Will County committee approves Vision Zero statement to qualify for federal safety grants

The Will County Public Works and Transportation Committee voted to approve a resolution establishing Will County as a Vision Zero county, a formal statement the presenters said is required to pursue certain federal safety grant programs.

"Without the vision 0 statement in place, it's not recognized as a federally eligible plan, and you won't be able to wrap up the federal dollars for safety," Jeff, the county transportation leader, told the committee when members asked how the proclamation relates to grants and the county's developing safety action plan.

Why it matters: committee members were told the Vision Zero statement is aspirational but is treated by some grant programs as a prerequisite for federal safety funds. Staff said the county is developing a safety action plan in parallel; that plan will identify safety needs and potential countermeasures and allow the county to assign costs and seek funding.

What the committee discussed: several members sought clarity on cost and scope. Committee members raised whether the "zero deaths" language is realistic; staff described the resolution as aspirational and noted many jurisdictions adopt interim targets and checkpoints (some jurisdictions use 2040 or 2050 target years). Presenters said Vision Zero complements the safety action plan, which will prioritize locations and countermeasures — from signage and rumble strips to shoulder widening, turn lanes or roundabouts — and will support applications to federal programs when the plan is complete.

Examples of safety measures discussed during the meeting included rumble strips (estimated by staff at about $6,000 per mile for an existing facility), wider stabilized shoulders to improve safety and enforcement capability, flashing yellow arrows at signals, turn lanes and roundabouts; staff said retrofit costs vary widely depending on the treatment. Committee members were told some safety improvements are incorporated in new projects, while standalone retrofits would require additional funding.

Vote and next steps: the committee's motion to adopt the Vision Zero statement was seconded and passed by voice vote; staff said the county will continue developing the safety action plan and will return with more detailed cost and project prioritization. The action, staff said, opens an additional federal funding avenue for safety projects that the county previously could not pursue without an adopted Vision Zero statement.

The presenters emphasized the statement is intended to make the county eligible for federal safety grant programs and to provide an organizational commitment to prioritize safety in design and funding decisions; the safety action plan is intended to map needs and costs so the county can pursue specific grants.