Moving
into the Future
The Weekly Newsletter from
America’s Most
Efficient
Suburban Transit Agency
Vol. V, Number 185
May 29, 2008
Pace is the suburban public transit agency for Chicagoland’s six-county metropolitan region. As the 7th largest bus agency in the U.S., Pace operates fixed bus routes, vanpools and paratransit services in nearly 250 municipalities consisting of 5.2 million residents. Visit the Route Finder for bus route information.
Pace express services keep baseball fans connected
With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror and summer straight ahead, the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs are creating the possibility of a historic season for Chicago baseball fans. It has been 102 years since both teams were in the playoffs at the same time, with the White Sox winning the only all-Chicago World Series in 1906. People who want to follow either of these two first-place teams but don't want the hassle of driving and parking to the respective venues can utilize Pace's express bus service to see both the Cubs and the Sox in action.
The Wrigley Field Express routes take passengers from both the Northwest Transportation Center in Schaumburg and Yorktown Shopping Center in Lombard to the famed "Friendly Confines" at Clark and Addison. The Schaumburg--Wrigley Express carried 3,200 passengers in 1998, and by last year carried almost 13,000. Another 5,000 per year ride from Lombard.
Bus departure times vary each day, depending on the time of that day's game, so Cub fans should check the Pace web site for details.
The U.S. Cellular Field Express, originally implemented in 2006, travels from six different locations throughout the south and southwest suburbs. Route 775 comes from Bolingbrook and Burr Ridge; Route 773 travels from Markham and Tinley Park; and Route 774 picks up Sox fans in Oak Lawn and Palos Heights.
With the increasingly burdensome prices of gas, tolls and parking, Pace's express routes are the best options to get to the ballparks. The fare for all Pace's express routes is only $3.00 each way per person--which is less than single a gallon of gas!
Pace has two
express routes to Wrigley Field, from Schaumburg and Lombard.
Maria C. Ortiz, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, is pleased with the success of these routes. "The service offers passengers the opportunity to enjoy the ride without the hassles of driving, and with the rising cost of parking and gas, the service offers a great alternative for them," Ortiz said.
Other express routes planned for service in 2008 include a route to Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, and several routes traveling to Soldier Field for Chicago Bears games. Bears fans can check the Pace web site for updates as that season approaches.
Commuters flock to PaceRideShare.com in search of savings
As northeastern Illinois commuters absorb the nation's highest fuel prices, hundreds are looking for a cheaper alternative to driving alone, and the new PaceRideShare web site has been a solution for many. Already, since the March 1st launch, more than 1,700 people registered to find potential carpool or vanpool matches--using the origin and destination of their daily commutes--and the database averages over 500 new registrants per month.
Billboards with
this image are located throughout the six-county region, encouraging people
to register on PaceRideShare.com.
People who have matched with other commuters on PaceRideShare.com are now able to register their carpool, and by doing so receive a free welcome kit. Those that use the "commute tracker" feature will be eligible for a raffle each month for $20 fuel cards, beginning in June. The data Pace collects from commuters allows the agency to track and report regional emission reductions, trips reduced and fuel saved.
Pace staff has been reaching out to many of the region's largest employers in recent weeks, including employee events at McDonald's, International, Corn Products, Sears, Silver Cross Hospital, Siemens in West Chicago and Chicago Public Schools. At a recent visit to Tellabs, 60 employees signed up on PaceRideShare.com--the most from a single employer.
"Moving into the Future" is a weekly newsletter provided by Pace Suburban Bus to update interested parties on the services Pace provides and the progress it makes to constantly improve. Forward to others as you wish. For best results, please print in landscape format. Please submit feedback or remove yourself from the mailing list by calling 847-228-2421 or e-mail your request to govt.affairs@pacebus.com.
© 2008 Pace Suburban Bus