Pace I-90 Express Bus Service is an on highway express bus service between Rosemont Transportation Center and Elgin operated by Pace. The buses operate on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and use "flex lanes" to avoid traffic, similar to a bus on shoulder service.[1]
History
Planning for an extension of the Blue Line past O'Hare began in 1998. However, after a series of proposals were presented in 2003, local leaders preferred Metra's STAR Line.[2] When Metra started planning for the STAR Line, surveying revealed natural gas lines that Metra would have to pay to relocate. The project failed to get federal funding.[2]
After the STAR Line failed to get funding, Pace began planning for its I-90 Express service as part of its Vision 2020.[3] The transit proposal was part of a larger Illinois Tollway project to rebuild and widen a portion of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway from I-39/US 51 in Rockford to I-190/I-294 near O'Hare Airport.[4] The $2.5 billion tollway project, backed by the "Move Illinois" program,[4] mainly took place from 2012 to November 2016.[5][6][7]
Service between Rosemont and Elgin, and Schaumburg and Elgin, began in December 2016.[8][9] On September 5, 2017, the Illinois Tollway activated its SmartRoad technology along a portion of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway from Barrington Road to the Kennedy Expressway. Along with incorporating active traffic management for other drivers, SmartRoad allowed Pace buses to use the shoulder ("flex lanes") during times of traffic congestion.[10][11][12][13] In December 2017, the IL 25 Station opened.[14] In August 2018, Barrington Road Station, the on-highway train station like stop, opened, finishing the project.[15]
The Pace Express service has been described as a "mini STAR Line."[2]
Service
The service primarily hosts four routes: 600, 603, 605, and 607. The 606 also travels along I-90 between IL 83 (Elmhurst Road) and Rosemont station.[1][16]
600: Rosemont - Schaumburg Express
Exclusivity operates nonstop between Rosemont Transportation Center and Northwest Transportation Center in Schaumburg. This was a peak-only route before the introduction of the I-90 Express service.
603: Elgin Transportation Center - Rosemont Express
Operates between Rosemont Transportation Center and Elgin Transportation Center, stopping at Barrington Road and IL 25.
605: I-90/Randall Rd. Station - Rosemont Express
Same route as 603 until IL 25 where it splits and continues on I-90 to Randall Road Station.
607: I-90/Randall Rd. Station - Schaumburg Express
Operates between Randall Road and Northwest Transportation Center stopping at IL 25 and Barrington Road.
References
- ^ a b "Pace Bus". www.pacebus.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
- ^ a b c Nitkin, Alex. "The CTA Has Interesting Ideas For a Blue Line Extension Sitting on the Shelf". Chicago magazine. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
- ^ Ferrarin, Elena (2013-08-30). "Pace plans new Elgin service on I-90 by 2016". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
- ^ a b Novak, Bill (18 November 2011). "Illinois tolls to nearly double in 2012; I-90 rebuild slated for 2012-16". The Capital Times. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
One of the biggest projects in the "Move Illinois" program is the reconstruction and widening by one lane in each direction of I-90 from where it meets I-39 near Rockford east to where it meets the Tri-State near O'Hare Airport.
- ^ "Jane Addams Memorial Tollway - Overview". Illinois Tollway. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ "Jane Addams Tollway Construction Ending - Journal & Topics Media Group". Journal & Topics. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ Varon, Roz (18 November 2016). "Jane Addams construction nearly complete". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ Danahey, Mike. "New Pace bus routes between Elgin and suburban locations launched this week". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
- ^ "Pace adding 6 new bus routes along I-90 to NW suburbs". FOX 32 Chicago. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ "TRAFFIC/TRANSIT: Illinois Tollway launches I-90 SmartRoad and flex lane". Roads and Bridges. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ Varon, Roz; Schulte, Sarah (5 September 2017). "Pace buses allowed on shoulder of Jane Addams tollway". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ Varon, Roz. "What's Driving You Crazy? Jane Addams Tollway overhead signs". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ McLoud, Don (6 September 2017). "New Smart Road opens on I-90, providing real-time info for Chicago area drivers". Equipment World. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ Pyke, Marni (2017-12-18). "New I-90/Route 25 park-n-ride ready". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
- ^ "New transit center on I-90 links commuters to Pace express service". Daily Herald. 2018-08-10. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
- ^ "Regional Transit Map" (PDF). Regional Transportation Authority. October 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
