks, riding stables, antique and craft stores, museums, golf courses, facilities offering aircraft, boat, or train rides, and historic villages.

Ineligible businesses/attractions include, but are not limited to, shopping malls, furniture stores, drug stores, movie theaters, community business districts, appliance stores, automobile/truck dealerships or garages, houses of worship, real-estate offices, livestock sales facilities, sand and gravel facilities, and grocery stores.

For Further Illinois TODS Information

If additional information is needed or if you wish to submit an application, contact the IDOT district TODS coordinator for your county. Please do not send an application fee without the official application form.

ILLINOIS' DISTRICT TODS COORDINATORS BY COUNTY

District 1
Bureau of Traffic
call: (847) 705-4141
Counties:
Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will
District 4
Bureau of Operations
call:(309) 671-4460
Counties:
Fulton, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, Marshall, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Woodford District 7
Bureau of Operations
call: (217) 342-8261
Counties:
Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Lawrence, Macon, Moultrie, Richland, Shelby, Wabash, Wayne

District 2
Bureau of Operations
call: (815) 284-5395
Counties:
Boone, Carroll, Henry, JoDaviess, Lee, Ogle,
Rock Island, Stephenson, Whiteside, Winnebago District 5
Bureau of Operations
call: (217) 465-4181
Counties:
Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, McLean, Piatt, Vermilion District 8
Bureau of Operations
call: (618) 346-3250
Counties:
Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Jersey, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair, Washington

District 3
Bureau of Operations
call: (815) 434-8417
Counties:
Bureau, Dekalb, Ford, Grundy,
Iroquois, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Livingston District 6
Bureau of Operations
call: (217) 782-7314
Counties:
Adams, Brown, Cass, Christian, Hancock, Logan, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott District 9
Bureau of Operations
call: (618) 351-5240
Counties:
Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, White, Williamson

ILLINOIS TOURIST ORIENTED DIRECTIONAL SIGNING PROGRAM (TODS)

ILLINOIS TOURIST ORIENTED DIRECTIONAL
SIGNING PROGRAM (TODS)