Will County staff presented a quarter‑to‑quarter update on Access Will County — the county’s curb‑to‑curb transportation service for seniors and people with disabilities — reporting rising ridership, expanded service area eligibility and preliminary talks to consolidate neighboring township systems into a single county‑managed program.

Elaine Bottomley, deputy chief of staff to the county executive, introduced Collin Phillips, the county’s mobility manager, who told the committee the program has expanded its service area and that ridership has recovered and grown since pandemic lows. Phillips said monthly ridership trends since December through April point toward a likely total of more than 13,000 trips in the program year if current trends continue.

On funding, Phillips and Bottomley said the program blends county funds with external grants and subsidies — AgeGuide and RTA grants were cited along with PACE subsidies — and that Will County’s historical share of program operating costs has been roughly one‑third of the total program cost. Staff estimated a notional total program cost of about $600,000 for FY2026 under current service assumptions and said Will County’s portion could be approximately $200,000, but they asked the committee to allow staff to refine those numbers in the formal budget process.

Bottomley said the county is in early, active conversations with Central Will Dial‑A‑Ride (covering Lockport, Joliet and surrounding townships) about phasing their service into the county program. She described a potential phased cost‑share approach under which Central Will would initially pay a larger share of costs and the county would assume a larger share in later years, with the goal of delivering a consolidated, county‑managed system.

Staff also said they have reached out to Wheatland Township about joining the county program but have not yet received a response. Committee members including Member Winfrey and Member Butler pressed staff for a breakdown of trips by rider type (seniors versus people with disabilities) and for a clearer FY2026 budget number tied to any proposed expansion. Bottomley asked for time after the meeting to reconcile detailed budget figures and return accurate numbers to the committee.

Why it matters: County‑level consolidation of paratransit services can increase trip coordination, reduce duplicative overhead and expand consistent access for eligible riders across municipal boundaries. For Will County residents who rely on door‑to‑door transportation to reach medical appointments, groceries and social services, any expansion or consolidation could materially change travel options. The committee asked staff to refine cost estimates ahead of the FY2026 budget process and to continue outreach to townships not yet part of the county program.

Clarifying details: staff reported that:
- Will County’s share of ongoing program costs has historically been about one‑third of total operating cost because of external grants and subsidies.
- Staff gave an illustrative FY2026 total program cost of roughly $600,000 (estimate) and an approximate county share of $200,000 under current service levels; staff said they would refine and confirm those numbers as the budget process proceeds.
- Central Will Dial‑A‑Ride has expressed interest; county staff are negotiating a phased cost‑share plan that would start with Central Will covering most of its costs and move to a greater county share over several years.
- Wheatland Township had been contacted but had not yet responded to county outreach at the time of the meeting.

Proper names: Access Will County; AgeGuide; PACE; RTA; Central Will Dial‑A‑Ride; Wheatland Township.

Ending: Staff asked the committee for time to refine budget figures and promised to return with a formal FY2026 proposal before final county budget adoption. Committee members encouraged rapid outreach to unserved townships and a clearer breakdown of ridership types and costs.