Will County’s Public Works and Transportation Committee approved a five-year, $756 million transportation improvement plan on June 3, but not before a heated debate over whether to call it a “plan” or an “idea.”

The committee ultimately approved the FY2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program with an amendment requiring cost estimates to be clearly labeled as estimates, addressing concerns raised by committee members about public perception and accountability.

Committee member Steve Balich argued the document should be called an “idea” rather than a “plan,” saying residents become upset when projects they thought were definite get delayed or changed.

“When you call it a plan and we vote for a plan, then what’s happening is everyone believes it’s a plan that’s going to happen,” Balich said, referencing past experiences with 143rd Street improvements where residents complained about changes to projects they believed were set in stone.

Other committee members disagreed. Member Mica Freeman said calling it an “idea” would diminish the document’s purpose, noting that surrounding municipalities and townships all use “plan” terminology for similar documents.

“When you go on vacation you make plans, you don’t make an idea,” Freeman said. “All of the surrounding municipalities and townships they have plans, and I would say that uniformity is good.”

The compromise came from member Sherry Winfrey, who successfully motioned to approve the plan with cost estimates clearly labeled as such. The motion passed 5-2.

Major Projects Highlighted

Director of Transportation Jeff Ronaldson explained that the plan includes several major corridor improvements, with the largest being the Crete-Monee Road project from Illinois 57 to Illinois 394, estimated at $110.8 million over multiple years.

When questioned about cost accuracy, Ronaldson acknowledged the estimates are preliminary and subject to change.

“Those numbers right there, we just started they’re lofty numbers,” Ronaldson said. “Those are not going to be the numbers we hit hopefully we’re close but we might not be.”

The plan will provide over 20 miles of improved highways, reconstruct over 30 intersections, rehabilitate or replace at least 10 structures, and construct two grade separations.

Committee Chair Jackie Traynere emphasized that the plan is updated annually and projects can be modified based on funding availability and changing circumstances.

The full county board will consider the transportation plan at its next meeting.