ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – At today’s Board of Directors meeting, Pace leadership discussed critical investments in the agency’s transit network, including an update on Pace’s ongoing ReVision network restructuring project and a Vanpool vehicle procurement.
The meeting’s main focus was an update from Jarrett Walker and Associates (JWA) on the next phase of ReVision, Pace’s comprehensive network restructuring initiative. Following extensive public outreach, Pace is moving forward with the development of a Draft Network Plan, which will shape the future of suburban transit service.
“This is a crucial moment for Pace. With sustainable funding, we can enhance frequency, expand access, and create a more connected transit network. Without it, we face the risk of a skeleton system that limits opportunity and mobility,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger.
Board members provided feedback on two funding scenarios:
- A short-term, status quo scenario that streamlines existing routes within current funding levels.
- A growth scenario that assumes additional funding, allowing for expanded service, particularly in coverage-oriented areas while targeting investments in high-ridership routes.
"ReVision is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to realign suburban transit service with the way people travel today," said Metzger. "We are committed to balancing ridership growth with expanded coverage to best serve our diverse communities."
The Draft Network Plan will be developed in the coming months, with additional public outreach planned before finalizing recommendations later this year.
Also at today’s meeting, the Pace Board of Directors approved the purchase of 125 new minivans, a major boost for the agency’s Vanpool Program. The vans will replace aging vehicles that have exceeded their useful life, ensuring continued access to this valuable shared-ride program.
The Pace Board of Directors meets monthly in Arlington Heights, typically on the third Wednesday of each month at 9:30 A.M. The Board's schedule, along with agendas, minutes, and video recordings, can be found on the Public Meetings page at PaceBus.com, and meetings are streamed live at PaceBus.com/Streaming.
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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 nearly the size of the state of Connecticut and 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.