The Will County Public Works and Transportation Committee voted June 18 to adopt the county’s Fiscal Year 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Plan, a five-year snapshot of planned projects and existing contracts, after lengthy discussion and public comment focused on the proposed widening of 140th Street through Homer Glen.

The committee’s adoption came after presentations from county staff explaining that the TIP is a planning document that is updated annually and reflects contracts already executed or anticipated over the next five years. Jeff Ronaldson, the county’s transportation director, told the committee the plan is “a snapshot” that will be updated each year and that many projects on the list will require separate future contracts that must be approved by the county board.

The debate centered on the 3-mile Homer Glen segment of 140th Street, for which Ronaldson said Will County has spent about $6.3 million on studies and related work since 2009 and for which a preliminary engineering phase included a federal contribution of roughly $750,000. Ronaldson said the current contract on file calls for a five‑lane cross section; he also said the county has investigated narrower cross sections and that right‑of‑way needs for a three‑lane section may be similar in some places because of drainage and detention requirements. "If we took the five lanes out and made it a three‑lane, then that's still okay," Ronaldson said, adding that any change would be reflected in next year’s update.

Committee members and residents argued over whether the project could — and should — be altered or postponed. Member Balich said he would vote no because the 140th Street segment remained on the plan. Several county board members pressed for greater local engagement, more up‑to‑date traffic counts and consideration of alternatives such as a three‑lane “road diet,” lower speed limits, or routing traffic to other existing corridors. Member Butler urged better coordination with townships and municipalities before the county spends money on design and right‑of‑way work.

Public speakers from Homer Glen and Homer Township told the committee they opposed widening 140th Street, citing concerns about increased truck traffic, noise, loss of rural character, effects on schools and farms, wildlife impacts, and property loss. Several asked that the county lower the speed limit on 140th Street, pursue alternatives such as improving 150th Street, or pause the project while local discussions continue. Homer Township Supervisor Sue Stylin said the village and township had asked for more recent traffic counts and were open to a three‑lane curb‑and‑gutter alternative.

Despite motions and amendments during the meeting seeking to remove or hold the 140th Street segment for six months, the chair put the plan on the floor and the committee ultimately voted to adopt the FY2026–2031 TIP. The committee then carried a series of routine contract confirmations, appropriations and traffic‑control resolutions that were on the agenda.

Why it matters: The TIP lays out how the county expects to sequence and pay for road design, right‑of‑way acquisition, utility relocation and construction over the next five years. While the plan itself does not by itself build a project, projects listed are typically supported by an existing contract or subsequent contract approvals; those individual contracts remain subject to later county board approvals. For residents and local elected officials, the debate highlighted tensions between long‑range transportation planning, federal grant timing and local land‑use and community concerns.

Votes at a glance:
- Adopted: Will County Fiscal Year 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Plan (motion carried; committee adopted the plan by roll call). The plan’s adoption lets county staff proceed with the multiyear schedule and continue bringing individual contracts to the county board for approval.
- Confirmed contract award: Austin Tyler Construction — $691,544.10 for resurfacing (River Road County Highway 44 and Strip Mine Road County Highway 29) (approved by committee).
- Confirmed contract award: Iroquois Paving Corporation — $198,977.57 for Washington Road District resurfacing (approved by committee).
- Appropriated $1,024,100 in transportation funds for right‑of‑way acquisition on Laraway Road (County Highway 74) (approved by committee).
- Appropriated $54,460 in transportation funds for right‑of‑way acquisition on Francis Road (County Highway 64) (approved by committee).
- Approved establishing/lengthening several altered speed zones on Division Street and Plainfield‑Naperville Road (approved by committee).

Discussion vs. decision: The committee’s vote approved the TIP as a planning document. Committee discussion and public comment addressed possible changes — most prominently the 140th Street project — but the vote did not itself alter individual executed contracts described in the plan. Any future changes to an individual project (scope, cross section, schedule, or funding) will require separate contract actions or approvals and would be reflected in the next annual TIP update.

Clarifying details:
- Amount spent on 140th Street to date: about $6,300,000 (since 2009), including approximately $750,000 in federal funds for phase‑1 work, as stated by staff.
- Laraway Road utility relocation: staff identified a utility relocation cost line of about $1,900,000 for one Laraway segment, though Ronaldson emphasized utility costs are estimates and updated as designs firm up.
- The TIP is described by staff as an annual snapshot that is updated every year and is intended to reflect current contracts and anticipated near‑term contracts.

Proper names: Will County; Homer Glen; Homer Township; Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT); Route 59; I‑57; Illinois 53; Laraway Road; Pace (paratransit provider referenced elsewhere on the agenda); County Executive’s Office; Will County Board.

Where this discussion appears in the record: topic introduction and staff explanation begin with County Director Jeff Ronaldson’s presentation of the TIP and statutory background; public comment and final vote are recorded later in the meeting transcript.

Ending: The committee’s adoption keeps the county on its stated multiyear schedule; it also leaves open the process for local officials and residents to press for changes on particular projects. Any material change to a listed project must be made through future contract actions and will be reflected when the county prepares its next annual TIP update.