Project Zero Progress: Pace Board Greenlights Electric Bus Purchase

Pace (Arlington Heights, IL) recently made another pivotal move toward 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,” according to a press release. “The Board was briefed on an exciting new On Demand pilot launching in south suburban Lansing, IL, 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 also 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, IL. Initially launched as a pilot program in 2023, the reservation based On Demand service saw a 100 percent increase in ridership within a year.”

During her report, Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger also 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,” according to the release. “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,” Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski said. “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,” she said.

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