Covering nearly 3,500 square miles and operating more than 200 bus lines, Pace Suburban Bus (Pace) is one of the nation’s largest suburban transit providers. As the Chicago Metropolitan Region continues to grow, Pace sought to expand its reach through a forward‑looking arterial rapid transit (ART) network. STV supported this effort by developing conceptual plans that evaluated how ART could strengthen regional mobility, improve travel times and enhance transit accessibility across multiple counties.
What challenges did STV address?
Pace needed a comprehensive, system‑wide evaluation of regional corridors to identify where ART would provide the greatest benefit. This required analyzing existing bus operations, ridership patterns and demographic and employment trends while also considering future land use and development forecasts. The challenge centered on narrowing an expansive candidate list into strategic, high‑impact corridors.
What solutions did STV deliver?
STV evaluated 25 corridors across the Chicago region, assessing transportation demand, transit performance and multimodal integration opportunities. The firm coordinated public outreach with local officials and community stakeholders to ensure recommendations reflected local needs. Ultimately, STV helped Pace identify five priority corridors – including the Milwaukee and Dempster corridors – to form the foundation of the new ART network. STV also prepared financial assessments and conceptual operations plans to support phasing and long‑term implementation.
How does this project benefit the region?
The study provides a blueprint for expanding high‑quality bus service across suburban Chicago, improving reliability, reducing travel times and supporting equitable access to jobs and regional destinations. By guiding future investment in ART, the project strengthens mobility for millions of residents across six counties.
Key stats and accolades
- 3,500‑square‑mile service area evaluated
- 25 corridors analyzed
- 5 priority corridors identified for ART
- Integration of economic, operational, and demographic data
- Comprehensive public outreach across multiple counties
