New Lansing Area On Demand Pilot Program set to launch as expansion of Round Lake Area On Demand made permanent
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – Yesterday, Pace made another pivotal move towards a greener future as the agency’s Board of Directors approved the purchase of an additional battery-electric bus (BEB), furthering Pace’s efforts to put zero-emission vehicles into service as quickly and efficiently as possible. The newly approved BEB purchase is part of Pace’s ongoing strategy to transition to a fully zero-emission fleet by 2040 through its Project Zero initiative.
The meeting also marked a significant milestone for Pace’s family of services. The Board was briefed on an exciting new On Demand pilot launching in south suburban Lansing, signaling continued innovation and service expansions as ridership recovers across the region. On Demand pilot programs are an efficient way to quickly launch and evaluate mobility options in diverse communities, allowing Pace to effectively adapt to local transportation needs. The Board unanimously agreed to make permanent the successful pilot expansion of the Round Lake Area On Demand, representing an innovative approach to provide public transportation to more communities in western Lake County. Initially launched as a pilot program in 2023, the reservation based On Demand service saw a 100% increase in ridership within a year.
During her report, Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger shared that Pace was awarded a $500,000 Invest in Cook grant for the Pulse Cermak Line National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) work. This funding will be instrumental in advancing our efforts to provide fast, frequent, and reliable service along the Cermak corridor, enhancing connectivity and convenience for our riders. The Board later authorized an Intragovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Pace and Cook County for this grant.
“We are grateful for Cook County’s investment in Pulse,” said Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski. “Fast and frequent service is bringing passengers back to the system and this grant supports our work to create a mobility network that is accessible and convenient for all.”
Metzger also shared a summary of recent service improvements, including some changes that restore pre-pandemic levels of service to routes that saw service reductions at the beginning of the pandemic. “We are seeing more and more riders use our fixed-route system, which truly is a testament to the hard work our staff has done to draw back riders in the post-pandemic era of remote work.”
In August, passengers saw the return of many I-55 Bus on Shoulder Express trips to meet the growing market demand along the corridor. This move brings service levels back to pre-pandemic levels on Pace routes 755, 850, 851, and 855, with additional inbound and outbound trips in the mornings and afternoons. Expanded service on Pace routes 330 and 331 capitalizes on recent ridership trends showing a greater demand for weekend service and late-evening service. Route 331 now has improved Saturday service and the addition of new Sunday service. Route 330 has improved hours and frequency on Saturdays and improved frequency during the evenings on weekdays.
These improvements come after Pace introduced similar changes to Pace Route 381 in the south suburbs earlier this summer due to high ridership totals. Sunday service on Route 381 now operates longer with increased frequency on weekends and weekdays. Route 332 also now has four additional overnight trips throughout the week, including weekends. The route serves many third-shift workers who use Pace buses to connect to the cargo area south of O’Hare from the CTA Blue Line station in Rosemont.
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 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.