PACE OPERATING DIVISIONS

Prior to 1974, private companies operated nearly all buses in Chicago's suburbs. Most of those private companies eventually became an operating division of Pace. In addition, Pace contracts with charter bus companies to operate some routes newly created after the RTA's formation.

Listed are routes assigned to each division. Including routes which were suspended indefinitely beginning in 2020 with the covid-19 pandemic.


PACE ACCEPTANCE FACILITY
405 W. Taft Dr.
South Holland, IL

Opened in 1984.
Processes new and retired buses systemwide.


NORTH SHORE DIVISION
2330 Oakton St.
Evanston, IL

Opened in 1995.
Operates certain former Northwest Division and Wilmette routes.

Routes Assigned: 210 (certain trips), 213, 215, 421-423, 576, 619-640 (except 628-629)


NORTHWEST DIVISION
900 E. Northwest Hwy.
Des Plaines, IL

Present garage opened in 1962.
Originally operated by United Motor Coach Co.
From 1975 to 1991 operated by Nortran.

Routes Assigned: 208-290 (except 213, 215), 326, 422 (certain trips), 604, 606, 694, 696


WEST DIVISION
3500 W. Lake St.
Melrose Park, IL

Present garage opened in 1986.
Previously located at 259 Lake St., Oak Park.
Previously operated by West Towns Bus Co.
Originally known as Chicago & West Towns Railway Co.
Operated by Pace since 1984.

Routes Assigned: 301-332 (except 326), 390 (certain trips), 392, 608, 757, 770-771, 776-779


SOUTH DIVISION
2101 W. 163rd Pl.
Markham, IL

Present garage opened in 1988.
Previously located at 209 E. 154th St., Harvey.
Previously operated by South Suburban Safeway Lines.
Successor to Chicago & Interurban Traction Co.
Operated by Pace since 1984.

Routes Assigned: 348-372, 395 (certain trips), 773, 877, 888, 890


SOUTHWEST DIVISION
9889 S. Industrial Dr.
Bridgeview, IL

Present garage opened in 1994.
Previously located at 5800 W. 95th St., Oak Lawn.
Originally operated by Suburban Transit System.
Operated by Pace since 1985.

Routes Assigned: 379-387, 390 (certain trips), 395 (certain trips), 768-769, 772, 774-775, 856, 895


HERITAGE DIVISION
9 Osgood St.
Joliet, IL

Present garage opened in 1985.
Replaced older garage at same location.
Previously operated by Joliet Mass Transit District.
Formerly operated by Joliet City Lines.
Originally operated by Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway.
Operated by Pace since 1990.

Routes Assigned: 501-509, 511, 755, 832-834, 850-855


FOX VALLEY DIVISION
400 S. Overland Dr.
North Aurora, IL

Present garage opened in 1994.
Previously located at 649 S. River St., Aurora.
Previously operated by Aurora Transit Authority.
Formerly operated by Aurora City Lines.
Successor to Aurora Elgin & Fox River Electric Co.
Operated by Pace since 1989.

Routes Assigned: 521-534, 540, 559, 676, 685, 714, 722, 802


RIVER DIVISION
975 S. State St.
South Elgin, IL

Present garage opened in 1989.
Previously located at 573 N. Crystal, Elgin.
Previously operated by Elgin Dept. of Transportation.
Formerly operated by Elgin City Lines.
Successor to Aurora Elgin & Fox River Electric Co.
Operated by Pace since 1991.

Routes Assigned: 541-554, 592, 596-597, 600-616 (except 602, 604, 606 certain trips, 608), 801, 803


NORTH DIVISION
1400 W. 10th St.
Waukegan, IL

Present garage opened in 1987.
Replaced older garage at same location.
Previously operated by Waukegan-North Chicago Transit Co.
Formerly owned by Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railway.
Originally operated by Waukegan & North Shore Rapid Transit Co.
Operated by Pace since 1987.

Routes Assigned: 272 (certain trips), 561-574


PACE CONTRACT OPERATORS

All facilities are owned by the contract operators except in McHenry, where Pace constructed and owns the garage.

The most major contract operator for Pace had been the First Group, based in Scotland. With subsidiaries First Transit which was a transit management company, and First Student which was primarily a school bus operator. But in 2021, the North American operations were sold. And in 2023, First Transit was merged into the Transdev transit management company.

Most of the Pace contract operations with First Group, had actually been operated by First Student. These were primarily for rush hour feeder bus routes serving Metra train stations. In 1997, Pace acquired a significant number of smaller transit buses for these contract feeder routes. Prior to then, most of these feeder routes actually used school buses provided by the predecessor school bus companies. Most of these feeder routes were suspended indefinitely beginning in 2020 with the covid-19 pandemic.

Some of these contract operators also operate dial-a-ride or paratransit services for Pace, at the listed or additional facilities. In recent years some information has been vague, regarding the actual providers of the dial-a-ride services, generally numbered in the 590's.

Transdev
Grayslake (39 Ziegler Dr.) - 590, 593, 926
McHenry (5007 Prime Pkwy.) - 806-808

First Student
Glen Ellyn (22W760 Poss St.) - 905
Glenview (2800 Old Willow Rd.) - 594
Hodgkins (8600 67th St.) - none
Joliet (900 Sak Dr.) - 510, 595
Naperville (31W330 Schoger Dr.) - 672-689 (except 674, 676, 685)
Villa Park (425 N Villa Ave.) - none
Westmont (250 W. 63rd St.) - 461-465, 820-829

MV Transporation
Batavia (1896 Suncast Ln.) - 591, 674, 709, 711, 715
Niles (6230 W. Gross Point Rd.) - 602, 811
Romeoville (720 Parkwood Ave.) - 661-665, 668-669

MTM Transit
Batavia (1375 Paramount Pkwy.) - 598

City of Highland Park
Highland Park (1150 Half Day Rd.) - 471-472, 628-629

Village of Niles
Niles (7104 Touhy Ave.) - 410-412


GARAGE PHOTOS

Link to a page at the official Pace Web site, showing views of present Pace facilities.


GARAGE LOCATIONS

Links to present and past garage locations, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.

North Shore
Northwest
West
South/Southwest
Joliet
Aurora
Elgin
Waukegan/North Chicago
Du Page County (contract)