Pulse Cermak Line
The Pulse Cermak Line will provide service between the CTA Pink Line 54th/Cermak Station in Cicero and the Yorktown Center area in Lombard. In collaboration with local communities, Pace identified preliminary service recommendations, station locations, and related corridor improvements for further evaluation in future phases. As the project progresses, Pace will be seeking public feedback to ensure the Pulse Cermak Line meets the needs of the communities and transit riders in western Cook County and eastern DuPage County.
How do I get involved?
Public involvement is a critical part of this project and there are multiple ways to participate. Pace welcomes your feedback through multiple upcoming opportunities. Sign up for updates and public meeting announcements.
Features
The Pulse Cermak Line will enhance riders’ travel experiences with:
• Fast, frequent, and reliable service to your favorite destinations
• Free Wi-Fi and other amenities on Pulse-branded buses
• Modern, heated stations with real-time next bus arrival information
• Faster boarding and improved accessibility at stations
• Traffic signal improvements to keep buses on schedule
• “Queue jumps” that allow buses to skip traffic backups at congested intersections
• Bus lanes to keep Pulse moving even when traffic is heavy
• Improved connections to other transit services
Location
The Pulse Cermak Line project includes approximately 14 miles along Cermak Road, 22nd Street, and Butterfield Road. The corridor serves Cook and DuPage Counties and ten municipalities: Cicero, Berwyn, Forest Park, North Riverside, Broadview, Westchester, Hillside, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, and Lombard.
The corridor is currently served by Pace Route 322 and CTA Route 21. There are many connecting transit services including the CTA Pink line, and existing Pace routes 301, 302, 307, 311, 313, 314, 315, 316, 322, 330, 331, 332, 715, 722, and 834. The future Pulse Harlem Line would also intersect the Pulse Cermak Line at the border of Berwyn and North Riverside.
The Line will take riders to major destinations including the CTA Pink Line 54th/Cermak Station, Morton West High School, North Riverside Park Mall, Broadview Village Square, Oakbrook Center, and Yorktown Center. In addition, riders will have improved transfers to connecting services and be able to better access areas in Cook and DuPage Counties including portions of Chicago, Cicero, Berwyn, Oak Park, Forest Park, Brookfield, La Grange, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, and Naperville. Oakbrook Center and Yorktown Center are anticipated to be major connection points for riders in the western portion of the corridor, including transfer opportunities to key destinations in DuPage County (e.g., College of DuPage, downtown Naperville, etc.) and locations in Will County (e.g., Joliet, Bolingbrook, etc.).
Where are we now?
During the Pulse Cermak Line’s Project Definition phase, Pace, in coordination with project stakeholders, determined the corridor limits and preliminary station locations. That phase is complete. Pace is now progressing the proposed recommendations into to the federally-required Environmental Review phase.
During the Project Definition phase, Pace sought input from the Corridor Advisory Group (CAG), consisting of representatives from roadway and transit agency partners, local municipalities and nonprofit organizations, school districts, adjacent property owners, and others who represent the views of the community and transit users in the corridor. The CAG served a vital role in identifying local transit needs and challenges as well as defining the project corridor. The outcome of this process is published in the Project Definition Report below.
The project team is beginning an in-depth review of potential environmental impacts. The Environmental Review phase will follow procedures outlined in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This process is required for the project to receive federal funds and will carefully consider and evaluate potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of the project. The Environmental Review is planned to begin in 2025, with the CAG and members of the public, meeting with the project team to review and comment on concepts and details.
Future phases include developing detailed designs and constructing the project. Pace's goal is to launch the Pulse Cermak Line service in 2030.
What will happen to my current bus service?
The Pulse Cermak Line improvements and service are intended to complement current bus services. We anticipate many riders will switch to Pulse, benefiting from the increased reliability and frequency as well as reduced travel times and connections to major destinations that the new service will provide. Pace Route 322 will continue to serve local stops along the corridor, although schedules may be adjusted. Other bus service, such as CTA Route 21, which operates between CTA Pink Line 54th/Cermak station and the North Riverside Park Mall, and Pace routes connecting to the corridor are not anticipated to change as part of the project. As with all Pace routes, any major service changes will be presented at a public hearing for comment prior to any adjustments being made.
