Pace (transit)

Pace Suburban Bus

Company type	Public transit agency
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	1983
Headquarters	Arlington Heights, Illinois , United States
Area served	Northeastern Illinois (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties)
Key people	Board of Directors (13 members including suburban mayors and Chicago Commissioner for People with Disabilities)
Products	Fixed-route bus service, Pulse rapid transit, Expressway-based routes, ADA paratransit services, Vanpool programs
Parent	Regional Transportation Authority (RTA)
Website	www.pacebus.com

Pace Suburban Bus (Pace) stands as a key public transportation provider catering to suburban areas within the Chicago metropolitan area. It uniquely serves as the exclusive paratransit operator in northeastern Illinois, managing one of the nation’s most extensive paratransit networks dedicated to passengers with disabilities.

As one of the trio of transit agencies funded by the Regional Transportation Authority, alongside Metra and the Chicago Transit Authority, Pace was formed under the 1983 RTA Act. This legislation consolidated suburban bus services and established the financial framework that supports public transit throughout northeastern Illinois.

Pace’s service network spans 274 municipalities across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. Covering an area of 3,677 square miles—approximately fifteen times larger than Chicago itself—it ranks among the largest bus operators in North America, transporting nearly 127,000 passengers daily.

The agency’s headquarters are located in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Governance is provided by a 13-member Board of Directors composed of 12 current or former suburban mayors representing their respective communities, along with the Commissioner from the Chicago Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities who advocates for Chicago’s paratransit users.

Pace service area

Pace operates throughout northeastern Illinois, encompassing Cook County (including Chicago) and the surrounding collar counties: DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will. Certain routes extend into Chicago proper and parts of Northwest Indiana. In municipalities such as Evanston, River Forest, Oak Park, Cicero, and Skokie, bus service is provided by both Pace and CTA.

Numerous Pace transfer points are situated at CTA rail stations, bus terminals, and Metra train stations. Since 2014, Pace has participated in the shared Ventra fare system with CTA to facilitate transfers. Metra was incorporated into the Ventra app in 2015 to further unify fare payment options.

Compared to CTA buses, Pace routes typically cover longer distances. Service delivery is organized through nine operating divisions as well as collaborations with local governments and private contractors such as school bus and motor coach firms.

Fixed Bus Routes

Pace operates a network of fixed-route buses serving urban centers, suburbs, and outlying exurban areas across northeastern Illinois. These routes run on daily schedules or during specific times such as weekdays or peak hours. Comprehensive route maps and timetables are available on the Pace official site.

Pulse Rapid Transit

To address changing transit demands, Pace introduced the Pulse rapid transit system beginning with the Pulse Milwaukee Line in 2019.

Pulse provides expedited and frequent bus service along fixed routes featuring upgraded onboard amenities and simplified routing within heavily trafficked corridors. Plans are underway to extend this service with additional lines targeting southern suburbs in northeastern Illinois.

Pulse Milwaukee Line

On August 11, 2019, Pace initiated the Pulse rapid transit service with the launch of the Pulse Milwaukee Line. This route operates between Jefferson Park Transit Center and Golf Mill Shopping Center, serving the northwest suburban area. It partially coincides with Pace Route 270, which saw a reduction in service frequency following the introduction of the Pulse Milwaukee Line.

Pulse Dempster Line

The second Pulse corridor, known as Pulse Dempster, commenced operations in 2023 along Dempster Street, covering Evanston, Skokie, and Des Plaines. Providing a connection from Evanston to O'Hare International Airport in approximately 50 minutes, the line offers buses every 15 minutes and incorporates Transit Signal Priority (TSP) technology to improve travel times.

The initial service run occurred on August 13, 2023, with full operations beginning October 29, 2023. This route offers transfers to Chicago’s CTA Purple Line at Davis station and Yellow Line at Dempster–Skokie station, as well as connections to Metra at Evanston Davis Street (Union Pacific North Line) and Des Plaines (Union Pacific Northwest Line).

Priority Corridors for Future Development

Pace is actively progressing plans for additional Pulse corridors in the southern suburbs, including Pulse Cermak, Pulse Halsted, and Pulse 95th Street. Preliminary design phases and community engagement efforts are currently underway for Pulse Cermak.

Other significant regional corridors such as Harlem, Touhy, Western, and North avenues have been identified as priorities for further Pulse expansion. These initiatives aim to boost ridership levels and strengthen connectivity between existing and upcoming Pulse lines.

Expressway-based routes

Pace operates several expressway-based bus routes throughout northeastern Illinois that allow vehicles to circumvent congestion by traveling on shoulders or designated flex lanes. In partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois Tollway, Pace delivers these express services to enhance rider experience without requiring major infrastructure expenditures.

At present, three expressway routes are in operation with a fourth under development along I-290/I-88 to provide direct service from western suburbs into Chicago.

I-55 Express

Following legislative changes in Illinois in 2011, Pace introduced bus-on-shoulder operations on the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) as a pilot initiative. By 2014, laws permanently permitted bus-on-shoulder usage across all expressways and tollways in northeastern Illinois.

Since then, service along the I-55 corridor has expanded multiple times. A pilot program launched in August 2024 increased weekday frequency on several I-55 routes. Strong passenger demand has supported proposals to make these service enhancements permanent. Ridership on this corridor rose by 7.7% year-over-year from January 2024 through January 2025.

I-90 Express

In December 2016, Pace rolled out express service on I-90 along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway between Rosemont Transportation Center and Elgin. This route uses flex lanes on the left shoulder during peak congestion periods, coordinated closely with Illinois Tollway operations.

With the Illinois Tollway’s Central Tri-State construction project adding flex lanes on I-294 (Tri-State Tollway), Pace will be able to extend its expressway-based transit offerings to more areas within northeastern Illinois.

I-94 Express

In April 2018, Pace initiated bus-on-shoulder operations along the Edens Expressway (I-94), improving transit options for riders in the northwest suburbs. This service enhancement offers commuters traveling from Chicago and North Shore neighborhoods better connectivity to employment centers within the Lake Cook Road corridor.

ADA services

Since 2006, Pace has overseen the regional ADA paratransit system throughout northeastern Illinois, encompassing six counties plus Chicago. This federally required service assists individuals who are unable to utilize fixed-route CTA or Pace transit due to disabilities or medical conditions. Trips are scheduled to correspond with fixed-route service times and locations. Eligible ADA passengers receive complimentary fares on fully accessible vehicles.

To facilitate trip planning for ADA users, Pace launched the TripCheck mobile application, which offers ride tracking and reservation management in English, Spanish, and Polish.

Moreover, Pace administers multiple dial-a-ride demand-response programs across northeastern Illinois, frequently funded through collaborations with local governments. These programs differ in fare structures, service areas, and rider eligibility requirements.

Vanpool Incentive Program

For over three decades, the Pace Vanpool Incentive Program has enabled commuters in northeastern Illinois to share van rides, helping reduce both expenses and traffic congestion. Participants pay an affordable monthly rate determined by travel distance, frequency, and group size, with adaptable scheduling options including hybrid arrangements. Additional discounts are available through increased passenger counts, backup driver participation, tax-exempt commuter benefits, or employer subsidies.

In 2022, Pace introduced VanGo—a flexible van-sharing service allowing commuters to reserve vans by the day within designated zones near train stations located in Deerfield, Itasca/Rosemont, Lake Forest, and Palatine. VanGo enhances first- and last-mile connections for those without access to personal vehicles.

Through the Municipal Vanpool Program, Pace supplies vans to local municipalities for public transit functions such as senior demand-response transportation.

Pace operational structure

Pace maintains 12 facilities: nine bus garages (also known as operating divisions), an ADA Paratransit Office based in Chicago, and its headquarters located in Arlington Heights.

In summer 2024, Pace unveiled its South Campus in Markham, Illinois, which houses administrative offices alongside a state-of-the-art bus acceptance center dedicated to fleet vehicle testing and integration.

Operating Division	Garage Location	Areas Served
Fox Valley	North Aurora	Aurora and Naperville regions
Heritage	Plainfield	Will County, Joliet area, and southwestern suburbs
North	Waukegan	Lake County region
North Shore	Evanston	Northern Cook County and southeastern Lake County
Northwest	Des Plaines	Northwestern Cook County
River	Elgin	Greater Elgin region and far western suburbs
South	Markham	South Cook County, Chicago’s South Side, and DuPage County
Southwest	Bridgeview	Southwestern Cook County and Chicago’s South Side
West	Melrose Park	Western Cook County and DuPage County

Pace bus fleet

Pace began incorporating diesel-electric hybrid buses into its fleet in 2011, starting with the Orion VII model produced by the former Orion Bus Industries. In 2015, the agency expanded its roster to include compressed natural gas (CNG) buses manufactured by ElDorado National.

In January 2024, Pace introduced its inaugural battery-electric bus, built by Gillig, which mainly operates on Route 381 serving the southern suburbs.

Year	Manufacturer & Model	Length	Engine Type	Fleet Numbers	Operating Divisions
2006–2010	ENC EZ-Rider II MAX	30 feet (9.1 m)	Diesel	2600–2825 (222 units)	Fox Valley, Heritage, Highland Park, Northwest, River, Southwest, Village of Niles
2011	ENC EZ-Rider II BRT	32 feet (9.8 m)	Diesel	2826–2829 (4 units)	Fox Valley
2011	Orion VII	30 feet (9.1 m)	Diesel-electric Hybrid	2830–2831 (2 units)	Highland Park
2013–2015, 2017	MCI D4000CT	40 feet (12 m)	Diesel	6950–6979 (30 units)	"Heritage"

Year	Manufacturer & Model	Length	Engine Type	Fleet Numbers	Operating Divisions
2012–2018	"ENC Axess BRT"	"40 feet (12 m)"	"Diesel"	"6323–6575 6700–6786 (337 units)"	"North, North Shore, Northwest, River, Southwest, West"
2015–2020	"ENC Axess BRT"	"40 feet (12 m)"	"CNG"	"15500–15520 17500–17571 18500–18510 20500–20505 (108 units)"	"South"
2020	"New Flyer Xcelsior XD40"	"40 feet (12 m)"	"Diesel"	"20400–20485 (85 units)"	"West"
2021	"ENC Axess BRT"	"30 feet (9.1 m)"	"Diesel"	"20300–20322 (23 units)"	"Fox Valley"
2023	"Proterra ZX5 MAX"	"40ft (12 m)"	"Electric"	"N/A (20 units)"	"North"

• A portion of vehicles may be retired or temporarily inactive; fleet numbers ending in 13 are not assigned.
• Additional paratransit and community service vehicles support specific routes.

External links

• Pace Suburban Bus official site