SUBURBAN TRANSIT ROUTES

ROUTES 601-605

SCHAUMBURG/HOFFMAN ESTATES FEEDER ROUTES

Northwestern Transit Co. provided feeder service from the Milwaukee Road Roselle station to Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates, likely beginning in the 1960's before the RTA was created to subsidize area public transportation. The Milwaukee Road timetables advertised combination monthly tickets to cover both the train and the bus.

Effective 5/29/79, this route network was expanded, continued to be operated by Northwestern Transit Co. In 1980, Commuter Bus Systems became the first of several Pace contract bus companies to subsequently operate these routes. These were often school bus companies. Around 1986, Lakeview Bus Lines began operating the routes. And a few years later, routes were taken over by Du Page Motor Coach Co./Glen Ellyn, later Vancom and Laidlaw. All of these routes were subsequently discontinued.

Pace Contract Operations
Overview of some of the privately owned bus companies, notably school bus operations, which provided bus service for Pace under contract.

601 - Roselle-Braintree - rush hour feeder route previously introduced by Northwestern Transit Co. In 1982, moved to the newly opened Schaumburg Metra station. Discontinued 7/26/85.

602 - Roselle-Salem - rush hour feeder route previously introduced by Northwestern Transit Co. Effective 4/29/96, added reverse feeder service between the Roselle station and Woodfield Mall, transferred from route #605. And effective 2/27/98, the reverse feeder service discontinued, and regular feeder route was moved to the Schaumburg station. By then this was the last remaining former Northwestern Transit Co. route. In 2000, direct operation assumed by Pace through its River Division. In 2004, operation assumed under contract by Laidlaw Glenview division, in 2007 to First Transit. In 2014, operation assumed under contract by MV Transportation/Niles. Service suspended effective 4/13/2020 due to covid-19 pandemic, permanently discontinued 11/11/2021.

603 - Roselle-Cedarcrest - rush hour feeder route previously introduced by Northwestern Transit Co., discontinued early 1990's.

604 - Roselle-Springinsguth - rush hour feeder route introduced 5/29/79. In 1982, moved to the newly opened Schaumburg Metra station. Discontinued 1994.

605 - Roselle-Summit - rush hour feeder route introduced 5/29/79. Effective 12/12/88 began also providing reverse feeder service between the Roselle station and Woodfield Mall, replacing service which had been provided by route #697. Effective 4/29/96, route #605 regular feeder service was discontinued, and the reverse feeder service was combined into route #602.

These routes underwent numerous restructurings. Most notably in 1982, after the opening of the new Metra station in Schaumburg, when routes #601 and #604 were moved to that station. With ample parking at the new Schaumburg station, there became less demand for the feeder bus service.