Pilot improvements begin Nov. 2, strengthening midday service and connections to Metra and other Pace routes
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Pace today launched pilot service improvements to provide all-day service on routes 806 and 808, giving riders more travel options between Woodstock, Crystal Lake, and McHenry and improving access across McHenry County.
The changes add weekday trips, strengthening midday service and improving connections to Route 550 and the Metra station in Crystal Lake. Riders will also have through-service options between the two routes, with select buses continuing beyond Crystal Lake to Woodstock or Johnsburg.
Route 806: More trips between Crystal Lake and Johnsburg
Route 806 connects Crystal Lake and Fox Lake via McHenry and Johnsburg. The pilot will add 12 trips to the route’s existing 12 daily trips, doubling service and providing buses every 30 to 90 minutes throughout the day, with connections to Metra and other Pace routes. Because Crystal Lake is a key transfer location, this change will directly benefit riders transferring between Pace and Metra. In coordination with the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), Crystal Lake will see other rider-focused improvements to make transferring between agencies simpler, including better real-time arrival signage.
Weekday changes include:
- Seven new northbound trips and five new southbound trips between Crystal Lake Metra Station and Walmart in Johnsburg, from 9:10 a.m. to 3:48 p.m. Midday service will run every hour.
- Southbound trips will continue to Woodstock via Route 808 after stopping at Crystal Lake Metra Station.
- The southbound trip departing Fox Lake at 8:47 a.m. will serve the entire route, ending at Crystal Lake Metra Station.
Route 808: Expanded midday service and new destinations
Route 808 connects Crystal Lake and Harvard via Woodstock. The pilot will expand weekday service, offering buses every 20 to 60 minutes throughout the day and connections to Metra and other Pace routes.
Weekday changes include:
- Additional westbound and eastbound trips between Crystal Lake Metra Station and Woodstock Metra Station, from 8:50 a.m. to 2:16 p.m. Midday service will run every hour.
- A new eastbound “G” trip pattern on select midday trips serving the McHenry County Government Center and the Woodstock Secretary of State Facility.
- Eastbound trips will continue to Walmart in Johnsburg via Route 806 after stopping at Crystal Lake Metra Station.
On Routes 806, 807, and 808, passengers may board or exit at any intersection along the route where the driver determines it is safe. Pace encourages riders to wait at bus stop signs, but doing so is not required.
For additional information, including schedule and trip planning assistance, visit PaceBus.com.
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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 about 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.