HARD REALITY OF TRANSIT CRISIS HITS RIDERS WITH FIRST ROUND OF PACE FARE INCREASES AND SERVICE CUTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 12, 20073:00:00 PM
Media Release Office: (847) 228-4295
Contact: Patrick Wilmot (847) 228-4295

Actions only the beginning - more routes to be cut by mid-October

Pace leaders say it’s something they’ve warned about for months, even years, but now the crisis becomes an everyday reality for riders, and the situation won’t be improving any time soon without additional funding from Springfield.

In what’s planned to be just the first wave of a storm front for Pace users, several fare increases go into effect on September 16:

• Pace local and feeder fares increase from $1.25 to $1.50.

• ADA paratransit fares increase from $2.25 to $3.00 in Chicago, from $2.50 to $3.00 in the collar counties.

• TAP (Taxi Access Program) voucher increases from $5.00 to $5.50.

• ADA Monthly passes will no longer be accepted.

• Vanpool fares go up 10 percent.

Even bigger changes take place on October 7 when more than 20 Pace routes throughout the region cease operating. The routes handle a total of nearly 3,000 rides; their demise impacts both weekday and weekend travel.

A complete list of the routes being discontinued is available on the Pace website, www.pacebus.com. ADA service gets cut back too, as Pace strictly adheres to federal guidelines that only require service to be provided within ¾ of a mile of a fixed route. Riders will be notified if service will no longer be provided to them.

Pace also stops accepting all CTA passes on October 7, including visitor passes and the popular 7-Day pass. The only Pace pass still usable between the agencies is the joint CTA/Pace 30-day pass.

Plans are already underway to cut more service mid-October. Pace has identified 38 routes operating to and from Metra train stations to be eliminated next, based on their productivity and the fact that these rush hour only services do not alter the ADA service area.

“Our plans have been staggered because we’d hoped giving the legislature more time would avoid serious repercussions for our riders,” said Pace Chairman Richard Kwasneski. “These are tough choices we’ve had to make to stem an impending cash flow problem. We don’t want cuts any more than our riders do, but it’s tough to remain optimistic when we keep getting mixed signals from Springfield.”

Kwasneski anticipates a grim picture for 2008 and cautions there could be more cutbacks identified when the agency unveils next year’s budget at hearings in late October. He added riders are still encouraged to contact their legislators and the Governor through the Pace website.

Pace Fixed Routes Being Eliminated October 7, 2007

Route 210 Lincoln Avenue Weekday service

Route 304 Cicero La-Grange Saturdays and Sundays only

Route 320 Madison Street Saturdays only

Route 348 138th Riverdale Connection Saturdays only

Route 422 Linden CTA-Glenview-Northbrook Court Saturdays only

Route 423 Linden CTA-The Glen-Harlem CTA Saturdays only

Route 528 Aurora Transp.Ctr. - Center-Rush Copley Saturdays only

Route 529 Randall Road – 5th Street Saturdays only

Route 616 The Chancellory Connection Weekday service

Route 653 Bloomingdale-Glendale Heights Weekday service

Route 654 South Glen Ellyn Weekday service

Route 690 Arlington Heights Road Weekday service

Route 706 College Avenue – SE Wheaton Weekday service

Route 707/713 SW Wheaton/Wheaton-Naperville Weekday service

Route 711 Wheaton-Carol Stream Saturdays only

Route 787/788 Naperville Midday Weekday service

Route 801 Elgin-Geneva Saturdays only

Route 822 Woodridge Lisle Feeder Weekday service

Route 831 Joliet-Midway Weekday & Saturday

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