ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL - Pace is excited to announce that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded the agency a prestigious Low-or-No Emissions grant in the amount of $39,780,000. This funding, which is one of the largest federal grants Pace has ever received, will enable Pace to purchase 36 hybrid-electric buses for its West Division in Melrose Park. The award marks significant step forward in the agency’s commitment to sustainability and enhanced transit service across western Cook and DuPage Counties.
"We are thrilled to receive this generous funding from the FTA and grateful for the letters of support we received from our partners and community members this past summer," said Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski. "Pace thanks the 19 federal, state, and local elected officials who formally supported the project with letters to FTA. Their support for this application and for Project Zero has been instrumental in all the progress made on this project in recent years."
This also is the second consecutive year Pace received a Low-or-No Emissions grant. The $30.9 million grant awarded by the FTA in 2024 helped Pace purchase 33 additional hybrid-electric buses for its fleet, which have begun to arrive as of October 2025. These investments support Pace's Project Zero, a bold initiative designed to replace aging, higher-emission diesel buses with cleaner, more efficient hybrid-electric and electric vehicles.
By integrating hybrid buses into the fleet, Pace will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also significantly improve service reliability and rider comfort for commuters across the region.
The transition to hybrid buses offers numerous benefits, including cleaner air, reduced noise pollution, and an enhanced quality of life for residents living along bus routes — whether or not they are transit riders.
“We’re proud to take this important step toward reducing emissions and creating a more sustainable future for our communities,” said Melinda Metzger, Pace’s Executive Director. "By modernizing existing garage infrastructure, we can make this transition efficiently while continuing to serve our growing ridership in western Cook and DuPage Counties."
###
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.