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.
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.
725-729 - Barrington - originally four rush hour feeder routes introduced 11/6/78, and all routes eventually discontinued. Route #725 operated between Barrington and Lake Zurich, and was discontinued in 1996. Route #726 operated between Barrington and Wauconda, and was discontinued in 1994. Route #727 served north and northeast Barrington, and was discontinued 6/4/82. And route #728 was a reverse feeder route between Barrington and Lake Zurich, and was discontinued in 1996. Route #729 originally was the Quaker Oats-Barrington route, and operated from 11/19/79 to 6/4/82. A new route #729 was a short lived reverse feeder route in early 1990's between Barrington and the businesses near the Northwest Tollway and Barrington Road, service restored 8/27/2000 as route #557. Service originally operated under contract by Commuter Bus Systems, operated by Our Town Bus Co. in early 1980's, operated by Scholastic Transit and successor Ryder Student Transportation from early 1980's until early 1990's, finally operated by Olson Transportation.
731-732 - Sears Prairie Stone Feeder - short lived reverse rush hour feeder routes introduced 8/3/92, after relocation of Sears headquarters to the Prairie Stone complex. Route #731 operated from the Bartlett Metra station, and route #732 operated from the Barrington Metra station. Service from Barrington restored 8/27/2000 as route #558, though later revised to serve Bartlett instead before being discontinued 12/31/2004. Operated under contract by Schaumburg Transportation.
737 - West Suburban Limited - reverse commuter express bus introduced 12/12/88 between Desplaines Ave./Forest Park CTA station and Naperville office corridor, via Eisenhower Expressway and East West Tollway. Discontinued 5/11/2001. Operated under contract by Robinson Coach Co. until 1993, operated by Neal's Bus Co. until 1996, finally operated directly by Pace through its West Division.
738 - Cicero-Westmont - introduced 7/10/89, discontinued 11/10/89.
740 - Oak Forest Feeder - rush hour feeder route introduced 12/18/78, serving area west and northwest of Metra station. Discontinued in 1996. Operated under contract by Illinois School Bus during most years, operated by Gresham Bus Co. briefly in mid 1980's, and operated by Mayflower Contract Services in 1992 and 1993.
745 - Orland Park-Tinley Park Feeder - rush hour feeder route introduced 6/4/90. Originally connected between Tinley Park 80th Avenue station, and Orland Park 153rd St. Station, with some service to Orland Park 143rd St. station, on two different Metra lines. Effective 10/2/95, no longer served Orland Park Metra stations. Discontinued around 1997. Originally operated by Van Der Aa Bus Lines/South Holland, which later became Vancom. Assumed by Pauline Transportation in 1993, and assumed by Vancom in 1996.
747 - Du Page Connection - introduced 12/7/87 between Forest Park and Wheaton, operating express via Eisenhower Expressway between Forest Park and Oak Brook, and operating via Roosevelt Rd west of Oak Brook. Extended west to Charlestown Mall via West Chicago 6/9/2008, extension discontinued 2/7/2010. Operated under contract by Robinson Coach until 1991, operated by Ryder Student Transportation until 1994, and operated directly by Pace through its West Division after 1994. Under contract operation, carriers furnished motor coaches. Discontinued 12/12/2011, with route #301 extended to serve territory from Oak Brook west.