New Pace Pulse line boasts service every 15 minutes most of the day and 50-minute trips between Evanston and O’Hare for just $2
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – The newest addition to Pace’s growing rapid transit network, the Pulse Dempster Line, begins daily service on Sunday, October 29, 2023. Pulse provides premium transportation with limited stops, modern stations, and frequent service. Pulse Dempster’s purple-branded buses will run every 15 to 20 minutes, ensuring riders along Dempster Street in the northern suburbs reach destinations from Evanston to O’Hare International Airport more quickly.
Pace’s innovative Pulse service offers passengers a fast, reliable counterpart to Pace’s traditional fixed-route service. Thanks to cutting-edge Transit Signal Priority (TSP) technology that leverages traffic signal timing adjustments with no impact to general traffic flow, buses navigate through congestion more efficiently to stay on schedule and reduce travel times for commuters. Pulse Dempster buses communicate directly with traffic control to minimize red lights and lengthen green lights.
“Since launching the Sunday-only sneak preview service on August 13, we’ve seen a 12 percent increase in average daily ridership along the corridor compared to 2022. This strong response from riders reflects the demand for faster and more frequent bus service in the area,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger. “Our expanding Pulse service reflects Pace’s commitment toward innovation that can make public transportation more attractive in Northeastern Illinois. We know that when we build fast and reliable public transportation options, people will choose it.”
TSP technology has been shown to reduce bus travel times in major cities throughout the country. In general, this innovative technology has helped reduce bus travel times by up to 10 percent and reduce congestion up to 50 percent at certain intersections, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials. TSP is also deployed on other high-traffic corridors for the benefit of Pace buses throughout the region.
Pulse Dempster service improves access to a variety of major destinations, schools, places of employment and more, including the O’Hare Multimodal Facility, Lutheran General Hospital, Maine East High School, and Notre Dame High School. Pulse Dempster riders can easily connect to other Pace and CTA bus routes, the CTA Yellow and Purple lines, as well as Metra’s Union Pacific North, Northwest, and North Central Service rail lines. These connections provide passengers with an abundance of local and regional travel options.
“The Pulse Dempster Line provides a vital connection to O’Hare International Airport for our north and northwest suburban neighbors,” Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee said. “We are thrilled to welcome this convenient and frequent public transit option, which will keep thousands of travelers, workers, and young people connected to the endless variety of journeys and opportunities available at the world's second busiest airport."
Pulse Dempster buses are equipped with modern passenger amenities, including free Wi-Fi service and charging ports, as well as easy-to-find branded stations with heated shelters and real-time bus tracker information. Pulse Dempster also improves ADA accessibility, featuring raised bus platforms at all stations that conveniently melt ice and snow during inclement weather.
New and returning riders can look out for Pulse stations and temporary stops with Pulse signs while construction continues on the new line. Visit PaceBus.com/Pulse for updates, schedules, and exciting developments.
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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.