North Shore Coordination Plan

North Shore Transit Service Coordination Plan and Market Analysis

Project Overview

The study included a review of existing Pace and CTA bus routes serving the North Shore study area, which included the communities of Evanston, Lincolnwood, Skokie and Wilmette, and northern-most neighborhoods in the City of Chicago, as well as portions of neighboring communities. The primary goal of the study was to identify and plan for coordinated improvements of Pace and CTA bus service in the study area, as well as to investigate opportunities for new service. The study was completed in December of 2017.

• Final Report

Public Input

The project Steering Committee (SC) was comprised of representatives from key agencies and municipal staff. SC participation was an important component of the study, helping to guide the incorporation of market findings into actionable recommendations and providing important perspectives on project goals, measures of success, technical elements and community outreach strategies.

The SC convened five times over the course of the study. Information on the dates, locations, agendas and presentation files for each of the five meetings, as well as SC membership can be found in the final report.

Pace and CTA hosted two rounds of Open House sessions to collect public input as the plan was being developed.

Round 1 Open House sessions were held at the Chicago Public Library Rogers Park Branch on October 4, 2016 and at the Lincolnwood Community Center on October 5, 2016 and featured presentations about the study's market analysis and preliminary service analysis. Feedback was collected on the data analysis to date, issues and perceptions of existing service, and identification of critical gaps in the transit network. Click on the link below to view the exhibit boards presented in Round 1.

• Round 1 Open House Exhibit Boards

Round 2 Open House sessions were held at the Skokie Public Library on September 18, 2017 and at the Levy Center in Evanston on September 19, 2017 and focused on giving the public an opportunity to review and comment on proposed updates and changes to Pace and CTA routes in the North Shore area as a result of this study. Click on the link below to view the exhibit boards presented in Round 2.

• Round 2 Open House Exhibit Boards

A Market Analysis Briefing Book, produced in March 2017, provided a condensed summary of all existing conditions assessments that were completed for the study. It includes highlights from the passenger and general public surveys that were conducted in the spring of 2016, Pace and CTA ridership and on-time performance data, demographic analysis and other market-based findings. The Briefing Book established a set of recommendations based on the market analysis, which was used to develop and evaluate service concepts.

• Market Analysis Briefing Book

Phase 1

Phase 1 of the study's recommendations were implemented on August 12, 2018. Phase 1 included the realignment of Pace Routes 208 and 213 and the elimination of CTA Route 205.

Future Phases

Further phases of the remaining service proposals outlined in the North Shore Coordination Plan are under development and may be initiated in future years. Public hearings and stakeholder meetings will take place before any future phases of the study are implemented. Click here to subscribe to ongoing email updates on this project.

Get e-mail updates when this information changes.