Pace 2022 Budget Hearings Announced

In person and virtual options offered for public input on historic proposal

Pace will hold eight public hearings on its proposed 2022 Operating and Capital Budget Programs, 2022-2024 Financial Plan for Operations, and 2022-2026 Capital Plan. Four meetings will be held virtually and four will be held in person. All meetings will be live streamed with closed captioning at www.pacebus.com/streaming. The proposed budget includes a fully funded operational budget for fixed route and paratransit services, a robust capital plan, and no fare increase.

If approved, the budget will fund the largest service expansion in Pace’s history with $7 million for new fixed route service, $5 million for regional partnerships with transportation network companies, and an additional $3 million for demand response service.  The proposal also includes the largest infrastructure expansion in the agency’s history with an investment of more than $300 million in capital projects (thanks to Rebuild Illinois), including a $10 million electric bus pilot at Waukegan’s North Division. The continuation of Fair Transit Cook County Pilot Project service improvements on Pace Route 352 Halsted and the discontinuation of Pace Route 602 Higgins - Salem – Cedarcrest are also proposed.

Registration is required for those who would like to provide live comments during a virtual public hearing. Those wishing to offer public comment must register at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing start time and must log in to the meeting no later than 10 minutes after the hearing start time. Live commenters must provide an email address to receive instructions on how to access the public hearing on Zoom. Registration links are available by clicking on the desired virtual meeting at https://www.pacebus.com/public-meetings.

No virtual public comments may be offered at in-person public hearings. In-person public hearings may be subject to cancellation and substituted with a virtual public hearing held at the same time and date. The same information will be presented at all hearings.

Those who cannot attend a public hearing may comment on the proposed budget through Pace’s website at https://www.pacebus.com/public-hearing-feedback, by email to public.hearings@pacebus.com, by telephone to 847-354-7943, or by mail to: Pace, Community Relations Department, 550 W. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights, IL  60005-4412.  All comments must be received by 5:00 pm on Friday, October 29, 2021.  

Individuals with disabilities who plan to attend a public hearing in person or wish to view a public hearing virtually and who require accommodations other than transportation, and individuals who require translation into a language other than English to allow them to view and/or participate are requested to contact Pace at (847) 364-7223 option 3, no less than five (5) business days prior to the scheduled hearing.

The proposed 2022 budget document will be available after October 20, 2021, on Pace’s website at https://www.pacebus.com/budgets, at most public libraries, township, city, and village offices in the six county Pace region, and at Pace, 550 West Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005.

Pace Public Hearing Schedule