Pace route changes draw crowd at hearing
A crowd of Pace riders offered mixed reactions to proposed changes on several routes serving the Fox Valley at a Wednesday hearing in Aurora.
Pace is considering adding three new routes and two new Call-N-Rides, modifying three routes and replacing three existing ones. The move is intended to increase the frequency of buses and extend evening service. Passengers told the agency in a survey that buses don't come often enough to be convenient.
About 50 people offered opinions ranging from criticism of new route locations, suggestions on tweaking hours and pleas for more service.
"We request Pace be our service provider to the Route 59 Metra station," said Katie Gallagher.
She has helped organize a petition drive by residents of the Station Boulevard communities in northeast Aurora who oppose a proposed trolley system with a yearly fee. The group would prefer Pace modify an existing route.
Meanwhile, Pat Carley asked that Pace reconsider modifications to Route 524 that put buses on Gladstone Avenue near Aurora University.
"It's a narrow residential street," she said.
Linda Cole of Aurora said it's good Pace is running buses later to Westfield Fox Valley mall, but the revised schedule "gives you no time to clock out and get to the bus departure site." Cole said she was speaking for young employees at the mall who need rides.
Other riders asked for more Sunday service and urged Pace to keep certain routes as is.
"Why not lower the price of bus rides instead of doing all these changes so people have to drastically change their schedules?" one woman said. Pace planners explained they hope the changes will positively affect the Hispanic community and increase riders. They noted although Hispanics constitute 41 percent of Aurora's population, only 19 percent of Pace passengers are Hispanic. Here's a look at some specifics:
• Modifications are planned for Route 524 West Aurora, Route 533 West Aurora, and Route 802 Aurora/Geneva via Lake.
• Route 521 East Circulator, Route 528 Aurora/Rush-Copley Medical Center, and Route 529 Randall Route/5th Street, would be replaced.
• Route 540 Farnsworth Avenue, Route 559 Illinois Route 59, and Route 722 Ogden Avenue would be added.
• Route 530 West Galena/Westfield/Naperville and Route 714 College of DuPage/Naperville/Wheaton will undergo minor tweaks.
Route 532 Illinois Avenue was supposed to be replaced, but appeals from riders at recent forums caused planners to recommend it operate during rush hour only.
The agency also intends to add two Call-n-Ride routes to connect people to buses south and southeast of downtown Aurora and on the east side buffering Route 59. If approved in August, the new service will be added to central and North Aurora in October and to the Route 59 corridor in December.