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Pace Suburban Bus

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Pace Suburban Bus (Pace) is a public transit agency serving suburban communities in the Chicago metropolitan area of Illinois, United States. The agency was founded in 1984 and provides transportation services for residents of 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.[4]

Pace Suburban Bus
ParentRegional Transportation Authority
Founded1984; 42 years ago (1984)
HeadquartersArlington Heights, Illinois
LocaleNortheastern Illinois
Service areaCook, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry, and DuPage Counties
Service typeTransit bus, Bus rapid transit, Paratransit
Routes134
Fleet733 fixed-route buses
401 Vanpools
11 On Demand services
1,230 Paratransit vehicles
37 Dial-a-Ride services[1]
Daily ridership
81,800 (weekdays, Q1 2026)[2]
Annual ridership
20,085,800 (2025)[3]
Fuel typeCNG, Battery-electric, Diesel, Diesel-Electric Hybrid
Executive Director
Melinda Metzger
Websitepacebus.com

Pace operates the only public paratransit service in northeastern Illinois.[4] In 2025, Pace reported ridership of approximately 16.4 million, representing 67% of pre-pandemic levels.[5]

Like Metra and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Pace is supported by funding from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA).[4]

Operations

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Pace serves the northeastern Illinois region, including Cook County (where the City of Chicago is located), and the region's collar counties, which include DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. Additionally, some of Pace's bus routes serve parts of Northwest Indiana. In areas such as Evanston, River Forest, Oak Park, Cicero, and Skokie, both Pace and the CTA provide bus service.[6]

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 can obtain interservice transfers.[7][8]

Services

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Fixed Bus Routes

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Pace's bus services operate on fixed routes; many run seven days a week, while others operate only during peak hours.[9]

Pulse Rapid Transit

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In 2019, Pace began operating a rapid transit line called Pulse, intended to connect riders to population and business centers along the major transit corridors.[10][11] Current Pulse Rapid Transit lines include the Milwaukee line and the Dempster Line, with future lines planned to expand the rapid transit network.[12][13][14][15]

Expressway-based routes

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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.[16]

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.[17]

I-55 Express

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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.[16]

Since 2011, Pace has expanded its service along the I-55 corridor several times. The agency additionally established a pilot program in August 2024 to expand weekday service along routes that make up the I-55 Express service. The response from riders has caused Pace to propose making the service expansion permanent.[18] 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.[19]

I-90 Express

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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 left-hand 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.[16]

As part of the Illinois Tollway's Central Tri-State construction project, flex lanes will be constructed along the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), allowing Pace to expand its use of expressway-based routes to more areas in northeastern Illinois.[16]

I-94 Express

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In April 2018, Pace launched bus-on-shoulder operations on the Edens Expressway (I-94). The operations serve riders in the northwest suburbs and provide commuters from Chicago and North Shore communities with additional access to destinations within the Lake Cook Road corridor.[20]

Paratransit

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In 2006, Pace became responsible for providing paratransit services throughout the Chicagoland region.[21] 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.[22] 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.[23]

Vanpool Incentive Program

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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.[24] 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.[24]

In 2022, Pace released VanGo, a vanpool alternative that allows commuters to reserve a van for a day to travel to destinations within a defined zone based around rail stations in the region. VanGo was released with the intent of being used by commuters without access to a personal vehicle to travel to and from their destinations from the train station and complete other trips within the defined zone. There are four VanGo zones near train stations in Deerfield, Itasca, nd Rosemont, Lake Forest, and Palatine.[25]

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.[26]

Facilities

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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.[27]

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.[28]

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

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Photos Year Type Notes
2006-2011 EZ-Rider II MAX 30
2012-2022 ENC Axess BRT series
2014-2017 MCI D-Series
2020 New Flyer Xcelsior XD40
2021 Gillig Low Floor EV 40

Ridership

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[29]

10,000,000
20,000,000
30,000,000
40,000,000
2016
2020
2024

References

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  1. ↑ About Pace
  2. ↑ "Transit Ridership Report First Quarter 2026" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. May 28, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2025" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. February 20, 2026. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 "Official About Pace webpage".
  5. ↑ "Regional Transportation Authority | Regional transit ridership continues to grow in 2025 with 12.3M more rides year-over-year". Regional Transportation Authority. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  6. ↑ "PaceServices". maps.pacebus.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Ventra™ is here, Pace riders" (Press release). Pace. March 19, 2014. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  8. ↑ "CTA, Metra and Pace Release New Ventra App to the Public". Chicago Transit Authority. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Routes, Schedules and Maps | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Pulse Rapid Transit Service | Pace Suburban Bus". www.pacebus.com. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Pulse Rapid Transit Service | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Pulse Milwaukee Line | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. August 11, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Officials Unveil First Pulse Dempster Line Station in Des Plaines Before Sunday 'Sneak Preview' Service Starts | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. August 9, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Pace Celebrates Reduced Trip Times of Up to 15 Minutes for Passengers Traveling Between Evanston and O'Hare with Pulse Dempster Line Ribbon Cutting | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. November 10, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Pulse Cermak / 22nd Street Line | Pace Suburban Bus". www.pacebus.com. September 23, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Expressway-Based Routes | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Pace Invites Community Feedback on Proposed I-290/I-88 Express Service | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Routes 755, 850, 851 & 855 Public Hearing | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. June 25, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Pace Achieves Double-Digit Ridership Growth as Service Enhancements Drive Success | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. February 19, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  20. ↑ "I-94 Market Expansion | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. April 9, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  21. ↑ Illinois General Assembly (2005). "Public Act 0370, 94th General Assembly".
  22. ↑ "ADA Paratransit Service | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Dial-a-Ride Services | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  24. 1 2 "Pace Vanpool vs Driving: Which is better?". pacebus.com. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  25. ↑ "VanGo | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  26. ↑ Pace. "Municipal Vanpool Program". Retrieved October 1, 2007.
  27. ↑ "Pace Divisions | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Governor JB Pritzker Joins Pace to Celebrate Agency's Latest Investment in the South Suburbs | Pace Suburban Bus". pacebus.com. July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Financial Reports". Retrieved April 14, 2026.
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