Pace Continues Its Service Expansions

Pace provides various transit options for residents in northeastern Illinois. (Photo courtesy of Pace)

Starting in December, many high-demand bus routes in the northeastern Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, and Lake will see extended service hours and increased frequency on weekdays and weekends. These expansions are part of Pace’s (Arlington Heights, IL) commitment to strengthening its transit network and meet the evolving needs of suburban riders across the region.

“Throughout 2024, Pace has made strategic investments to enhance service on routes with increasing demand,” according to a press release. “By expanding operating hours and improving frequency, Pace has demonstrated its ability to respond quickly and strategically to riders’ changing habits, a key factor in its consistent ridership growth over the past year.”

“Pace’s nimble and responsive approach has served our riders well,” Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger said. “Pace recently served the highest monthly total of riders throughout our entire system since the COVID-19 pandemic began, carrying more than 2 million riders this past October. Our paratransit ridership already has surpassed pre-pandemic levels.”

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