ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – Enabled by funding from the NITA Act, Pace Suburban Bus will implement another round of service improvements effective May 31 and June 1, expanding transit access and improving reliability across key corridors in the region. Building on successful enhancements introduced in March, Pace will enhance service to provide more frequent trips and longer daily service hours, especially at night and on weekends, where riders need it most. The changes will add more than 60,000 annual hours of service, underscoring Pace’s continued investment in the system.
"The NITA Act is helping deliver a world-class transit system that better serves people across the region,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “These Pace service improvements will expand access to more reliable evening and weekend service for riders across the Chicagoland area. Whether it’s getting to work, school, or spending time with family, better transit means greater opportunity and a transportation system that works for everyone."
The improvements, effective June 1, will impact 12 routes across the system, including major corridors such as Mannheim/LaGrange, 95th Street, Cicero Avenue, 159th Street, Randall Road, and Farnsworth. These routes connect key destinations throughout the region, including employment centers, shopping districts, and regional transit hubs in Joliet, Aurora, Elgin, and along the I-55 corridor.
“These improvements are about making transit more useful for more people, more often,” said Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski. “By expanding service where demand is strongest, we’re building a stronger, more reliable network that better supports our riders’ daily needs.”
Improvements include:
- More frequent service on high-demand routes
- Expanded evening and weekend hours
- Strengthened connections to CTA and Metra services
“These investments build on Pace’s efforts to provide more consistent, all-day service and improve regional connectivity,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger. “The June service changes reflect Pace’s ongoing commitment to investing in its network following the availability of additional funding from the NITA Act. They also align with long-term regional transit goals, including improved integration and expanded service envisioned under the framework of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority.”
At this stage, Pace is advancing this work through its existing authority while coordinating with regional partners, including CTA, Metra, and state stakeholders. Beginning this fall, the service boards will work with the Northern Illinois Transit Authority to align priorities and ensure future actions reflect the governance and oversight structure established under the NITA Act.
Updated schedules are available on board and online. For more information about Pace service, visit PaceBus.com.
###
Pace Suburban Bus safely and efficiently moves people to work, school, and other regional destinations with its family of public transportation services. Pace offers affordable and environmentally responsible transit options for the residents of 274 municipalities in Cook, Will, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties. The backbone of Chicago's suburbs, Pace serves tens of thousands of daily riders. One of the largest bus services in North America, Pace covers 3,677 square miles, an area more than 15 times the size of the City of Chicago. Pace's innovative approach to public transportation gives the agency a national reputation as an industry leader.