Carol Stream considers allowing Pace bus shelters
Carol Stream officials say they’re open to a proposal by Pace to place bus shelters throughout town.
The suburban bus company has proposed installation of as many as six shelters in Carol Stream along Routes 709 and 711 as part of its overall effort to increase ridership.
The agency tried to build shelters throughout DuPage County about eight years ago, but several towns refused because the shelters would have included advertising.
Pace has resurrected the proposal and is again reaching out to municipalities. At least in Carol Stream, the agency is getting positive feedback.
Village Manager Joe Breinig said at a village board meeting this week he and staff members visited Oak Park to see what the proposed shelters look like.
“We quite frankly don’t think they’re all that bad looking,” he said.
The agency has proposed four different shelter designs from which the village can choose. Pace would pay the cost to install the shelters, so long as the shelters contain ads.
Village Community Development Director Bob Glees said Pace has proposed two shelters near the planned Caputo’s Fresh Markets grocery store at North Avenue and Schmale Road. It’s possible other shelters could be placed near village hall at Gary Avenue and Hiawatha Drive and at the Town Center at Gary and Lies Road.
Pace also would coordinate advertising placements on the shelters; the village could express preference to disallow advertising from alcohol and tobacco companies.
“I’d like to skip the alcohol and tobacco ads,” Trustee Matt McCarthy said.
Advertising revenue would be split three ways: 37.5 percent to Titan Worldwide, the company that maintains Pace’s shelters; 31.25 percent to Pace; and 31.25 percent to the village. If the ad space is unsold, the village would be free to advertise its events, or pay for ads if it chooses, Glees said.
Pace has told village officials that ad revenue has varied from shelter to shelter, but in recent years, has averaged $900 to $1,000 per year.
Breinig said the village would work on an agreement with Pace for the shelters in advance of the Gary Avenue reconstruction project set to begin next year.