Many bus routes in the northwest and west suburbs were originally operated under contract by Commuter Bus Systems. Commuter Bus Systems was formed in 1973, and normally operated school buses painted white. But by 1986, Commuter Bus Systems was no longer in operation, and various school bus companies were operating the buses, usually using school buses. Although all day routes usually used regular transit buses. In 1997, Pace began providing the school bus companies with its own smaller transit buses, for rush hour feeder service.
The largest school bus companies serving Du Page County were Du Page Motor Coach Co. (several locations), Valley Transit (Hodgkins), and Kammes Bus Service (Wheaton and Batavia). Around the 1980's these companies were acquired by Vancom, which had evolved out of an original school bus company, Van Der Aa Bus Lines, based in South Holland IL. In 1997, the Vancom school bus operations were sold to Canadian company Laidlaw, which in turn in 2007 was sold to First Group of Great Britain. The school bus operations became known as First Student.
Notable school bus companies serving northwest Cook County were Scholastic Transit Co., and Westway Coach. In 1986, Scholastic Transit Co. was sold to Ryder Student Transportation. Prior to then, Ryder System's business was primarily in trucks, including rentals. In 1999, Ryder Student Transportation was sold to First Group of Great Britain. Westway Coach is still in operation, but by the late 1980's ceased to contract with Pace.
402 - North Bensenville Feeder - rush hour feeder from train station introduced 8/15/77, discontinued 1/31/84. Mid day service was dial a ride, all day service subsequently became dial a ride. Operated by village of Bensenville.
403 - Elmhurst Rd. - existed 8/7/89 to 9/28/90.
404 - Elk Grove-Medinah Feeder - rush hour feeder from train station existed 5/29/79 to 2/24/84. Operated by Westway Coach, later Commuter Bus Systems.
404 - Itasca-Hamilton Lakes - rush hour reverse feeder route introduced in mid 1980's, discontinued 12/9/88 and replaced with route #616.
405 - Woodfield-Elk Grove-Randhurst - introduced 6/26/78. Operated throughout day between Woodfield Mall and Oakton St./Elmhurst Rd. Extended north to Randhurst Mall 6/13/83, replacing segment of route #332. Replaced 8/7/89 by short lived route #416, which on 7/13/90 was combined into route #699. Route #405 during most years was operated by Our Town Bus Co., usually using an unusually painted school bus. In final years was operated by Du Page Motor Coach Co./Glen Ellyn
406 - Maine Township-Des Plaines Feeder - introduced 7/24/78, operating mainly via Potter Ave. Originally also included mid day service to Golf Mill Mall. Route completely discontinued 2/24/84. Originally operated by Commuter Bus Systems, later operated by Scholastic Transit Co.
407 - Bloomingdale-Roselle - rush hour feeder introduced 5/29/79, discontinued 2000. Originally operated by Westway Coach, later Commuter Bus Systems, subsequently briefly operated by Crosstown Services Inc. During 1990's operated by Du Page Motor Coach Co./Glen Ellyn, later Vancom and Laidlaw.
408 - Roselle-Glendale Heights - rush hour feeder introduced 5/29/79, discontinued 8/22/80.
409 - Addison-Itasca Feeder - rush hour feeder introduced 3/10/80, discontinued 8/7/81. Operated by Westway Coach.
410 - East Niles Local - introduced 5/2/2016, replacing east portion of route #411. Operated by Village of Niles.
411 - West Niles Local - original free bus service in village of Niles, introduced in 1970's. Basically operated in a large loop between Golf Mill Mall and the CTA bus turnaround on Milwaukee Ave. at Imlay Ave. Operated around the loop in both directions, with the "Regular" route operating counterclockwise and the "Reverse" route operating clockwise. Effective 5/2/2016 split into two separate routes, with the west part of the loop becoming route #411, and the east part of the loop becoming route #410 East Niles Local. Both routes operating both directions. At that time, south end of line revised to operate east on Touhy Ave. to shopping area near the "Leaning Tower" replica. This enabling discontinuing of route #413. Service to CTA turnaround is now less necessary, with all main service on Milwaukee Ave. operated by Pace as route #270, and CTA no longer providing service terminating at Imlay Ave. Operated by Village of Niles.
412 - North Niles Circulator - free bus route in village of Niles, introduced 12/1/83 mainly on Golf Road between Golf Mill Mall and Golf Glen Shopping Center. Operated by Village of Niles.
413 - Niles South End Special - free bus route in village of Niles, introduced 2/14/96. mainly on Touhy Ave. between Milwaukee Ave. and shopping area near the "Leaning Tower" replica. Discontinued 5/2/2016, replaced with new extensions of restructured routes #410 and #411. Operated by Village of Niles.
416 - Woodfield-Elk Grove-Hamilton Lakes - short lived replacement to route #405, introduced 8/7/89. Effective 7/13/90 was combined into route #699. Operated by Robinson Coach Co.
430-434 - Wheeling - short lived group of feeder bus routes introduced in mid 1970's. Some service replaced with introduction of route #234 effective 12/6/76.
440 - Melrose Park - bus service replaced 1/84 by route #441.
441 - Melrose Park - free bus service introduced by village of Melrose Park 1/3/84, discontinued in 2000.
442 - Melrose Park - operated in loop in opposite direction of route #441.