Will County to Develop Traffic Safety Action Plan

Will County will begin the process of developing its first-ever comprehensive action plan for roadway safety, aimed at reducing fatalities on County roads. The plan will be funded through a federal grant as part of a regional effort to improve traffic safety.

“Ensuring our roads are safe for drivers and pedestrians is a priority,” said County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. “Traffic deaths increased nationwide over the last few years. This action plan will be a county-wide review of steps we will take to protect residents.”

According to reports from the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Safety, the number of fatalities on Will County roads has risen every year since 2016. About 87 percent of these crash fatalities occurred during clear weather conditions according to data collected from 2010-2021.

The county action plan will enhance and support ongoing local efforts to make roads safer for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, with an ultimate goal of zero fatalities. The plan will utilize the latest research and best practices in traffic safety.  

“We’re going to look very closely at how to reduce accidents on our roads,” said Will County Division of Transportation Director Jeff Ronaldson. “This action plan will help both the County and municipalities in addressing safety issues and identifying future funding sources to address them.”  

This effort will be funded by the federal “Safe Streets and Roads for All” grant program pursued in collaboration between the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the six counties in northeastern Illinois. $3.9 million was awarded by the federal government to the region as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support a comprehensive approach to regional traffic safety.

“I appreciate the leadership of CMAP on pursuing this grant from the federal government,” added Bertino-Tarrant. “This grant will empower a regional approach to traffic safety for both highways and local roads.”  

Following the development of the action plan, the Will County DOT and CMAP will work with municipalities to apply for additional funding to implement the safety recommendations.

For more information, historical data and traffic crash reports, visit the IDOT Roadway Crash Data page at: https://idot.illinois.gov/transportation-system/safety/Illinois-Roadway-Crash-Data.