Chicago ADA NEWS Fall 2026

NITA Is Here! New Board Members Seated at Pace and NITA

Pace Bus convened its first Board of Directors meeting of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) era on September 16, marking a significant moment for public transportation in northeastern Illinois as the agency continues its work under a new regional governance framework. At the meeting, John Noak was appointed Chairperson of the new Pace Board of Directors, providing board leadership as the agency begins operating under the NITA framework.

“You can only accomplish great things if you have a great team,” offered Chairperson Noak. “I know this Board can accomplish amazing things as we move forward. One of my biggest goals is to make sure that everyone is engaged in the process and that is where we will be truly successful.”

The transition comes as Pace continues to provide essential mobility across one of the largest suburban transit service areas in the nation. “Pace enters this new chapter from a position of strength,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger. “Our mission remains unchanged: connecting people to jobs, education, healthcare, community resources, and opportunity. As the regional transit framework evolves, Pace will continue focusing on the fundamentals our riders depend on every day—safe, reliable, accessible, and responsive service.”

The NITA Act creates new responsibilities and regional workstreams related to land use, public safety, fare policy, and service planning. The transition effort includes coordination among NITA, Pace, CTA, Metra, IDOT, and a dedicated consultant team led by Boston Consulting Group. Near-term work includes governance and organizational planning, public safety, procurement, budget processes, paratransit coordination, capital planning, fast-track capital project authority, and development of a universal fare instrument.

“This is an important moment for Pace and for public transportation across northeastern Illinois,” Metzger said. “The work ahead will require collaboration, practical problem-solving, and a continued commitment to riders. Pace is ready to bring its operational expertise, suburban mobility perspective, and innovative spirit to the regional table.”

TripCheck: Text messaging phone number for requesting information has changed

TripCheck is a helpful tool through which ADA Paratransit riders can view trips, cancel trips, and get automated alerts about vehicle arrivals or the next day’s itinerary.

TripCheck also allows you to request ADA trip information at the spur of the moment, and for those who use the text messaging version of that information-request service, the number to which you send a text message has changed.

New Text Messaging Instructions:

Send a text message to the NEW phone number 866-ETA-PACE (866-382-7223).
Type Tripcheck ID:password and then press “send.” Example: TripCheck 654321:123456
Don’t include any spaces before or after the colon.
The system will then return a text message with your next upcoming trip.

Learn more at PaceBus.com/tripcheck.

image of the ADA Paratransit paper ticket graphic

New Online Store for Buying Paper ADA Paratransit Tickets

ADA ticket purchasing has moved to our new and improved online store. The price of the ADA Paratransit ticket is not changing.

As of October 1, 2026, ADA paratransit ticket purchases are now available through our new Shopify online store, replacing the previously used iStore platform.

The ADA paratransit ticket online store at PaceBus.com/ADA-tickets will automatically direct you to the new Shopify store, where you can purchase ADA paratransit tickets with an improved online experience.

This transition period may be a good time for you to convert to an even easier method of paying for ADA Paratransit rides—through your Ventra account. Visit PaceBus.com/ventra-paratransit for those instructions.

Before placing your first order, ensure that the rider who will use the tickets is NITA-Certified.

We hope you find this streamlined and user-friendly purchasing experience helpful.

Image of the Q'straint QUANTUM wheelchair securement technology inside Pace buses

Introducing Pace’s New Wheelchair Securement Technology on Fixed Route Buses

Pace’s newest fixed route buses have two wheelchair securement options—the new Q’straint QUANTUM or the traditional Q-POD system. Riders using mobility devices can choose between the two options when both are available.

The new Quantum self-service option is the latest Pace innovation to enhance the efficiency, safety, and customer experience of all our riders. Visit PaceBus.com/riders-disabilities to view the video. The video demonstrates how both systems work for securing a mobility device.

NITA handles ADA certification and reduced fare cards

ADA Certification:

Individuals who are interested in using ADA Paratransit service must apply and be found eligible according to ADA guidelines. NITA handles ADA Paratransit Certification for the entire Chicago region to determine an individual’s functional ability to use fixed route services.

To apply for ADA Paratransit, call NITA’s ADA Paratransit Certification program at 312-663-HELP (4357) between 8 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

For new, first-time ADA Paratransit applicants:

First-time ADA Paratransit applicants must call the helpline at 312-663-HELP (4357) to begin the process.

For customers who are applying for ADA Paratransit recertification:

When a customer calls the helpline at 312-663-HELP (4357) to renew their certification, they will be scheduled for a 30-minute phone interview.

All ADA Paratransit certification decisions are made within 21 days of the completion of the interview and assessment. If a decision is not made within 21 days, we will provide ADA Paratransit service until a final decision is made. Applicants are notified of their eligibility by letter.

If the applicant is determined to be eligible for ADA Paratransit for some or all trips, they will receive a Certification Letter, a Customer Guide with information about how to use the service, and a NITA ADA Paratransit Permit ID Card.

Reduced Fare and Ride Free permit Card Design:

The appearance of NITA’s ADA Paratransit, Reduced Fare, and Ride Free cards are in transition. Over several years, NITA will transition all customers over to the new permits as their program eligibility comes up for renewal. Both the old design and the new design will be in circulation for 4–5 years until all customers are transitioned. Please familiarize yourself with the design of the new permit cards. In the old design there were two colors for the Reduced Fare Permits—purple for seniors and blue for people with disabilities. With the new design, all Reduced Fare customers will have a purple permit card. Furthermore, on all newly issued cards, the old RTA logo is being replaced with the new NITA logo.

Don’t forget TAP and RAP options available to you

City of Chicago Taxi Access Program (TAP)

Did you know all Chicago taxi cabs accept TAP cards?

With a TAP card, you can take a one-way trip worth up to $30 for $3.25 per ride. Pace will subsidize up to 30 (or 40, if approved by NITA) one-way trips per month. To qualify for TAP, you must be certified by NITA as being eligible for ADA Paratransit service. Learn more at PaceBus.com/TAP.

Rideshare Access Program

Pace’s Rideshare Access Program (RAP) offers a subsidy on Uber or UZURV rides to eligible riders. With RAP, your fare is $3.25.

RAP trips are available in Chicago and the suburbs, in the same areas and the same hours as ADA Paratransit service. Pace will subsidize ADA-eligible riders’ rideshare trip cost up to $30, after a $3.25 trip fare, at a maximum of 30 (or 40, if approved by NITA) trips per month.

Booking rides is done on your smartphone, just like a regular Uber or UZURV trip scheduled within the company’s app.

For more information, visit PaceBus.com/RAP.

Image of the Transit Trip Planner phone screen

Planning Your Next Ride Is Easier with the Transit App

Transit is Pace’s recommended trip planning app that allows you to plan your trip, track your ride in real time, and more. It also has accurate real-time departure predictions and crowding information to show passengers how full buses may be based on recent ridership. Simply download and open the app to see fixed route and reservation-based transit options near you, such as Pace, CTA and Metra routes, On Demand, VanGo, and other transit services available in your area. The app uses your location to pinpoint transit options closest to you. You can see your ride on the map, and it, allows you to save your top destinations so they are easily available for future use.

In addition, as of the first week of September, riders can now share a link to their real-time trip plan, ETA, and location with family and friends with one quick

tap. If the recipient already has Transit, they can follow their friend’s trip live in the app. If they don’t have Transit, they’ll be prompted to download it.

Visit PaceBus.com/trip-planner to plan your Trip and download the Transit app.

Planning Begins for Pulse Harlem Line as Other Pulse Projects Advance

Pace has begun planning a new Pulse line on Harlem Avenue, bringing Pulse service and infrastructure to the west and southwest suburbs. This July, Pace hosted an initial meeting with stakeholders from municipalities, agencies, and advocacy organizations along the corridor. Pace outlined plans for a long corridor of frequent, limited-stop service with stations and bus priority treatments from Oak Park in the north to Bridgeview in the south. The project is planned to connect riders to the CTA Green and Blue Lines, the Metra UP-W and BNSF lines, SeatGeek Stadium, the Pulse 95^th Street and Cermak/22^nd Street Lines, and 18 municipalities. Visit PaceBus.com/project/pulse-harlem-line to learn more and follow project progress.

Pace continues design work on the Pulse 95^th Street and Halsted Lines, which will be the next two lines to begin construction and launch service. Pulse Cermak/22^nd Street Line is in the midst of its pre-design/environmental review phase, and interested riders are encouraged to provide comments at PaceBus.com/pulse-cermak-22nd-street. Finally, riders on the Pulse Milwaukee Line are enjoying the new hybrid-electric Gillig buses, put into service in summer 2026. While not every Milwaukee Line trip is being carried by a hybrid, this implementation marks a step toward Pace’s long-term Project Zero goal to transition its fleet to zero-emission vehicles.

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