Better bus service coming to the NW Side

New and improved bus service is coming to Jefferson Park and Niles. 

Recently members of the public gathered at the Niles Park District Oasis Water Park for to learn more about Pulse, Pace’s new arterial bus rapid transit network (ART). Those who attended had the opportunity to review maps of the route, make comments on the proposed service and ask questions to PACE representatives.

The first Pulse service, the Pulse Milwaukee Line, will launch in 2017, running along Milwaukee Avenue between the Golf Mill Shopping Center and the Jefferson Park Transit Center, where passengers can connect with other Pace bus routes as well as CTA and Metra.

Pulse includes:

• Limited-stop express service
• Vehicles equipped with Wi-Fi service and USB ports
• Easy-to-find stations with weather protection
• Real-time bus arrival signage

In addition, stations will include shelters with interior lighting, seating, bicycle racks, and overhead heating for passenger comfort during winter months. State-of-the-art electronic signage at each station will provide up-to-the-minute trip planning information with real-time bus arrival information.

This is what bus riding should be! 

As we’ve written about frequently over the years, suburban connectivity is one of the region’s biggest transportation challenges. Our current hub and spoke transit system feeds Chicago’s downtown area well but fails to connect many other neighborhoods and communities where the vast majority of Chicagoland residents live, work and visit.

PACE has a plan to add more ART routes like this one but little funding to implement it. These routes are part of our Transit Future vision for a better connected Chicagoland, and you can support rapid transit expansion projects like this one by signing on to a letter to your Cook County commissioner today.

If you missed the open house and have thoughts on the Pulse network share them on PACE’s online comment form. For more information visit pulse.pacebus.com.