Features
The Pulse Cermak/22nd Street Line will enhance riders’ travel experiences with:
• Fast, frequent, and reliable service to your favorite destinations
• Free Wi-Fi and other amenities on Pulse-branded buses
• Modern, heated stations with real-time next bus arrival information
• Faster boarding and improved accessibility for everyone
• Transit Signal Priority for buses throughout the corridor to keep buses on schedule
• “Queue jumps” that allow buses to skip traffic backups at congested intersections
• Bus lanes to keep Pulse moving even when traffic is heavy
• Improved connections to other transit services
Location
The Pulse Cermak/22nd Street Line project extends approximately 14 miles along Cermak Road, 22nd Street, and Butterfield Road. The corridor serves Cook and DuPage Counties and ten municipalities: Cicero, Berwyn, Forest Park, North Riverside, Broadview, Westchester, Hillside, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, and Lombard. Station locations are preliminary with potential alternate locations identified for further evaluation.
The corridor is currently served by:
- Pace Route 322
- CTA Route 21
- Connections to CTA Pink Line and Pace routes 301, 302, 307, 311, 313, 314, 315, 316, 330, 331, 332, 715, 722, 834
The future Pulse Harlem Line would also intersect the Pulse Cermak/22nd Street Line at the border of Berwyn and North Riverside.
The Pulse Cermak/22nd Street Line will take riders to major destinations including:
- CTA Pink Line 54th/Cermak Station
- J. Sterling Morton East and West High Schools
- North Riverside Park Mall
- Broadview Village Square
- Oakbrook Center
- Yorktown Center
Connections & Benefits
Riders will have improved transfers to connecting services and be able to better access areas in Cook and DuPage Counties. The Pulse Cermak/22nd Street Line will provide improved access to:
- Nearby communities including Chicago, Oak Park, Brookfield, La Grange, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, and Naperville
- Major hubs at Oakbrook Center and Yorktown Center with links to downtown Naperville, Joliet, Bolingbrook, and more
Where are we now?
The first step – the Project Definition phase – is complete. During the initial phase, Pace sought input from the Corridor Advisory Group (CAG), consisting of representatives from roadway and transit agency partners, local municipalities and nonprofit organizations, school districts, adjacent property owners, and others who represent the views of the community and transit users in the corridor. Working with the CAG, Pace defined the corridor limits and selected preliminary station locations. The outcome of this process is published in the Project Definition Report below.
In May 2025, the project team began the second phase - Environmental Review - which consists of in-depth review of potential environmental impacts, following procedures outlined in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This process is required for the project to be eligible for federal funding and will carefully evaluate potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of the project. During this phase there will be opportunities for the Corridor Advisory Group and the public to review concepts and share feedback.
Pace appreciates the support of Cook County, who is funding the environmental review and Phase I design through its Invest in Cook grant program.
Future phases include detailed design and construction, with the goal of launching the Pulse Cermak/22nd Street Line service in 2031.
What will happen to my current bus service?
The Pulse Cermak/22nd Street Line is meant to complement existing bus service. Many riders may switch to Pulse for quicker, more frequent trips, but local service like Route 322 will remain, though schedules might be adjusted. Other routes, including CTA Route 21 and Pace connections, are not expected to change. Any major service changes in the future will include opportunities for public comment before adjustments are made.
