Pace (transit)

Infobox Bus transit
name =

logo_size = 150


image_size =
image_caption = Pace bus in traditional livery.
company_slogan = A Fresh Approach To Public Transportation
parent =
founded = 1983
headquarters = Arlington Heights, Illinois
locale = Chicagoland
service_area = Cook, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry and Du Page
service_type = Commuter
routes = 240
fleet = 705 buses
767 vans
358 owned vehicles in paratransit service
(per 2008 budget)
fuel_type = Diesel
ceo = T.J. Ross
operator = Pace divisions or contract operators
website = http://www.pacebus.com/

Pace is the suburban bus division of the Regional Transportation Authority in the Chicago area. It was created in 1983 by the RTA Act, which established the formula that provides funding to CTA, Metra and Pace.

Pace's headquarters are in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Pace is governed by a 12 member Board of Directors comprised of current and former suburban mayors.

The six counties that Pace serves are Cook, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry and Du Page. Some of Pace's buses also go to Chicago and Indiana. In some areas, notably Evanston and Skokie, Pace and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) both serve the community.

Many of Pace's hubs are located at CTA rail stations (especially terminals) and Metra stations. CTA and Pace transit cards and passes are valid on Pace, but Pace cards and passes are not valid on the CTA. Additionally, since CTA no longer issues transfers with cash bus fares, it no longer accepts Pace transfers, either, but Pace transfers remain good between Pace routes. [cite press release|title =Pace Riders who transfer to the CTA should avoid cash fares|publisher =Pace|date =2005-12-27|url =http://www.pacebus.com/sub/news_events/press_release_detail.asp?ReleaseID=392|accessdate = 2007-10-01] Metra fares are completely separate.

Pace buses generally have longer headways (often between 20 and 60 minutes) than CTA buses. Due to its broad geographic service area, service is provided by 9 operating divisions, as well as under agreements with several municipalities and private operators (school bus and motor coach companies).

All Pace buses are wheelchair accessible and have racks accommodating two bicycles, available during all hours of operation.

Pace buses provide service from the suburbs to various special events in the city, such as Routes #282 & #779 for Chicago Cubs games, Routes #773, #774 and #775 for Chicago White Sox games, Routes #237, #768, #769 and #776 for Chicago Bears games, Route #288 for The Auto Show, Routes #777 & #778 for The Flower and Garden Show. Route #222 provides extra service to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont for events scheduled there, Route #284 to Six Flags Great America, and Route #386 for events at Toyota Park in Bridgeview. [cite web|url = http://www.pacebus.com/sub/news_events/special_events.asp|title =Special Events|accessdate =2007-10-01|author =Pace|]

Pace is responsible for ADA paratransit service in its service area, and, effective July 1, 2006, for paratransit service in Chicago. [cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/94/094-0370.htm|title=Public Act 0370, 94th General Assembly|author=Illinois General Assembly|date=2005] Pace also coordinates various Dial-a-Ride projects, usually sponsored by various municipalities and townships. [cite web|url =http://www.pacebus.com/sub/paratransit/sd_dial_a_ride.asp|title =Dial-a-ride Service Directory|accessdate =2007-10-01|author =Pace] One of the largest is Ride DuPage, sponsored by Du Page County Human Services. [cite web|url=http://www.dupageco.org/humanservices/generic.cfm?doc_id=1306|title=Ride DuPage|author=DuPage County]

Pace operates a Vanpool Incentive Program, where groups save by commuting together in a van owned and maintain by Pace and driven by one of the participants. [cite web|url =http://www.pacebus.com/sub/vanpool/default.asp|title =Vanpool Incentive Program|accessdate =2007-10-01|author =Pace] There is also a Municipal Vanpool Program, under which Pace provides a van to a municipality, for any public transportation purpose (such as demand response service for senior citizens). [cite web|url=http://www.pacebus.com/sub/vanpool/municipal_vanpool_program.asp|title =Municipal Vanpool Program|accessdate =2007-10-01|author = Pace]

Pace is not an acronym, but a marketing name. [cite web|url =http://www.pacebus.com/sub/general/frequently_asked_questions.asp#faq15|title =Frequently Asked Questions|accessdate =2007-10-01|author = Pace]

Operating divisions

* Fox Valley (North Aurora)
* Heritage (Joliet)
* North (Waukegan)
* North Shore (Evanston)
* Northwest (Des Plaines)
* River (Elgin)
* South (Markham)
* Southwest (Bridgeview)
* West (Melrose Park)

Municipal operators

* Niles
* Highland Park

Municipally supported shuttles and "trolley" services

* Downers Grove-- [http://www.downers.us/page/view/55 Grove Commuter Shuttle] , independent, but included in the Pace budget for recovery ratio purposes
* Oak Park
* Oswego
* Schaumburg

Other major facilities

* South Holland Acceptance Facility
* McHenry Paratransit Facility

Bus fleet [Per 2008 Pace budget.]

Notes

1. Nearly all retired.

2. In the new blue livery.

3. Initial order of 102 buses, 2600 to 2702; options for up to 222 buses.

4. Used exclusively on route #905 Schaumburg Trolley.

* Individual units in a series may be retired or out of service (also, a few units in a mostly retired series might still be operating).

* No buses with fleet numbers ending in 13 (i.e. 6262-6322 consists of 60 buses, and there is no 6313).

* Some light routes operated with paratransit vehicles.

References

External links

* [http://www.pacebus.com Pace Suburban Bus website]
** [http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules/default.asp?ptype=RF Route Finder] — Search by route number, community, division, contractor, landmark, or connecting CTA and Metra service.
** [http://www.pacebus.com/sub/about/history_facts.asp Pace History & Facts]
** [http://www.pacebus.com/sub/about/divisions.asp Pace locations]
* [http://hometown.aol.com/ctapacefan/mainpace.html Bill Vandervoort's "Chicago Transit and Railfan" Pace page] (unofficial enthusiast's site)
* [http://forum.chicagobus.org/index.php?showforum=2 ChicagoBus.org Pace Suburban Bus Forum]