For those looking to beat holiday traffic this season, getting an I-PASS may be the best solution for speedier travel times and cheaper tolls.

“We’re encouraging customers to beat the rush and get I-PASS before the tolls double on Jan. 1 to pay for the $5.3-billion congestion-relief plan,” said Jack Hartman, executive director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

The 10-year plan will reduce congestion and travel times by rebuilding and restoring almost the entire tollway system by replacing toll plazas with open-road tolls, adding lanes to the system’s major roads and building the south extension of I-355, according to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Web site.

Thirty-nine new I-PASS-only lanes already have been added to the Illinois Tollway system.

However, customers who purchase an I-PASS or an I-PASS gift card will not be subjected to the toll increase.

The normal rate of a toll is about 40 to 50 cents, but after Jan. 1, those tolls will increase to nearly 80 cents, said a customer service representative from the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. Customers can purchase a new I-PASS or a gift card in $20 and $50 denominations, he said. The gift cards can be used to purchase a new I-PASS or to replenish an existing account.

The newly introduced I-PASS gift card will be available at various malls in Chicagoland for the holiday season and at most Jewel-Oscos year round.

“The Tollway is providing this convenience to our customers during the hectic holiday shopping season so they can easily pick up an I-PASS during their trip to the malls,” Hartman said.

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority reported that I-PASS gift cards also will be available at Chicago Premium Outlets, 1650 Premium Outlets Blvd. in Aurora, Gurnee Mills, 6170 W. Grand Ave. in Gurnee and Harlem Irving Plaza, 4104 N. Harlem Ave. in Chicago.

The gift cards will be available at these locations only on Dec. 11, 12, 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jewel-Osco, 1320 Sycamore Road, began selling the gift cards in November, according to one employee who wished to remain nameless, and will continue selling them year round. He said it still may be too early to tell how many people will take advantage of them.