Understanding The Inner Workings Of Pace Buses

Pace is the suburban bus and regional paratransit division of the Regional Transportation Authority, serving the Chicago metropolitan area. Pace operates more than 139 fixed bus routes, with over 240 routes serving more than 220 communities in the six-county area. The Pace Suburban Bus service offers affordable and environmentally responsible transit options, with a range of inclusive services. The buses generally have longer routes than CTA buses and provide service from the suburbs to various special events in the city.

Characteristics	Values
Headquarters	Arlington Heights, Illinois
Governing Body	13-member Board of Directors
Service Area	Cook County, Illinois; Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry, and DuPage counties
Number of Routes	More than 139 fixed bus routes
Route Types	Traditional fixed routes, vanpool services, reservation-based services
Route Schedule	Daily, 7 days a week; some routes run Monday through Saturday, weekdays only, or weekday rush hours only
Route Flexibility	Routes can be added or discontinued based on ridership and demand
Payment Methods	Cash, Ventra card, Ventra mobile app
Payment Cost	$5.00 for a new Ventra card, refundable upon account registration
Accessibility	Wheelchair accessible, bicycle racks available
Additional Services	Vanpool Incentive Program, Dial-a-Ride projects, real-time bus schedule updates

Pace bus routes

Pace Suburban Bus is the premier suburban transit provider for Chicago's suburbs, serving Cook, Will, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties. Pace operates more than 139 fixed bus routes that run on set schedules and routings. The majority of these routes run daily, seven days a week, with some operating Monday through Saturday, on weekdays only, or during weekday rush hours only.

Pace's bus routes cover 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. Many of Pace's route terminals are located at CTA rail and bus stations and Metra stations. In some areas, such as Evanston, River Forest, Oak Park, Cicero, and Skokie, both Pace and the Chicago Transit Authority provide service.

Pace's bus routes generally have longer routes than CTA buses, and they are known for providing service to various special events in the city. For example, Routes 282 and 779 serve Chicago Cubs games, Routes 773, 774, and 775 serve Chicago White Sox games, and Routes 236, 768, 769, and 776 serve Chicago Bears games. Pace also provides extra service to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont for events, with Route 284 serving Six Flags Great America and Route 307 serving events at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.

Route 210 - Lincoln Avenue
Route 213 - Green Bay Road
Route 215 - Crawford - Howard
Route 223 - Elk Grove - Rosemont CTA Station
Route 225 - Central - Howard
Route 230 - South Des Plaines
Route 234 - Wheeling - Des Plaines
Route 241 - Greenwood - Talcott
Route 250 - Dempster Street
Route 270 - Milwaukee Avenue
Route 301 - Roosevelt Road
Route 302 - Ogden - Stanley
Route 303 - Forest Park - Rosemont
Route 305 - East Roosevelt Road
Route 308 - Medical Center
Route 310 - Madison Street - Hillside
Route 311 - Oak Park Avenue
Route 313 - St. Charles Road
Route 314 - Ridgeland Avenue
Route 315 - Austin Boulevard
Route 316 - Laramie Avenue
Route 318 - West North Avenue
Route 322 - Cermak Road - 22nd Street
Route 330 - Mannheim - LaGrange Roads
Route 331 - Cumberland - 5th Avenue
Route 332 - River Road - York Road
Route 348 - Harvey - Riverdale - Blue Island
Route 353 - 95th/Dan Ryan CTA - River Oaks - Homewood Limited
Route 354 - Harvey - Oak Forest Loop
Route 356 - Harvey - Homewood - Tinley Park
Route 357 - Lincoln Highway
Route 359 - Robbins - South Kedzie Avenue
Route 360 - Harvey - Amazon Monee Express
Route 361 - Harvey - Laraway Crossings Express
Route 366 - Park Forest - Chicago Heights
Route 367 - University Park - Park Forest
Route 379 - Midway - Orland Park
Route 384 - Narragansett - Ridgeland
Route 385 - 87th - 111th - 127th
Route 390 - Midway CTA - UPS Hodgkins Limited
Route 410 - East Niles Local
Route 411 - West Niles Local
Route 412 - North Niles Circulator
Route 421 - Wilmette Avenue
Route 422 - Linden CTA - Glenview - Northbrook Court
Route 423 - Linden CTA - The Glen - Harlem CTA
Route 471 - Highland Park - Northbrook Court
Route 472 - Highland Park - Highwood
Route 475 - Ravinia Festival Direct
Route 501 - West Jefferson
Route 505 - West Joliet Loop
Route 509 - Joliet - Fairmont
Route 511 - Joliet - Elwood - CenterPoint
Route 512 - Joliet - CenterPoint
Route 530 - West Galena - Naperville
Route 533 - Northeast Aurora
Route 540 - Farnsworth Avenue
Route 541 - Northeast Elgin
Route 543 - Dundee - Carpentersville
Route 546 - Orange - Walnut
Route 550 - Elgin Transportation Center - Crystal Lake
Route 552 - North State - Spring Hill Mall
Route 554 - Elgin - Woodfield
Route 559 - Illinois Route 59

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Fares and payments

Pace operates more than 139 fixed bus routes, with anyone able to board by getting on or off at any stop along the route. Fares are collected at the time of boarding and depend on the route's fare class and the rider's eligibility for a reduced fare. Seniors and disabled riders can obtain Ride Free or Reduced Fare Permit cards from the RTA.

The Ventra app is the fare payment system for Pace and its sister agencies, CTA and Metra. It features a contactless "tap" card and a mobile app, making it a convenient and money-saving way to pay your fare. A Ventra Card costs $5.00, and that one-time card purchase fee is immediately refunded upon account registration. You can get a Ventra Card online, at a vending machine, or at various retailers. Tap your Ventra Card on the Ventra reader at the front of the bus as you board, or pay using cash.

In addition to its traditional fixed bus routes, Pace operates several other services that exist in places where no fixed route exists or meet individual riders' needs. For example, Pace's vanpool services are usually for groups of coworkers travelling to work together daily. Other reservation-based services are for local trips whose origins and destinations vary from day to day. Eligibility, fare, and geographic areas served are different for each of these services.

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Accessibility

Pace is committed to providing accessible public transportation for all. Pace was the first transit agency in northeastern Illinois and the second in the state to achieve a fully accessible fixed-route bus fleet. All of Pace's fixed-route buses are fully accessible for seniors and riders with disabilities. These routes can connect passengers to train stations, schools, hospitals, jobs, and other important destinations throughout the suburbs and do not require a reservation to ride.

Pace's fixed-route buses feature ramps, dedicated seating areas, audio and visual stop announcements, and other accessibility features. Pace's accessible service includes buses that kneel and are equipped with ramps for accessible boarding. Buses also have designated priority seating areas for people with disabilities and older adults, as well as wheelchair securement areas. Bus operators will assist riders with disabilities to board and exit vehicles and will assist with securing wheelchairs and other mobility devices, if needed. Pace provides passenger assistance cards for passengers that may need assistance to communicate unique requirements to Pace bus operators. These cards can be downloaded and printed from the Pace website.

Pace also offers a range of other accessible services, including its award-winning ADA Paratransit system and various local Dial-a-Ride programs that offer services exclusively dedicated to the community of people with disabilities. Pace's Rideshare Access Program (RAP) is a new option available for ADA paratransit riders, offering a more convenient and less expensive way to book rides at a moment's notice. ADA-eligible riders can receive a Pace subsidy for Uber or UZURV trips provided within the ADA service area.

The Regional Transportation Authority offers a mobility education program for those who wish to learn how to ride fixed-route services. Additionally, Pace offers Advantage Vanpools, which provide transportation to sheltered workshops, and the Taxi Access Program (TAP) for discounted cab rides and same-day travel.

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Schedules and maps

Pace operates more than 139 fixed bus routes that follow a set schedule and routing. This is Pace's most traditional service, where anyone can board or get off at any bus stop along the route. The fare is collected at the time of boarding and depends on the route's fare class and the rider's eligibility for a reduced fare.

Pace provides a range of inclusive services and is driven to cater to a convenient and affordable ride for everyone in the community. Pace's services are especially useful for groups of people travelling together daily, such as coworkers.

To find your route, you can download the Ventra app or visit the Pace website. Once you've identified your route, you can look up arrival times using the CTA bus tracker or the Ventra app.

The majority of Pace bus routes run daily, seven days a week. Other routes run Monday through Saturday, weekdays only, or weekday rush hours only. One route, 352 Halsted, runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and four routes—390, 392, 395, and 890—run only for weekday UPS shift changes.

During weekday rush hours, Pace buses are authorised to use the shoulder of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Edens Expressway, and Stevenson Expressway to avoid traffic congestion.

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Additional services

Pace offers a wide range of bus routes to cater to the diverse needs of its residents and visitors. In addition to its traditional fixed bus routes, Pace provides several other services to meet individual riders' needs. Here are some of the additional services offered by Pace:

Vanpool Services: Pace operates vanpool services, where groups of people, often coworkers, commute together in a van owned and maintained by Pace and driven by one of the participants. This service is typically for those travelling to work together daily. The Vanpool Incentive Program offers a cost-effective and convenient way to commute.

Dial-a-Ride Programs: Pace coordinates various Dial-a-Ride projects, usually sponsored by municipalities and townships. One of the largest is Ride DuPage, sponsored by DuPage County Human Services. These programs offer flexible, reservation-based transportation options for riders.

Pace On Demand: This service offers a reservation-based, shared-ride experience in designated service areas throughout the suburban region. It provides a convenient and flexible transportation option for riders.

Special Event Services: Pace provides special event bus services to various sporting events and entertainment venues. For example, they offer routes to Chicago Cubs and White Sox games, Chicago Bears games, and events at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. These services ensure that riders can easily access special events without the hassle of driving and parking.

Park-n-Ride Locations: Pace has established several Park-n-Ride locations, providing convenient parking options for riders. These locations often feature additional amenities, such as charging stations for electric vehicles and improved signage with real-time bus departure information.

These additional services offered by Pace demonstrate their commitment to providing inclusive, flexible, and accessible transportation options for their riders. By catering to diverse needs, Pace ensures that residents and visitors can efficiently get to their desired destinations.