Pace reveals passenger upgrades at Schaumburg bus hub but specter of fiscal cliff looms
After years of being exposed to the elements, riders at Pace’s Northwest Transportation Center in Schaumburg finally have a place to warm up, cool down and stay dry.
Officials marked the opening of a $7.2 million renovation that includes a large indoor waiting room, expanded park-n-ride lot and the region’s first ADA paratransit transfer facility last week.
It was a typical ribbon cutting involving dignitaries, speeches and photos — with a warning note.
“Pace is proud to deliver this investment in transit infrastructure in the Northwest suburbs,” Chairman Richard Kwasneski said.
“But, while we celebrate this important investment, we must realize that our work is not done. Transit across the country and our region is facing a fiscal cliff,” Kwasneski said, referencing a massive shortfall impacting Pace, Metra and the CTA.
“A continued investment in transit is crucial to deliver the faster, more frequent service our communities deserve.”
The Regional Transportation Authority has estimated a $771 million “fiscal cliff” awaits next year when federal COVID-19 aid runs out, although a more than $200 million sales tax surplus might offset that.
In May, the Illinois Senate passed a fix increasing various taxes and replacing the RTA with a strengthened oversight board. But the House balked amid objections to the new fees and governance in the bill, leaving the hot potato to the October veto session.
The upgrade will ease travel for Harper College students going to Palatine school and commuters heading to workplaces, said Democratic state Rep. Michelle Mussman of Schaumburg, who also sounded the alarm.
“It is so important for all of us in the General Assembly to be hyper-focused on solving our issues with transit,” Mussman said.
The old Schaumburg Post Office was demolished to accommodate the project. Other features include an expanded bus drop-off area, EV charging stations, more than 100 new parking spaces and digital signs listing bus arrivals in real time.
It means better service for paratransit riders transferring to fixed route buses and regional dial-a-ride programs, Pace Director Rachel Arfa said.
“This is such an important milestone,” noted Arfa, who is commissioner of the Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and the first deaf person to serve on a U.S. mayor’s cabinet.
“It’s about connections to other communities … to be able to connect to anywhere.”
One more thing
Union Pacific officials served up Metra a lawsuit and a bill for more than $2 million last week. As we’ve chronicled, UP decided it wanted to get out of hauling passengers and stick to freight in 2019. Six years later, Metra and UP have worked out an amicable transfer of employees, and the commuter railroad now is running its trains on the three UP lines.
The sticking point is how much Metra should pay to use UP tracks. Court documents show a big disparity with UP proposing $18.50 per train while Metra is offering $3.05 to $7.68 per train mile, or $6.7 million to $16.9 million annually.
By UP’s reckoning, Metra owes it about $2.3 million under its new terms, which are under dispute. Metra officials had no comment.
Gridlock alert
Getting around in Barrington will be interesting starting Monday with a full closure of Northwest Highway from north of Valencia Road to Route 59. Workers are building an underpass at the CN tracks. The road should open in about four weeks.
You should know
The Chicago Department of Aviation is inviting parents and kids to get up close and personal with an airport this month. The CDA hosts Midway Airport Family Night from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 30. The event allows visitors to explore the airport and practice security screening and boarding in a relaxed setting. Authorities will be available to answer questions on baby gear and traveling with drinks and food. Kids activities and refreshments will be offered. To register, visit eventbrite.com/e/midway-airport-family-night-flying-with-kids-101-tickets-1677312700439?aff=oddtdtcreator.