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]

600, 603, 605, 607
Overview
OperatorPace
VehicleElDorado National Axess BRT
Route
Route typeExpress bus
LocaleGolden Corridor
Communities servedRosemont, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Elgin
StartRosemont Transportation Center
ViaJane Addams Memorial Tollway
EndElgin Transportation Center, Randall Road Station
Length27 miles
StationsNorthwest Transportation Center, Barrington Road Station, IL 25 Station
Other routes606
Service
FrequencyPeak: 15 minutes
Off-peak: 30 minutes/1 hour
Weekend frequencySaturday: 30 minutes/1 Hour
TransfersBlue Line
Maphttps://www.pacebus.com/sites/default/files/2020-07/Express-services-brochure-web_0.pdf
Route map

Blue line to Chicago
Rosemont Transportation Center
Northwest Transportation Center
Barrington Road Station
IL 25 Station
Elgin Transportation Center
Randall Road Station
←      →

History edit

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 Plan: the 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 Bus began planning for its I-90 Express service as part of its Vision 2020.[3] Service between Rosemont and Elgin, and Schaumburg and Elgin, began in December 2016.[4] In December 2017, the IL 25 Station opened.[5] In August 2018, Barrington Road Station, the on-highway train station like stop, opened, finishing the project.[6]

The Pace Express service has been described as a "mini STAR Line."[2]

Service edit

The service operates as four routes: 600, 603, 605, and 607.[1]

600: Rosemont - Schaumburg Express edit

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 edit

Operates between Rosemont Transportation Center and Elgin Transportation Center, stopping at Barrington Road and IL 25.

605: I-90/Randall Rd. Station - Rosemont Express edit

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 edit

Operates between Randall Road and Northwest Transportation Center stopping at IL 25 and Barrington Road.

The 603 and the 605 combined provide more frequent service at IL 25 and Barrington Road.

Other Pace routes, such as 610 and 606, also use I-90.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Pace Bus". www.pacebus.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Ferrarin, Elena (2013-08-30). "Pace plans new Elgin service on I-90 by 2016". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  4. ^ Danahey, Mike. "New Pace bus routes between Elgin and suburban locations launched this week". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  5. ^ Pyke, Marni (2017-12-18). "New I-90/Route 25 park-n-ride ready". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  6. ^ "New transit center on I-90 links commuters to Pace express service". Daily Herald. 2018-08-10. Retrieved 2020-04-06.