Illinois Central School Bus opens facility in Carol Stream

Just weeks before the start of school, a school bus operator is getting ready to open its new facility in Carol Stream.

Illinois Central School Bus will operate a school bus storage lot, offices and a light maintenance facility at 640 Kimberly Drive. The village board granted zoning approvals for the facility this week.

Illinois Central was awarded transportation contracts this summer for Glenbard High School District 87, Lombard District 44, and Glen Ellyn Districts 41 and 89. The company intends to use the Carol Stream site as its base of operations, village officials said.

The site will have room for parking of up to 120 school buses. Plans call for the outdoor installation of a 2,500-gallon diesel fuel tank.

Approximately 100 drivers will operate out of the facility, with an additional 10 to 15 office and mechanic staff.

Plans also call for possible future expansion of the facility if operations warrant it, officials said.

It won’t be the first time a bus facility has been in Carol Stream. Longtime resident Richard Kammes operated his Kammes Bus Service at 480 N. Kuhn Road for 22 years.