The Will County Board voted largely along party lines Thursday to adopt a transportation study designed to expand dial-a-ride services, just over a year after approving a slightly different resolution that was subsequently vetoed.
The county has worked since 2022 on its Access Will County paratransit plan to provide expanded transportation options to get senior citizens and individuals with disabilities or special needs to doctor’s appointments, work, community events or other places around the county. The plan is designed to help close gaps in geographic coverage, destination accessibility and hours of operation.
The board approved the Access Will County plan in September 2023 after Republicans introduced changes to the language before the vote. The amended proposal passed 11-10 with Republicans removing the words “for all residents” and clarifying the plan would be used as a guide by the board to set policies.
Democrats responded they didn’t object to the Access Will County transportation plan but did not support the language changes.
County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant subsequently vetoed the Republican resolution because it failed to adopt the framework for improving the paratransit system.
The plan was debated again Thursday, and board members noted their concerns on who would have control over the different recommendations in the nearly 200-page document.
Board member Judy Ogalla, a Monee Republican, said there are many recommendations the board may not want to implement or may not be cost-effective. She said she was concerned the plan would expand to include all residents regardless of age or disability, which would be costly.
Jim Richmond, the board’s Republican Leader from Mokena, said no one on the board is against helping seniors or those with disabilities get around town or get to work.
The previous resolution that was vetoed “keeps control in the County Board’s hands,” Richmond said.
Bolingbrook Democrat Jackie Traynere said the plan is a guide to enhance the dial-a-ride services. She said if the board had to approve everything, the transportation program would suffer.
“We don’t agree on pretty much anything on this board,” Traynere said. “We would stall out on everything and anything if we tried as a board to manage the actual function of this program.”
Traynere said the board does have “the power of the purse” and can vote on any contracts that come before them.
Plainfield Republican Mark Revis said his district includes or borders some of Illinois’ largest cities outside Chicago, including Joliet, Naperville, Plainfield and Aurora.
“It’s very difficult for residents in my district to find localized or regional public transit options,” Revis said. “We can’t delay any further on bringing accessible public transportation to the residents in my district.”
The Access Will County plan was approved by a 12-9 vote with Revis joining Democrats supporting it.
“I think it should not matter what township you are in, you should have access to reliable transportation,” Naperville Democrat Kelly Hickey said. “Transportation systems like this make sure that people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to can work, can pay their taxes, can be fully taking part in society. There’s a dignity that comes from being able to get back and forth to where you need to go.”
There are several challenges with the existing dial-a-ride services throughout the county, according to the plan. The fragmented system has different eligibility requirements, hours of operations and rules.
The plan notes dial-a-ride is an important mobility option for many residents, especially seniors.
The long-term goal is to consolidate various dial-a-ride services into a single countywide service, and townships and municipalities would no longer have to fund that service.
Lake and McHenry counties have consolidated countywide dial-a-ride services, and Will County officials said the county could receive more funding for transportation services because a consolidated service would be eligible for larger federal grants.
The plan claims Will County is expected to add just over 300,000 residents by 2050, many who will live in areas with limited or no fixed-route transit service, leaving dial-a-ride as an important option. The number of residents 70 or older across the Chicago region is also expected to double by 2050, and those residents are three times as likely to have a disability than the overall population, the plan states.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter.