Pace unveils ambitious plan to boost suburban bus service by 50%

A 50% overall spike in bus service across the region is among the promises in Pace’s ambitious ReVision plan.

The suburban bus agency on Wednesday debuted a draft report of the plan that aims to “transform suburban bus service across its six-county region.”

The program was previewed at a Pace board meeting and now goes to multiple public forums.

“This ambitious plan puts more service where and when people need it while strengthening connections to CTA and Metra across the region,” Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger said in a statement.

“Travel patterns have changed, and fewer people commute downtown every day. Public input and ridership trends show growing demand for nontraditional transit trips — and when we increase frequency and make our service faster, ridership grows.”

The aim is to increase ridership with more frequent buses and reduction of transit deserts in far-flung communities from rural McHenry to south suburban Cook counties.

Every county in Pace’s service area would receive at least a 45% increase in service, officials said.

Another priority is 50% growth on fixed routes, Pace Pulse lines on corridors like the Dempster Street Line and Cermak/22nd Street Line, as well as On-Demand service.

Plans for ReVision began in 2024 during a transit funding crisis. Pace surveyed riders on options such as running buses every 15 to 30 minutes seven days a week, and expanding routes across the suburbs, all of which would be contingent on additional revenues.

The money quandary was resolved with the Northern Illinois Transportation Authority going live Sept. 1. The new agency overseeing Metra, Pace and the CTA was created as a result of 2025 reform legislation that channeled a stream of gas and sales tax dollars to transit.

Pace is planning a series of in-person and virtual events through Dec. 10 on ReVision. For dates and details of the new plan, go to pacebus.com.

After receiving public feedback, the plan will be submitted to NITA for consideration.

“ReVision is about building a suburban transit network that gives more people a practical and reliable way to reach jobs, schools, health care, and the other destinations that matter in their daily lives,” Pace Chair and Romeoville Mayor John Noak said in a statement.

mpyke@dailyherald.com