Proposed plan would be submitted to NITA for future regional planning efforts
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – Pace today unveiled its Draft ReVision Plan, a bold proposal to transform suburban bus service across its six-county region for the way people travel today. The plan calls for a 50 percent overall increase in service across Pulse lines, fixed routes, and On Demand service, with more frequent, connected, and accessible options, particularly at night and on weekends. Every county in Pace’s service area would receive at least a 45 percent increase in service. Following public input, Pace will submit the plan to the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) to inform future regional planning efforts.
Developed with input from riders, municipalities, community partners, and other stakeholders, ReVision is designed to grow ridership while responding to the mobility needs of communities throughout northeastern Illinois. The recommendations target major improvements where they are needed most and can adapt to future regional service plans. At the conclusion of this phase, Pace will submit the plan to NITA for coordination with its broader regional planning efforts.
“ReVision is about building a suburban transit network that gives more people a practical and reliable way to reach jobs, schools, health care, and the other destinations that matter in their daily lives,” said Pace Chairperson John Noak. “This draft reflects years of analysis and public input, and now we are asking riders and communities to help us test the recommendations, understand the trade-offs, and shape the final plan.”
The proposal includes short-term improvements that Pace can pursue in 2027 in partnership with NITA, CTA, and Metra while the longer regional service planning processes continue. "Pace's ReVision plan aims to put funding from the NITA Act to work in a way that riders will really feel," said NITA Interim Executive Director Jamie Rhee. "A 50 percent increase in service is the kind of change that will make transit trips faster and more reliable for current riders—and that will make transit a more appealing choice for all residents of the region."
Pace is launching a broad public engagement effort to gather feedback on the draft network. Opportunities to participate will include stakeholder workshops, municipal briefings, a public webinar, a survey, pop-up events, and online channels. Pace’s Field Team will also speak directly with riders across the region and encourage them to share their perspectives.
“This ambitious plan puts more service where and when people need it while strengthening connections to CTA and Metra across the region,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger. “Travel patterns have changed, and fewer people commute downtown every day. Public input and ridership trends show growing demand for nontraditional transit trips—and when we increase frequency and make our service faster, ridership grows.”
Riders, residents, and community partners can review the Draft ReVision Plan and complete the survey at PaceBus.com/ReVision, attend a virtual open house on November 18th from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., or visit Pace at one of several pop-up events throughout the region from October 24th through November. A full list of pop-up events is available at PaceBus.com/popups.
The Pace Board of Directors also amended its 2026 meeting schedule, cancelling the November meeting to accommodate extensive NITA outreach related to the proposed 2027 budget, and approved its 2027 schedule. Meetings will continue to be held on the third Wednesday of the month in 2027.
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 video recordings, 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 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.