Pace Breaks Ground On Region’s First All-Electric Bus Facility

State and local officials recently joined transit agency leaders to break ground on the renovation of Pace’s North Division Garage, in Waukegan, IL. (Photo courtesy of Pace)

The electric transformation of Pace Suburban Bus (Arlington Heights, IL) recently reached a major milestone when state and local officials joined agency leaders to break ground on the renovation of Pace’s North Division Garage. The project will create the region’s first bus facility designed to support an all-electric fleet and move forward Pace’s transition to a zero-emission fleet.

“The upgrades to this facility places Waukegan, IL, at the forefront of Project Zero, Pace’s initiative to reduce pollution and honor statewide climate goals by converting its entire bus fleet to zero-emissions technology by 2040,” according to a press release. “By launching this effort in Waukegan, Pace is prioritizing communities historically impacted by industrial pollution and economic disinvestment, ensuring they benefit from the agency’s clean energy transition.”

“Today marks another step forward in Pace’s commitment to a zero-emission future,” Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski said. “We already have a few zero-emission and hybrid buses in service, but this facility will take our sustainability efforts to the next level. Once completed, North Division will have the capacity to charge and house a fleet of 60 zero-emission buses.”

The electrification of the North Division Garage is being funded through Rebuild Illinois and federal grants. Pace estimates that fully achieving Project Zero will require approximately $2.5 billion which includes facility upgrades and vehicles.

“Pace is incredibly proud of our commitment to operating a zero-emission fleet, and I am proud of our personnel for embracing this operational change. Our North Division Garage has always been a major contributor to Lake County, IL, providing public transit to the residents including essential workers, seniors, people with disabilities and students. I am glad we can make this critical investment to Waukegan,” Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger said.

The first zero-emission buses are expected to operate out of Waukegan by late 2025 following the installation of 12 chargers and the construction of a covered outdoor charging facility. The second phase of the project, expanding and modernizing the entire garage, is expected to be completed by 2027.

Pace Suburban Bus provides transit options for the residents of 274 municipalities in the northeastern Illinois counties of Cook, Will, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and McHenry. One of the largest bus services in North America, Pace covers 3,677 square miles, an area of about 15 times the size of the City of Chicago.