Pace Suburban Bus (Pace) is a public transit agency serving suburban communities in the Chicago metropolitan area in Illinois, United States. The agency provides transit services for residents living in 274 municipalities located throughout Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. One of the largest suburban transit providers in North America, Pace covers 3,677 square miles and serves approximately 127,000 daily riders.

Pace currently operates the only public paratransit service in northeastern Illinois.

Pace, akin to Metra and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), is supported by funding from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA).

Many of Pace's route terminals are located at CTA rail stations, bus terminals, and Metra stations. Pace, CTA, and Metra use a shared ride payment system called Ventra. Passengers paying their fare through a Ventra connected account are able to obtain interservice transfers.

Services

Fixed Bus Routes

Pace's bus services operate on fixed routes; many run seven days a week, while others operate only during peak hours.

Pulse Rapid Transit

In 2019, Pace began operating a rapid transit line called Pulse, intended to connect riders to population and business centers along the major transit cooridors. Current Pulse Rapid Transit lines include the Milwaukee line and the Dempster Line, with future lines planned to exapnd the rapid transit network.

Expressway-based routes

Pace operates many routes on expressways throughout northeastern Illinois. These expressway-based routes allow Pace buses to bypass traffic either on the shoulders of the expressways or in designated flex lanes. Pace partners with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Tollway to provide express service without expensive infrastructure projects.

Pace currently operates three expressway-based routes with work underway to add a fourth express bus service along I-290/I-88 that would connect riders in the western suburbs of the region to the City of Chicago.

I-55 Express

Due to a change in Illinois law, Pace implemented bus-on-shoulder service in 2011 along the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) as part of a multi-year demonstration project. In 2014, the Illinois General Assembly and the Illinois Governor enacted legislation that permanently allowed bus-on-shoulder service and expanded the transit option to all expressways and tollways within northeastern Illinois. As a result of these expansions, service along the I-55 corridor saw a nearly 8 percent increase in year-over-year ridership from January 2024 to January 2025.

I-90 Express

In December 2016, Pace began offering I-90 Express service along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), providing express service between Rosemont Transportation Center and Elgin. The service uses "flex lanes" located along the lefthand side shoulders of the road when traffic congestion slows speeds. Pace coordinates with the Illinois Tollway when deciding to use flex lanes, which are also used for regular emergency purposes.

Paratransit

In 2006, Pace became responsible for providing paratransit services throughout the Chicagoland region. Pace's paratransit services are provided for eligible customers whose conditions prevent them from using CTA or Pace fixed-route services for some or all of their travel. Trips are provided only at the same times and within the same geographic areas as fixed-route service. Riders also have access to other reservation-based services and Pace's fixed-route service, which includes free fares for eligible individuals. Pace fixed-route buses are also equipped with accessibility features. Several Pace demand-response programs operate throughout the suburbs of northeastern Illinois, including countywide services and local dial-a-rides. In most cases, Pace has a financial partnership with a county, city, or township to pay for and operate the service. These demand-response programs have different rules on fares, geographic boundaries, and passenger eligibility.

Vanpool Incentive Program

The Pace Vanpool Incentive Program allows groups of commuters to travel together to destinations and reduce the number of vehicles on the road as a result. The program is available to commuters throughout the six counties of northeastern Illinois. Vanpool riders pay a monthly fare to Pace based on distance, participation, and group size. Pace offers flexible fares for various commuting patterns. Riders are also eligible for tax benefits and employer subsidies.

Under the Municipal Vanpool Program, Pace provides a van to a municipality for any public transportation purpose, such as demand response service for senior citizens.<!-- |222 Allstate Arena Direct

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Facilities

thumb|Pace Headquarters in [[Arlington Heights, Illinois]]

Pace owns 12 facilities, including ten bus garages (also called operating divisions), a paratransit office in Chicago, and its headquarters in Arlington Heights.

In July 2024, Pace formally opened its South Campus in Markham, Illinois, which contains administrative offices and a bus acceptance facility for intaking new vehicles to its fleet.

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"

!Operating Division

!Garage Location

!Areas Served

|-

|Fox Valley

|North Aurora

|Aurora and Naperville areas

|-

|Heritage

|Plainfield

|Will County, Joliet, and southwest suburbs

|-

|North

|Waukegan

|Lake County

|-

|North Shore

|Evanston

|North Cook County and southeast Lake County

|-

|Northwest

|Des Plaines

|Northwest Cook County

|-

|River

|Elgin

|Greater Elgin Area and far western suburbs

|-

|South

|Markham

|South Cook County, South Side of Chicago, and DuPage County

|-

|Southwest

|Bridgeview

|Southwest Cook County and South Side of Chicago

|-

|West

|Melrose Park

|West Cook County and DuPage County

|}

Fleet

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"

|-

!Photos

!Year

!Type

!Notes

|-

!|147px

!2006-2011

||EZ-Rider II MAX 30

|-

!

!2012-2022

||ENC Axess BRT series

|

|-

!

!2014-2017

||MCI D-Series

|

|-

!147px

!2020

|New Flyer Xcelsior XD40

|-

!147px

!2021

|Gillig Low Floor EV 40

|

|-

|}

Ridership

References

  • Pace Suburban Bus website