Agency encourages commuters to explore transit options to avoid congestion
A three-year construction project along the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago means added congestion for the region’s commuters. Pace Bus offers suburban commuters several options to bypass that traffic and use public transportation to get to/from Chicago.
Thanks to Pace’s ability to use the shoulder to operate Expressway-Based Serviceon the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), Edens Expressway (I-94), and Stevenson Expressway (I-55), buses bypass traffic to provide reliable, affordable service to and from the CTA Blue Line, many Metra stations, and downtown Chicago. Pace encourages commuters to check out these options using the Trip Planner or by calling the RTA's Travel Information Center at 847-836-7000.
Traveling across the region is now even easier thanks to new pass and fare products that save money and make transferring between services quick and convenient. The Regional Connect Pass provides Metra Monthly Pass holders unlimited rides all month on CTA and Pace with no day or time restrictions. Many Pace routes connect with the UP-NW Line, MD-N Line, and NCS Line. The Regional Connect Pass can be purchased from Metra ticket agents or in the Ventra app.
Pace and the CTA have also made it even more convenient to transfer between services with new and less expensive pass products. Many Pace services connect to the CTA Blue Line at Rosemont, Cumberland, Harlem, and Jefferson Park. For those who enjoy the convenience and affordability of unlimited ride passes, a new Pace/CTA 1-Day Pass for $5 and a new Pace/CTA 3-Day Pass for $15 are now available. Additionally, the Pace/CTA 7-Day Pass is now only $20. All of these passes offer unlimited rides on Pace and CTA buses and trains. Existing 30-Day Passes are also still available.
For those who pay for rides using a Ventra account, transfers from one Pace bus to another Pace bus are now free! To take advantage of free transfers, passengers must use a Ventra Card or Ventra-linked smart device and the second or additional rides must occur within two hours of the first ride.