Gov. Rod Blagojevich called on the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority on Tuesday to develop a program to allow low-income tollway users to pay less for an I-PASS so it won’t be a financial burden on them.

But what about everyone else?

Tollway officials are fine-tuning details allowing a lower, prepaid toll charge for those who fall below certain financial eligibility criteria. Right now an I-PASS costs $50, which includes a $10 refundable deposit and $40 in prepaid tolls.

For those people who don’t use the tollway often, fronting $40 for prepaid tolls they may not even use can be a financial burden. Why not allow a lower prepaid toll charge for all I-PASS users?

In August, Blagojevich unveiled a plan practically forcing tollway users to purchase an I-PASS. Tolls will double only for non-I-PASS users, so those making a stop at toll booths will pay up to 80 cents at most plazas. One would think paying an 80-cent toll would mean driving on highways paved in gold, but they just hope to resurface a majority of the highways … by 2014. Much of the criticism of this plan comes from people who use the tollway, but not nearly enough to pay $50 to purchase an I-PASS.

Just because they don’t want to pay $50 to use a road a few times, it doesn’t mean they should have to fork over 80 cents at each plaza. That’s more than enough money to buy a cheeseburger at every McDonald’s oasis on the tollway.

Blagojevich said in a statement that his new plan for low-income tollway users is the best way to “level the playing field … so they can get a needed break on tolls once the new rates take effect in January.”

Actually, the best way to “level the playing field” would be to extend Blagojevich’s vision of lifting the financial burden off low-income tollway users to include everyone. Just because some may not fall under the eligible criteria, it doesn’t mean that $50 isn’t a financial burden.

All I-PASS devices are programmed with an automatic $40 in tolls, so they will have to change that. As they do so, they may as well allow a system where I-PASS purchasers can choose the amount they want on their device.

If not, non-I-PASS users better be ready to either fork over $50 come January, or they’ll need to start saving their quarters for those 80-cent tolls.