Pace Expands Plainfield-Chicago Service Thanks to Bus-on-Shoulder Success

Increased ridership prompts additional trips; new service starts May 6 on Routes 755, 855.

Pace has announced that, starting Monday, it will increase service on both Plainfield-to-Chicago routes. The success of Pace’s bus-on-shoulder experiment, which allows buses to ride on the shoulder of I-55, has meant increased overall ridership — and now, the need for increased service. On Tuesday, Pace announced it will begin offering new trips on routes 755 (Plainfield-Illinois Medical District Express) and 855 (Plainfield-East Loop Express). Both routes depart the Park-N-Ride at the Plainfield Village Center. Route 855 also includes stops in Romeoville. According to Pace, Route 755 will get new morning and evening trips, along with a new mid-day trip. A new evening trip will depart from Chicago Union State at 7:30 p.m. , with what Pace …

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Shannon Antinori

11:05 am on Thursday, May 2, 2013

You're right -- thanks for catching it!   more ›

Pace Adding More Plainfield Bus Services Thanks to Shoulder Driving Success

One route will begin stopping at Union Station while the other is adding a new departure/return time.

Pace's use of shoulder driving during its rush-hour Plainfield-to-Chicago bus service has proven so successful that it's extending the length of one route and adding new service to the other. According to a story in the Chicago Tribune, the 755 route -- which has three buses making drops at the Illinois Medical District and the University of Illinois at Chicago -- will add Union Station to its stops starting April 9. The 855 route, which has six buses going into the city in the morning and six returning at night -- will add a seventh that departs Plainfield at 6:37 a.m. and leaves Chicago at Michigan Avenue and Superior Street at 4:40 p.m., the story said. Ridership totals about 500 people daily, according the Tribune story. It's up by 67 …

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More Plainfield-Chicago Bus Service Hinges on Shoulder Experiment

Pace spokesman said the buses using the Interstate 55 shoulder to avoid rush hour jams will create a regular timetable, and may lure more people to use it to get to work downtown.

Editor's note: We originally published this story in September, but thought it was pertinent to run it again since the shoulder experiment officially started Monday. If the RTA’s discretionary funding for Pace remains in the 2011-12 budget, there could be an increase in Plainfield-to-Chicago bus service, Pace spokesman Patrick Wilmot said. But that will be contingent upon people embracing and increasing ridership on the 755 and 855 routes, which on Nov. 14 will begin a five-year experiment in which the buses will be allowed to ride on the shoulder of the Stevenson Expressway/Interstate 55, he said. Express routes, which have been used successfully in Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Miami and elsewhere, allow buses to maintain a regular schedule …

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About Town

Wheatland Rejects Plainfield Senior Shuttle in Favor of Pace Bus

Service will cost $100 the township a month plus gas, maintenance and driver.

It doesn’t look like Wheatland Township will be jumping on the Plainfield Township Senior Shuttle.  Wheatland Township recently signed on to rent a Pace bus for $100 a month, township Supervisor Todd Morse said. The township will foot the bill for drivers, maintenance and gas.  In February, Plainfiled Township Supervisor John Argoudelis rolled out a plan to extend senior shuttle service to all village of Plainfield residents – including a large number who live in Wheatland Township and the handful in Na-Au-Say Township, which is in Kendall County. Argoudelis was hoping Wheatland and the village of Plainfield might chip in for the rides.  “That really caught me by surprise,” Morse said.  Wheatland Township officials mulled launching a …

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What's Open/Closed on Martin Luther King Day Holiday

Schools, governments, courts affected by the holiday; Pace/Metra running on normal schedule.

Monday is Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday that will affect these services: U.S. Postal Service -- no mail delivery (express mail delivered) Plainfield School District 202/Troy School District 30C -- no school Joliet Junior College -- no school Area banks -- most are closed Plainfield Village Hall -- closed Plainfield trash collection -- normal schedule Plainfield Public Library -- closed Will County Courthouse/government -- closed Federal/state government -- closed Pace/Metra -- regular weekday hours

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