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.
601 - Wood Dale Office Corridor - reverse feeder rush hour route introduced 10/19/92 between Wood Dale Metra station and office areas north of station. Originally operated under contract by Du Page Motor Coach Co./Glen Ellyn, later Vancom and Laidlaw. In 2000, direct operation assumed by Pace through its Northwest Division. Discontinued 6/3/2005.
601-605 - Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates Feeder Buses - evolved from service originally operated by Northwestern Transit Co., and expanded effective 5/29/79. These rush hour feeder routes connected various points in Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates with the Roselle station. In 1982, after the opening of the new train station in Schaumburg, routes #601 and #604 were moved to that station, in an overall restructuring of the routes. Route #601 operated primarily on Braintree, and was discontinued 7/26/85. Route #602 operated primarily on Salem, and was permanently discontinued 11/11/2021, after being suspended effective 4/13/2020 due to covid-19 pandemic. Route #603 operated primarily on Cedarcrest, and was discontinued in the early 1990's. Route #604 operated primarily on Springinsguth, and was discontinued in 1994. Route #605 operated primarily on Summit, and 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. And effective 2/27/98, the reverse feeder service was discontinued, and the regular feeder route was moved to the Schaumburg station. Most commuters now opt to drive to and from a station, resulting in the decline of the feeder bus service. In 1980, Commuter Bus Systems began operating these routes under contract, taking over from Northwestern Transit Co. 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. In 2000, direct operation of remaining route #602 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.
603 - Elgin-Rosemont Express - introduced 12/19/2016 as part of expanded I-90 Corridor service. Operated by Pace River Division.
604 - Wheeling-Schaumburg - introduced 12/19/2016 as part of expanded I-90 Corridor service. Operated by Pace Northwest Division.
605 - Randall P&R-Rosemont Express - introduced 12/19/2016 as part of expanded I-90 Corridor service, serving new Park & Ride lot at Randall Road and Interstate 90. Operated by Pace River Division.
606 - Rosemont-Schaumburg Limited - introduced 9/15/86, as rush hour express route connecting the Cumberland CTA station with Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, and the surrounding office developments. And within a few years, service began operating all day, and serving the Rosemont/River Road CTA station instead. Effective 4/24/95, began serving the new Northwest Transportation Center in Schaumburg, a large bus terminal two blocks south of Woodfield Mall. Originally operated under contract by CW Transportation, operation during most years has been by Keeshin Charter Service, although from 1993 to 1995 was operated by Mayflower Transportation. In 2003, operation assumed by Colonial Coach Lines/Academy Coach Lines. Around 2012, direct operation assumed by Pace through its Northwest Division.
607 - Woodfield-Center Court - existed 1/26/87 to 8/4/89.
607 - Randall P&R-Schaumburg Express - introduced 12/19/2016 as part of expanded I-90 Corridor service, serving new Park & Ride lot at Randall Road and Interstate 90. Operated by Pace River Division.
608 - Roselle-Schaumburg - introduced 12/19/2016 as part of expanded I-90 Corridor service. Operated by Pace West Division. Service suspended effective 5/18/2020 due to covid-19 pandemic.
610 - Rosemont-Prairie Stone Express - introduced 8/3/92, after Sears abandoned its Sears Tower headquarters in favor of its Prairie Stone headquarters complex in suburban Hoffman Estates. Operated under contract by Colonial Coach Lines until 2005, when direct operation assumed by Pace through its Northwest Division. And in 2016, assumed by River Division. Service suspended effective 5/18/2020 due to covid-19 pandemic.
611 - Mundelein-Libertyville - rush hour feeder route during late 1970's, originally operated by Great Lakes Bus Lines, assumed by Waukegan-North Chicago Transit Co. effective 12/18/78, discontinued 6/8/81. Now, Metra's new North Central Service would make such a route unnecessary.
611 - North Schaumburg - introduced 12/19/2016 as part of expanded I-90 Corridor service. Operated by Pace River Division. Service suspended effective 5/18/2020 due to covid-19 pandemic.
612 - Barrington Road Circulator - introduced 8/13/2018 as part of expanded I-90 Corridor service. Operated by Pace River Division. Service suspended during covid-19 pandemic.
615 - Itasca Industrial - short lived reverse feeder rush hour route introduced 10/2/2000 between Itasca Metra station and industrial park northwest of the station. Operated under contract by Laidlaw Villa Park division.
616 - Rosemont-Itasca Limited - introduced 9/28/87, original route name Hamilton Lakes Limited. Serves the Chancellory, a huge cluster of suburban skyscrapers directly west of O'Hare Airport. Originally operated under contract by CW Transportation, operation during most years has been by Keeshin Charter Service, although from 1993 to 1995 was operated by Mayflower Transportation. In 2003, operation assumed by by Colonial Coach Lines/Academy Coach Lines. Around 2012, direct operation assumed by Pace through its Northwest Division. And in 2016, assumed by River Division. Service suspended effective 5/18/2020 due to covid-19 pandemic.
618 - Union Station-Lake Cook Express - introduced 8/17/2015, supplementing Metra service, with a reverse commute trip operating earlier than the first Metra departure. Discontinued 4/4/2016. Operated by Pace North Shore Division.
619 - Des Plaines Station-Willow Rd Corridor - introduced 1/3/2011, operated by Pace North Shore Division. Service suspended effective 4/13/2020 due to covid-19 pandemic.
620 - Yellow Line Dempster-Allstate - rush hour reverse feeder route introduced 8/19/2013, operated by Pace North Shore Division. Service suspended effective 4/13/2020 due to covid-19 pandemic.
621-622 - Northbrook - two rush hour feeder routes introduced by village of Northbrook on 4/1/74, operation later assumed by Nortran. During 1980's and 1990's, service operated under contract by various operators at different times, including Westway Coach, Scholastic Transit, Ryder Student Transportation, Olson Transportation, and Ryder Student Transportation again. Chartered school buses were normally used. Route #621 served southwest Northbrook, and was discontinued in early 1990's. And route #622 served northwest Northbrook, and was discontinued 7/31/98. Beginning in the mid 1980's, route #622 also included a reverse feeder route, serving an area now served by certain Shuttle Bug routes.
621-622 - Shuttle Bug #11-#12 - two rush hour reverse feeder routes from Highland Park and Deerfield Metra stations to Bannockburn introduced 11/13/2000, basically north via Waukegan Rd. and west via Half Day Rd. Routes operated by Pace North Shore Division. Route numbers originally assigned internally by Pace, although gradually more widely used publicly. Route #621 (Shuttle Bug #11), serving the Highland Park station, was discontinued 11/7/2003. While route #622 (Shuttle Bug #12), serving the Deerfield station, was discontinued 1/30/2012.
623-624 - Glenview Shuttle Bug - two rush hour reverse feeder routes introduced 6/11/2001, operated by Pace North Shore Division. Route #624 served an area near Willow Road and Sanders Road, and was discontinued in 2008. Route #623 service suspended effective 4/13/2020 due to covid-19 pandemic.
625 - Lake Forest Shuttle Bug - rush hour reverse feeder route introduced 6/11/2001, operated by Pace North Division. Served a business in Mettawa, and was discontinued in 2017.
626 - Skokie Valley Limited - introduced 10/31/88, rush hour express bus connecting the Skokie Swift CTA station with the Lake-Cook Road office corridor, and office developments in Buffalo Grove and Lincolnshire. Originally operated under contract by CW Transportation, in 1989 Keeshin Charter Service assumed operation. Keeshin normally furhished motor coaches equipped with transit type seating until 1996, when Pace began supplying transit buses. In 1997, direct operation assumed by Pace through its North Shore Division.
627 - Discover-Takeda Shuttle Bug - rush hour reverse feeder route introduced 10/23/2006, operated by Pace North Shore Division. Service suspended effective 4/13/2020 due to covid-19 pandemic.
628-630 - Lake Cook Shuttle Bug #8-#10 - three rush hour reverse feeder routes from Braeside Metra station introduced 9/13/99. Routes operated by Pace North Shore Division, around 2012 assumed by city of Highland Park. Route numbers originally assigned internally by Pace, although gradually more widely used publicly. Route #630 (Shuttle Bug #10) was discontinued in 2001, restored 6/7/2010, but discontinued again 1/9/2012. Route #628-#629 (Shuttle Bug #8-#9) service suspended effective 4/13/2020 due to covid-19 pandemic.
630-631 - Hanover Park - two rush hour feeder routes introduced 2/27/78, discontinued 3/23/84. Route #630 served north Hanover Park, route #631 served south Hanover Park. Routes were operated by Elgin Department of Transportation.
632 - Bartlett-Streamwood - rush hour feeder route introduced 2/27/78, operated by Elgin Department of Transportation. Discontinued in early 1990's.
633 - South Bartlett Feeder - rush hour feeder route introduced 8/4/80, discontinued 5/6/82, operated by Elgin Department of Transportation.
635-636 - West Chicago Feeder - two rush hour feeder routes introduced 12/12/77, discontinued 1/7/83. Route #635 served north West Chicago, route #636 served south West Chicago. Routes were operated under contract by Du Page Motor Coach Co.
631-635 - Lake Cook Shuttle Bug #1-#5 - five rush hour reverse feeder routes from Lake Cook Metra station introduced 1/26/98, 1/5/1998, 10/27/97, 3/2/1998, and 10/27/97 respectively. Routes operated by Pace North Shore Division. Route numbers originally assigned internally by Pace, although gradually more widely used publicly. Service suspended effective 4/13/2020 due to covid-19 pandemic.
636 - Lake Cook Road Express - introduced 12/2/96 between Rosemont CTA station and Northbrook and Lake Cook Road area via Tri-State Tollway, operated by Pace Northwest Division. Discontinued 3/14/2003.
637 - Wood Dale-Rosemont - reverse rush hour express route introduced 10/27/97, operated via Northwest Tollway to and from Wood Dale industrial area. Discontinued 2/7/2010, operated by Pace Northwest Division.
638 - Arlington Park Station-HSBC Shuttle - rush hour reverse feeder route introduced 6/13/2016, operated by Pace North Shore Division.
638-639 - Lake Cook Shuttle Bug #6-#7 -two rush hour reverse feeder routes from Lake Cook Metra station introduced 2/8/99. Routes operated by Pace North Shore Division. Route numbers originally assigned internally by Pace, although gradually more widely used publicly. Route #638 (Shuttle Bug #6) was discontinued 3/14/2002, and route #639 was discontinued in 2008.
640 - Braeside Station - Commercial Avenue Shuttle Bug - rush hour reverse feeder route introduced 11/24/2014, operated by Pace North Shore Division. Service suspended effective 4/13/2020 due to covid-19 pandemic.
640 - Buffalo Grove - short lived all day route introduced 8/19/2002 between Lake Cook and Buffalo Grove Metra stations. Route operated by Pace North Shore Division.
641 - Lake Cook Road Midday Shuttle - mid day route introduced 10/4/2004 between the Braeside and Lake Cook Metra stations, and points west. Route operated by Pace North Shore Division, discontinued 10/24/2005.