Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Pace

Waiting beneath overhead heaters on the Wilson platform. Photo: John Greenfield

How can CTA riders stay warm while maintaining social distance?

By Courtney Cobbs | Nov 22, 2020 | No Comments

Rather than crowding below outdoor platform heaters, tCTA recommends waiting in stationhouses, and using online tools to track arrivals. The agency also discussed the issue of homeless people sheltering on transit.

Pace bus and Metra train at the Highland Park Metra station. Photo: Igor Studenkov

Regional Transportation Authority prepares for funding doomsday scenario, recovery

By Igor Studenkov | Nov 2, 2020 | No Comments

The Regional Transportation Authority is starting to prepare for what will happen if the federal government fails to provide additional aid for transit, and what will happen when the pandemic is over.

A Metra Electric train pulls in to the South Shore station on the South Chicago branch. Photo: Eric Allix Rogers

What’s going on with the South Cook Fair Transit pilot?

By John Greenfield | Oct 28, 2020 | No Comments

Reduced Metra Electric and Rock Island fares and increased service are set to launch in January, but Lightfoot and the CTA are still not completely on board with the plan.

The bus turnaround at the Metra Milwaukee District North line's Lake Cook Road station would normally be full of "shuttle bug" buses arriving to drop off commuters, but since the pandemic started it's been down to one route. Photo: Igor Studenkov

Pace 2021 budget reflects the pandemic’s new normal

By Igor Studenkov | Oct 20, 2020 | No Comments

If there are three words that can best sum up Pace’s plans for the upcoming year, they are “pandemic status quo.”

Union Pacific Northwest Metra line riders disembark at the currently car-centric Pingree Road station. Photo: Igor Studenkov

Crystal Lake, RTA seek community feedback for transit-orientated development plan

By Igor Studenkov | Sep 8, 2020 | No Comments

Crystal Lake is working with the Regional Transportation Authority to create a Strategic Action Plan, which would guide community development and transportation planning around the suburb's two Metra stations.

The 79th Street Red Line station. Crowding on the #79 bus has been an issue during the pandemic. Photo: James Porter

South Siders sound off on transportation during COVID-19

By Courtney Cobbs | Jul 15, 2020 | No Comments

The Active Transportation Alliance recently released the first of a series of findings from a listening tour conducted with South Side elected officials and community leaders

A Metra train viewed from the Cermak-Chinatown Red Line platform. Photo: Jonathan Lee

Uncharted territory: RTA leaders discuss how Chicago transit will survive COVID-19

By Igor Studenkov | May 21, 2020 | No Comments

How with the CTA, Pace, and Metra transport more people to work when the state reopens, while maintaining social distance, with a lot less money? That remains to be seen.

Facing falling ridership, Pace suspends 15 bus routes, modifies service on another 21

By John Greenfield | May 7, 2020 | No Comments

Today Pace announced that it is temporarily cutting 15 bus lines, as well as modifying another 12 routes, in order to cut costs, as well as providing other pandemic-related updates.

Plastic fantastic: One of Pace's new homemade bus operator shields. Photo: Pace

Pace’s latest pandemic strategy: waiving bus fares, MacGyvering protective shields for drivers

By John Greenfield | Apr 9, 2020 | No Comments

Since some Pace buses don't have rear doors, Pace won't be installing rear fare card readers, so some riders will continue to board through the front door. As such, Pace is making shields to protect drivers.

A worker sanitizes a Pace bus. Image: Pace

An update from Pace on its COVID-19 Response

By John Greenfield | Apr 3, 2020 | No Comments

The agency is deploying more buses on high-ridership routes to prevent dangerous crowding, and providing thermometers to bus drivers so they can take their temperatures before shifts.

A South Shore Line train in Michigan City, Indiana. Photo: Jeff Zoline

With ridership steeply dropping, Metra, Pace, and South Shore have pared down schedules

By Igor Studenkov | Mar 27, 2020 | No Comments

Times are tough for local transit systems but their doing their best to cope.

Transit ridership is plummeting, the systems need a bailout, and transit workers need protection

By John Greenfield | Mar 19, 2020 | No Comments

It's going to stand with Active Trans in the fight to win emergency funding for transit and protect workers during the pandemic.

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