Pace adjusts routes in Kane, DuPage counties

Pace officials hope to offset cancellation of several bus routes with expansions of others, including a new service between DuPage and Kane counties.

The changes are expected to increase daily ridership from 1,100 to 1,500.

The agency reviewed routes that had remained unchanged for years despite shifts in demographics and travel patterns.

"It was time to look at how to update the routes and attract new riders," Pace spokesman Patrick Wilmot said.

Starting June 9, Pace will expand Route 747 to St. Charles. The bus currently travels between Forest Park and Wheaton. Under the new plans, the bus will primarily use Roosevelt Road and head through West Chicago, finishing at the Charlestowne Mall.

Pace Route 715 also adds a few miles in June. The bus, which travels between Darien and Wheaton, will add a leg through Glendale Heights, finishing at Lake Street and Rohlwing Road in Addison.

Another expansion is Route 711, which travels from Wheaton to Stratford Square mall in Bloomingdale. The route will extend east to Lake and Rohlwing in Addison plus it will operate later on weekdays. The route, however, will not run on Saturdays.

The changes "reflect the realities of today," Pace Director and Elmhurst Mayor Tom Marcucci said.

Service that will be phased out in June includes: Route 653 between Bloomingdale and Glen Ellyn, Route 706 between Glen Ellyn and Wheaton, Route 707 in Wheaton, and 713 between Wheaton and Naperville.

The shuttle from the Wheaton Metra station to the DuPage County complex, Route 712, will be eliminated, but the revised Route 747 will offer the same service, Wilmot said.

Trip reductions are also planned for Route 654 in south Glen Ellyn and Route 657 in Glendale Heights and Glen Ellyn.

Marcucci acknowledged some riders won't be happy with the route cancellations but noted the realignments result in increased service for DuPage.