Mobility as a Service pilot enhances trip planning with Transit app
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – Pace Suburban Bus is proud to announce that the agency has been honored with a prestigious Center for Digital Government Special District Project Award for its groundbreaking Mobility as a Service (MaaS) pilot program. This award recognizes Pace's innovative approach to improving public transportation access and simplifying the rider experience with Transit, Pace’s recommended trip-planning mobile app. The Transit app enables seamless trip planning between Pace’s fixed route and On Demand services along with Chicago Transit Authority and Metra options, making travel across the region more convenient than ever. Pace TripCheck service is integrated into the app, allowing ADA Paratransit passengers to view and cancel their trips. App users are also alerted to VanGo options near their routes.
"At Pace, we’re always looking for ways to improve access and streamline our services for riders," said Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski. "Our Mobility as a Service pilot has provided a unique opportunity to bring together different forms of transportation into one easy-to-use app. This allows riders to travel more flexibly and efficiently, bridging the gap between fixed-route services and demand-response options like never before."
Like many transit agencies across the country, Pace has seen profound changes in the ways people use public transportation since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Passengers want reliable and frequent service at different times throughout the week, and they want transparent and up-to-date information when planning their trips. To meet these changing demands, Pace worked with private-sector developers to improve the trip-planning experience for Pace passengers.
"We’re thrilled to receive this national recognition, but more importantly, we’re excited about what this means for our riders," said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger. "The MaaS pilot has demonstrated the power of technology to provide a truly seamless transportation experience, and we look forward to expanding these efforts in the years to come."
Initially launched in the fall of 2022, Pace’s MaaS pilot provides customers with features not available in other trip-planning services. Most importantly, the Transit app provides customers with a one-stop, easy-to-navigate interface that displays Pace’s family of services, from fixed-route buses to reservation-based transportation services like Pace On Demand and VanGo.
“Riders expect and deserve an easy-to-use app that gives them access to their entire public transit system,” said David Block-Schachter, Chief Business Officer at Transit. "Thanks to the close collaboration our team has undertaken with the dedicated staff at Pace, riders now have a seamless, personalized mobile platform that they can rely on. We're honored that this project has been recognized for the improvements it delivers to riders every day."
Pace’s MaaS program is an example of how transit agencies can leverage technology to improve service efficiency and customer convenience. The success of the pilot program has not only gained national recognition but has also paved the way for future expansion, with Pace planning to continue developing more integrated and user-friendly solutions that meet the evolving needs of riders.
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.