Strong gains across Express and Pulse services reflect demand for fast and reliable suburban transit
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – At this morning’s Pace Board of Directors meeting, the agency reported continued strong ridership growth as faster, more frequent service continues to benefit riders throughout the region. In 2024, Pace’s system ridership increased by 14.6% compared to 2023, and that upward trend continues into 2025. In January alone, Pace carried just under 1.8 million rides — a 12.1% increase over January 2024. Pace’s comprehensive approach — combining strategic systemwide investments in fixed route, Express, Pulse, and ADA Paratransit services — is proving successful. By enhancing service across the entire network, Pace is meeting rider needs and driving sustained ridership growth.
Express services led the way in ridership gains, with Bus on Shoulder ridership increasing by 7.7%. Pulse Milwaukee Line ridership rose by 6.6%, and the newly launched Pulse Dempster Line saw a remarkable 15.6% increase. Additionally, Pace’s ADA Paratransit service experienced a 47% year-over-year increase, with over 475,000 rides provided, exceeding pre-pandemic ADA ridership levels.
“Our ridership growth is a clear reflection of the value Pace provides to our region and the impact of our service improvements,” said Pace Chairman Richard Kwasneski. “It is encouraging to see such positive results, especially with the strong performance of our Pulse lines and ADA Paratransit services. We remain committed to delivering innovative, reliable, and accessible transit solutions to our riders.”
Pace’s success aligns with a broader regional trend highlighted by the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), which recently reported three consecutive years of double-digit ridership growth across the regional transit network. The RTA also recognized the Pulse Dempster Line as a standout, noting that ridership along the Dempster corridor surpassed pre-pandemic 2019 levels in 2024, further underscoring Pace’s strategic approach to service development.
“These ridership gains demonstrate that our approach to winning back riders is working,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger. “As we continue to invest in our system and advocate for sustainable transit funding, we are building a resilient and future-focused network that supports our communities and improves quality of life for our region.”
The Pace Board of Directors meets monthly in Arlington Heights, typically on the third Wednesday of each month at 9:30 A.M. The Board's schedule, along with agendas, minutes, and videorecordings, can be found on the Public Meetings page at PaceBus.com, and meetings are streamed live at PaceBus.com/Streaming.
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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 more than 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.
