Will County Dial-a-Ride Service Expands to Three New Townships

Channahon, Manhattan, and Plainfield Townships join Access Will County

The Access Will County Dial-a-Ride service has expanded to include Channahon, Manhattan, and Plainfield Townships. Seniors or people with disabilities in these three townships can now register for Will County’s curb-to-curb paratransit bus service. Eligible residents can schedule rides for any purpose within a travel radius that includes all of Will County and some portions outside of county boundaries.

“This expansion marks an important milestone for our continued efforts to improve transportation in Will County for residents with mobility issues,” said Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. “Offering a safe and reliable transportation service for seniors and people with disabilities has been a top priority, and I’m grateful to all of our partners who helped bring Access Will County Dial-a-Ride to these new communities.”

The program growth followed agreements between Will County, the Village of Channahon, Manhattan Township, and Plainfield Township to replace local dial-a-ride services with Access Will County, offering residents an expanded service radius than a locally managed program. The three new townships join the current service area, which includes eastern and southwestern Will County. 16 out of 24 townships in Will County are now part of the Access Will County program, which is overseen by the Will County Executive Office and operated by Pace Suburban Bus.

“Expanding the Will County Mobility Management Program to include Channahon, Manhattan, and Plainfield Townships will enhance our public transportation network and help citizens with disabilities and the elderly to maintain their independence,” said Will County Board Speaker Joe VanDuyne. “I am proud to support this important initiative, and I look forward to a time when citizens across our entire county have access to these services.”

Will County leaders joined local officials and Pace Suburban Bus representatives to cut the ribbon on the program’s availability on Friday, May 2, highlighting the latest expansion of the service in Will County. The ceremony included Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Will County Board Speaker Joe VanDuyne, Will County Board members Dawn Bullock and Sherry Williams, Village of Channahon President Missey Schumacher, Village of Manhattan Mayor Mike Adriansen, Manhattan Township Supervisor James Walsh, Plainfield Township Trustee-Elect Jes Monu, Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski, and Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger.

The expansion is part of Will County’s ongoing efforts to offer the Access Will County Dial-a-Ride service to more residents throughout the county. This follows the Will County Board’s approval of a plan aimed at eliminating barriers to mobility programs throughout the county and improving or consolidating existing systems. The service expansion has been supported and financially supplemented by Pace Suburban Bus, who operates the Access Will County system.

"Expanding Will County Access to include Manhattan, Plainfield, and Channahon is a meaningful step forward in ensuring that more residents have access to vital transportation services," said Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski. "This expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to providing safe, reliable, and convenient mobility options for everyone in our community, especially those who need it most."

Residents interested in utilizing Access Will County Dial-a-Ride must fill out a one-page registration form, either by contacting their local municipality, township office, or the Will County Executive Office at (815) 774-6346 or countyexec@willcounty.gov. Residents schedule a ride directly with Pace from their home and back for any purpose.

To raise awareness of the program, the Will County Executive Office will host in-person “mobile office hours” at events in Channahon, Plainfield, and Manhattan to register eligible residents on site and answer questions. For a full list of events and more information on Access Will County Dial-a-Ride can be found at www.willcounty.gov/access.