Will County expands Dial‑A‑Ride eligibility countywide, staff outlines funding and operations

Colin, the program representative for Access Will County Dial‑A‑Ride, told the Transportation Committee that the county has removed township residency limits and extended eligibility to “all Will County residents, again, who are age 60 and over or living with a disability.”

The change follows a consolidation with two other PACE dial‑a‑ride programs; Colin said “it is now 24 out of 24 townships,” meaning the program’s eligibility rules are now uniform across Will County. He described the service as a curb‑to‑curb PACE operation that serves seniors and people living with disabilities, with vehicles equipped for electric wheelchairs and secured seating.

Why it matters: countywide eligibility reduces patchwork access that previously left some residents unable to travel to medical appointments, work or essential services simply because they lived in a neighboring township. Committee members pressed staff on ridership projections, costs and long‑term funding stability as ridership has grown rapidly since 2020.

Operational details and fares: Colin said trips can be scheduled one to seven days in advance, the program’s core service hours run roughly 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the fare is $2 for trips within a township and $4 for trips outside a township. He said the service area covers all of Will County, portions of southern Cook County and extends 1 mile beyond the Will County border; the program also goes 1 mile into Indiana to capture destinations such as Munster and Dyer.

Ridership and cost trajectory: Colin said the program’s lowest monthly ridership was about 4,000 rides during 2020 lockdowns and that last year the program delivered more than 15,000 rides (excluding personal care attendants and service animals). After consolidation with higher‑density providers, he said monthly rides in some areas could approach doubling but cautioned the increase would be phased and invoicing from PACE arrives two to three months after each month’s operations.

Funding sources and security: Committee members raised whether reductions in local RTA sales‑tax receipts could threaten the program. Colin said the Access Will County program uses Section 5310 (transcribed as “53 10”) funding passed from the Federal Transit Administration through the RTA, and stated, “This is section 53 10 funding that passes through the RTA from the FTA,” adding that the county’s most recent award increased funding for the program. He also explained AgeGuide grants and RTA funds play different roles in the cost mix and that RTA is acting as a passthrough for certain federal funds.

Requests for follow‑up: Members asked for written documentation showing exact RTA/AgeGuide awards, projections of rides against available funding, and more detailed monthly cost data. Colin said he expects to provide a complete program cost overview at the next quarterly update in May.

Next steps: Staff agreed to provide the financial snapshots and award documentation requested by the committee and to return with the May report that will include monthly cost and ridership detail.