Toll Highway Authority VOIP

Level-1 deployed a Cisco VoIP solution for the Illinois Toll Highway Authority, modernizing communications across 1,900+ locations.

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) is responsible for building, operating, and maintaining nearly 300 miles of tollways across 12 counties in Northern Illinois. In 2016, ISTHA initiated a comprehensive modernization effort to replace its aging 15-year-old PBX phone system with a state-of-the-art, Cisco-based VoIP solution. With more than 1,900 stations spread across multiple sites, the Authority sought a centrally managed, fully redundant communication system equipped with modern voice features, enhanced reliability, and streamlined administration. 

As a subcontractor on this high-impact effort, Level-1 Global Solutions was selected to develop the VoIP implementation plan for ISTHA’s administrative offices. Our role was both strategic and operational, translating network needs into executable workflows while orchestrating logistics across multiple sites to ensure uniformity and precision. 

Our implementation plans addressed system configuration, power compatibility, physical deployment, and user onboarding. We broke each task into a repeatable, site-specific process that minimized errors and accelerated rollout. The work included sorting and assembling telecom equipment, coordinating unboxing and installation, connecting existing data lines to IP phones and computers, registering endpoints, and conducting functional tests. 

Our Scope Includes 

• Strategic VoIP implementation planning for ISTHA’s multi-site administrative network 
• Equipment logistics, unboxing, assembly, and deployment aligned with location-specific specs 
• Integration of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to ensure continuity during power loss 
• Standardized configuration and installation guidelines across all implementation teams 
• Telecom system documentation, oversight of field engineers, and real-time installation coordination 
• Development of user training collateral, presentations, and post-installation support materials 
• Coordination of access and installation windows across secured Authority locations 
• On-site end-user training to support adoption of VoIP features and minimize operational disruption 

By creating a scalable, resilient voice communications network for ISTHA, Level-1 helped usher in a new era of reliable, digital-first infrastructure for one of Illinois’ most critical transportation agencies. The VoIP upgrade not only enhanced internal communications but also enabled ISTHA to better serve the public with systems built for scale, speed, and future-ready performance.