With over 200 bus lines and a service area that spans nearly 3,500 square miles in the Chicago Metropolitan Region, Pace Suburban Bus (Pace) is one of the biggest transit operators in the country. As part of Pace’s efforts to expand further into the Greater Chicago area, STV was tasked with developing conceptual plans for a new arterial rapid transit (ART) network for the operator.

As part of this program, the firm examined 25 corridors in the region, studying existing transit options and ridership, population and employment trends, and plans for future development and land-use. Ultimately, five corridors were chosen to make up the foundation for Pace’s network, including the Milwaukee and Dempster corridors as the first Phase of the ART.

Along with analyzing corridor options, STV coordinated public outreach efforts with community officials and provided financial and conceptual operational plans for the ART.