Pace Suburban Bus is floating a plan for limited-stop express buses along the I-290 and I-88 corridors that could trim precious minutes off rush-hour treks into Chicago. The idea is to lean heavily on bus-on-shoulder operations so vehicles can slip past traffic jams and connect downtown-bound riders with major western suburban hubs. For now, Pace is taking public input while it wraps up a formal feasibility study.
What Pace Is Proposing
The agency has launched a feasibility study to examine potential limited-stop express routes within about five miles of I-290 and I-88 and to evaluate stations that would serve Oak Park, Forest Park, Oak Brook and Schaumburg, according to Pace Suburban Bus. In a statement, Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger called the effort “an important step in identifying ways to improve transit options for suburban commuters.”
The study is set to dig into ridership demand, current travel patterns, and operational logistics before any service changes are locked in. In other words, nothing is final yet, but the groundwork is being laid.
Open House And How To Weigh In
Pace plans to host a public open house on Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Howard Mohr Community Center in Forest Park, where early concepts for routes and stations will be on display, as reported by FOX 32 Chicago. Attendees will be able to walk through the proposals, ask questions, and flag what does or does not work for their commute.
If you cannot make it to Forest Park, Pace is also taking feedback through an online survey on the project page of its website so riders can weigh in on priorities like stop locations and how often buses should run.
How "Bus-on-Shoulder" Works
Under the bus-on-shoulder approach, buses are allowed to use the highway shoulder to get around clogged lanes during peak periods, then hop off for a limited number of stops. It is a tactic Pace already uses on other expressways, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Sun-Times reports that Pace currently runs shoulder routes along I-55, I-90, and I-94. After shoulder operations rolled out on I-55, ridership climbed sharply, a surge that helped make the case for expanding the strategy to more corridors. While shoulder-running can significantly cut travel times, it also depends on close coordination with state highway officials and clear safety rules for both bus drivers and motorists.
Why This Matters
Pace says the new express routes are intended to strengthen links to CTA and Metra lines, give commuters a cheaper alternative to driving, and push forward its equity and accessibility goals, according to Pace Suburban Bus. The proposal is one of several upgrades the agency says it can pursue with recent state funding measures.
Final recommendations will come only after public outreach and technical analysis wrap up, but if the plan moves ahead, it could reshape daily travel for thousands of riders across the western suburbs.
Next up, Pace will use feedback from the open house and the online survey to refine route ideas and is expected to release draft recommendations in the coming months. Details on the project and the survey link are available on the initiative’s page, per FOX 32 Chicago. Riders who want a say are being urged to show up on Dec. 9 or fill out the questionnaire so their neighborhoods do not get left out of the conversation.
