Pace headquarters.
By Igor Studenkov
For the Bugle
The PACE suburban bus transit agency’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve a budget that included the first major fare hike since 2009.
Whether they’re using regular routes, premium routes, dial-a-ride services or paratransit services, riders will have to pay more per ride and per transfer. The cost of PACE and PACE /CTA passes remains the same. As previously reported by the Bugle, the fare increase is one of several steps the transit agency is taking to make up for funding shortfall.
Agency spokesperson Maggie Daly-Skogsbakken told this newspaper that, while PACE understood that fare increase could hurt riders, especially paratransit riders, it was important for the transit agency to maintain its services and keep its capital projects on track. Without it, she said, PACE’s ridership might suffer in the long run.
On Jan. 1, 2018, the cash fares for regular routes will go up from $2 to $2.25, while Ventra card fares will go up from $1.57 to $2. The increase will be more dramatic for premium routes, going up from $4 to $4.50. Premium routes include commuter shuttles, a summer shuttle service to Six Flags Great America, and routes that link riders to Wrigley Field, Soldier Field and Guaranteed Rate Field on game days. Express shuttle routes 755 and 855 serve Plainfield, while routes 850 and 851 serve Bolingbrook. Route 768 and Route 775 provide express service to Soldier Field and Guaranteed Rate Field from Bolingbrook.
For the first time in recent history, the cost of transferring between routes will increase as well. The regular transfers will increase from $0.25 to $0.30. The transfers between buses serving Joliet will remain free.
The surcharges for transfers between local and premium routes will increase as well. Riders playing one-time fares currently have to pay $2.50, while riders with all passes except the 30-day Premium Pace/CTA Pass have to pay $2.25 per ride. In the beginning of 2018, those surcharges will go up $2.80 and $2.50, respectfully.
The call-and-ride services, such as the one in West Joliet, have the same fares as regular routes, so they will go up as well. The ADA paratransit services, which severe both the City of Chicago and suburban six-county region, will also see increases, from $3 to $3.25.
PACE Board of Directors approved the budget during its Nov. 8 meeting. The directors reported that, during the public hearing, increase in paratransit fares stood out as a major concern.
Director Terrance Carr, who represents central suburban Cook County, said that he attended the public hearing in his region. Five people attended, and most of the comments were positive, with only concerns expressed about public transit fares.
Director Thomas Marcucci, who represents DuPage County, got similar feedback.
“We had two folks showed up who wanted to speak,” he said. “Both of them are members of our ADA community, and there was expression of concern about fares, and [it was] appropriate, but thanks for the level of service we maintain.”
Marcucci mentioned that, while people weren’t necessarily pleased with fare increases, they didn’t protest, either.
“I mean, we haven’t raised fares for 8-9 years,” he said. “People understand. Very few things cost the same as they did 9 years ago.”
Director Linda Soto, who represents Lake County, also heard concerns about paratransit fares.
“[Two paratransit riders who spoke] were basically limited to [Social Security] income, and they were concerned that [it would hurt] their budget,” she said.
Karen Tamley, who represented the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, said that the hearings in Chicago, particularly on the South Side, were well-attended, with paratransit riders expressing concerns about quality of service and having to deal wit fare increases while living on fixed income.
“I think, as we ask people to pay more, I think we [need to] commit ourselves to provide the most excellent service we can provide,” Tamley said.
She noted that, starting January, PACE will reimburse paratransit riders if the pick-up is an hour or more late. Later during the Nov. 8 meeting, the board approved a contract to develop notifications by text messages and e-mail, instead of by phone – which had been the only option for paratransit service. Tamley said that this will be especially helpful for riders who are deaf or hard of hearing.
PACE has several major projects coming down the pipeline. The transit agency is working to equip all buses with Wi-Fi and construction of Pulse Milwaukee Arterial Rapid Transit line has started. PACE is also working to improve express service along Jane Addams Tollway and Eisenhower Expressway.
Daly-Skogsbakken told this newspaper that maintaining the quality of service and keeping those projects on track were major priorities, even amidst budget cuts.
“We are excited to be able to continue to do this, and we’re excited to keep those projects going,” she said. “As they say, if they build it, they will come.”