Getting Around

Commuter Rail: Metra runs commuter rail service along three radial rail lines passing through DuPage County – The Burlington Northern/Santa Fe (BNSF) line, the Union Pacific (UP-W) line and the Milwaukee District West (MD–W) Line. A fourth line, the Heritage Corridor (HC) line skirts the southeastern edge of the county. Service schedules are currently oriented toward serving the downtown commute. In 2002, the three Metra commuter rail lines averaged approximately 31,000 passengers daily from DuPage County stations.

Bus service is provided by Pace. Pace operates 71 fixed routes in DuPage County, including the 3 circulators in Downers Grove. Many of these routes operate in the peak period providing access from residential areas or park-and-ride facilities to the Metra Stations. Some routes provide connections between Metra stations and places of work for reverse commuters. Approximately 2.6 million passengers use PACE service annually in DuPage County. All Pace buses are equipped with bicycle racks. For information regarding routes and schedules near your residence or worksite visit Pace's website or call 847-364-RIDE.

Pace also operates vanpool programs in DuPage County - Pace VIP Program. Vanpools are a cost effective way to commute for employees who have consistent working hours. Vanpools include groups of 5 to 15 people commuting together in one vehicle, and can serve more than one worksite. Generally, vanpools operate like a large carpool, with a volunteer driver driving the van and riders who pay fares based on commute distance and total number of riders within the group. For an example, four people sharing a van and commuting 20 miles per day would pay $87/month, while 13 riders in the same van, for the same distance, would pay $54/month. The vanpool fare covers fuel, maintenance, insurance tolls, cellular phone, roadside assistance and van washes.

Pace offers a number of vanpool options for commuters under the VIP Program. PACE offers a free service to help match people with carpools and vanpools.  For more information, visit Pace Ride Share or call 800-920-RIDE. Or, contact Pace at 847-228-2492 to speak with their Community and Business Development Staff about possible vanpool options.

Pace On Demand Service

Pace offers a number of On Demand service options for people in DuPage County and the surrounding areas. Please see the Pace On Demand information.

Special Needs Service

Pace, DuPage County, social service agencies, townships and municipalities provide door-to-door dial-a-ride service or subsidized taxi service to DuPage elderly residents, people with disabilities and low income individuals.

Paratransit Program

Provides subsidized taxi transportation for income eligible DuPage County residents. It is primarily used for visits to medical facilities and government offices within the County limits. Lift equipped vehicles are available.

For additional Information visit the DuPage County Human Services Department - Transportation Programs

DuPage County is seeking to expand the number of transit shelters to provide transit users in DuPage with increased comfort, sense of security, protection from adverse weather and knowledge of bus schedules. The County’s objective is to add transit shelters that are privately owned, maintained and operated at no cost to the County or its Municipalities.

DuPage County has an agreement in place with View Transit, LLC to install transit shelters where traffic demands.  The agreement includes a process under which individual municipalities could opt to participate in the program. In exchange for granting View Transit the right to install transit shelters on public right-of-way and display advertising on the transit shelters, the County and participating Municipalities would receive a portion of the advertising revenue. Objectionable ads would be promptly removed from the transit shelters by View Transit upon request by the County or Municipality.  

What is public transportation?

Public Transportation includes all multiple-occupancy vehicle services designed to transport customers on local and regional routes. These services are: private and public buses; rail; Amtrak; intercity bus, and taxi services operated under contract to a public transportation agency; any vanpool service operated by or under such contract; and other transportation services for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Who uses public transportation?

In 2012, Americans took 10.5 billion trips on public transportation, the 2nd highest annual ridership number since 1957.   35 million times each weekday, people board public transportation.  From 1995 through 2012, public transportation ridership increased by 34%—a growth rate higher than the 17% increase in U.S. population and higher than the 22% growth in the use of the nation’s highways over the same period. (Source:  American Public Transportation Association (APTA)) 

How much energy does public transit save?

Americans living in areas served by public transportation save 865 million hours in travel time and 450 million gallons of fuel annually in congestion reduction alone.  Without public transportation, congestion costs would have been an additional $21 billion.

Communities that invest in public transit reduce the nation’s carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons annually: equivalent to New York City; Washington, DC; Atlanta; Denver; and Los Angeles combined stopped using electricity.  A single commuter switching his or her commute to public transportation can reduce a household’s carbon emissions by 10%, or up to 30% if he or she eliminates a second car. When compared to other household actions that limit CO2, taking public transportation can be 10 times greater in reducing this harmful greenhouse gas. (Source:  APTA)

While transit clearly benefits those who use it, even larger benefits accrue to all citizens in the form of economic development, reduced congestion, cleaner air, and enhanced quality of life.

Stimulates Economic Development

• Every $10 million in capital investment in public transportation yields $30 million in increased sales.
• Every $10 million in operating investment in public transportation yields $32 Million in increased sales.
• For every $10 million invested in capital projects for public transportation, more than 300 jobs are realized.

Saves Money

According to the American Automobile Association, the estimated cost of driving a single-occupant vehicle is between $4,826 (for a small car) and $9,685 (for a large car), depending upon mileage. By contrast, the annual average cost for public transportation for one adult ranges from $200 to $2,000, depending upon mileage, time of day, type of service.

Easy Traffic Congestion

Public transportation helps to alleviate our region's crowded network of roads by providing transportation choices.

Improves Air Quality

Each year, public transportation use avoids the emission of more than 126 million pounds of hydrocarbons, a primary cause of smog, and 156 million pounds of nitrogen oxides, which can cause respiratory disease.

Enhanced Quality of Life

Public transportation facilities and corridors are natural focal points for economic and social activities. These activities help create strong neighborhood centers that are more economically stable.

Public transportation provides opportunity, access and choice, all of which contribute to an improved quality of life.

Regional Transportation Authority

Website

• Regional Transportation Authority Website

Contact

Name: LeAnne Redden
Title: Executive Director
Address: 175 W. Jackson Blvd
Suite 1650
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312-913-3200

Location

175 W. Jackson Blvd
Suite 1650
Chicago, IL 60604

Responsibilities

The RTA’s primary responsibilities are financial and budget oversight of CTA, Metra, and Pace, and regional transit planning. The Board of Directors guides the RTA’s oversight responsibilities. The Board approves an annual budget and two-year financial plan. The RTA Board also reviews and approves a five-year capital plan each year, which is a blueprint of the capital activities to be funded by the RTA and executed by the CTA, Metra, and Pace. 

Meeting Schedule

Third Thursday of each month at 9 am. View Agendas and Minutes

Term

5 years

Appointed By

County Chairman appoints one trustee with the advice and consent of the County Board.

Compensation

$25,000 annually, plus $5,000 in Life Insurance and $5,000 in Medical Insurance benefits.

Qualifications

DuPage appointee must reside in DuPage County. Appointees may not be a member of the governing board or an employee of any Service Board or transportation agency. Appointees also may not be an employee of the State of Illinois, or any of its departments and agencies, nor may appointees be an employee of any level of local government. Appointees may not receive any compensation from any elected or appointed office under the jurisdiction of the State of Illinois. However, appointees may be a member of a school board. Public citizens can also apply for membership to the RTA’s Regional Citizens Advisory Board.

Composition

16 directors, one of whom is appointed by DuPage County. Remaining appointments are made by Collar County Chairmen, the Cook County Chairman, and the City of Chicago. NOTE: Only the director appointed by DuPage County is shown

Chair/President

Chair Kirk Dillard

Authority

70 ILCS 3615/3.01

Appointees

Name                 First Date of Appt.     Current Term Expires    Position
David Andalcio     08/13/2019                  07/01/2024                     Director

Financial Information

• View Annual Financial Reports

NOTICE: Activating certain links on this page will redirect you to a third party web site. DuPage County has no control over the information provided by any third party site and makes no representation and is not responsible for its quality, content, nature or reliability. DuPage County does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any of the information or financial reports accessible from this page. Evaluation of content and the usefulness of the information provided on this page are the responsibility of the user. DuPage County makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, and assumes no liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information or for any omissions from the information. Note that financial reports may not constitute an official record. DuPage County assume no liability for any damages incurred, whether directly or indirectly, actual, incidental, punitive or consequential, as a result of any errors, omissions or discrepancies in any information set forth in any such financial reports or any use of such financial reports. DuPage County is not liable for any improper or incorrect use of the information contained in the financial reports and assumes no liability for anyone’s use of such information.

Citizens Service Team

Nominate yourself for a board/commission

Suburban Bus Board - PACE

Website

Suburban Bus Board - PACE Website

Contact

Name: Melinda J. Metzger
Title: Executive Director
Address: 550 West Algonquin Rd.
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Phone: 847-228-2302

Location

550 West Algonquin Rd.
Arlington Heights, IL 60005

Responsibilities

The Suburban Bus Board manages public transit by bus in the suburban areas of Northeast Illinois. Pace’s main objectives are to create a simpler, more convenient, and faster network of bus service. Pace also prides itself on providing quality service to people with disabilities both in the suburbs and in metropolitan Chicago. In addition to providing bus service, Pace also has an active vanpool and carpool program.

Meeting Schedule

The Board meets during the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 9:30 am, except November (2nd Wednesday). Meetings are held at the Board's office in Arlington Heights. View Agendas and Minutes

Term

4 years

Appointed By

County Chairman appoints one member. Other members are appointed by Cook County Chairman and Collar County Chairmen.

Compensation

$10,000 annually. Board members may receive health insurance benefits.

Qualifications

All Board members must be current or past mayors or presidents of DuPage County municipalities.

Composition

13 trustees, 1 of whom is appointed by DuPage County. NOTE: Only the trustee appointed by DuPage County is listed.

Chair/President

Chair Richard Kwasneski

Authority

70 ILCS 3615/3a.02

Appointees

Name                   First Date of Appt.    Current Term Expires    Position
Thomas Marcucci    06/09/1998                 06/30/2026                    Director

NOTICE: Activating certain links on this page will redirect you to a third party web site. DuPage County has no control over the information provided by any third party site and makes no representation and is not responsible for its quality, content, nature or reliability. DuPage County does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any of the information or financial reports accessible from this page. Evaluation of content and the usefulness of the information provided on this page are the responsibility of the user. DuPage County makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, and assumes no liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information or for any omissions from the information. Note that financial reports may not constitute an official record. DuPage County assume no liability for any damages incurred, whether directly or indirectly, actual, incidental, punitive or consequential, as a result of any errors, omissions or discrepancies in any information set forth in any such financial reports or any use of such financial reports. DuPage County is not liable for any improper or incorrect use of the information contained in the financial reports and assumes no liability for anyone’s use of such information.

Citizens Service Team

• Nominate yourself for a board/commission

DuPage County 2017 John Noel Public Transit Conference

Smarter Cities, Smarter Counties

DuPage County thanks all of our conference speakers and participants for another successful event.

This year's conference focused on Smart Counties.  While that topic is a very broad one, DuPage County was especially interested in featuring examples of unique partnerships between counties and transportation companies, manufacturers, federal agencies and universities. 

Our conference keynote speaker, Chairman Kirk Dillard of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), highlighted the urgency and need for mobility solutions.  Mr. Dillard also urged transit agencies and regional governments to proactively plan ways to leverage technology and partnerships to continue to improve transit service.

Our two featured speakers, Mr. Jack Hall from Contra Costa County, California, and Ms. Ann Schlenker from Argonne National Laboratories spoke about exciting new partnerships, how Smart technologies may be taking shape and how they will re-shape the way we travel and consume energy and services.

Local agency speakers from CMAP, IDOT and Pace Suburban Bus discussed agency perspectives on smart transportation and projects that those agencies are engaged in as they look to the future.

DuPage County DOT is pleased to include the conference agenda and presentations of all of our participants below.

Agenda

Presentations

• Contra Costa County: GoMentum Station and the Role of Counties in Smart Transportation
• Argonne National Laboratory:  Smart Mobility in a Changing Ecosystem
• Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning: Vision for the Northeastern Illinois Expressway System
• Illinois Department of Transportation: Cook-DuPage Smart Corridors
• Pace: Rapid Transit Network and Innovation

For more information on the conference, speakers or content, please contact John Loper at DuPage County DOT, 630-407-6900, or john.loper@dupagecounty.gov.

DuPage County has promoted Quality of Life and Economic Growth among its five Strategic Planning goals. 

Key to DuPage County's economic success is business access to a professional and well qualified labor force.  Equally, the quality of life of that labor force is dependent upon access to good and reliable jobs.  For people who are transit dependent, regardless of age, economic or demographic status, one of the most necessary elements is transportation.  In today's suburban environment, there are many challenges for workers who depend on something other than the automobile for transport, including incomplete transit networks, disadvantageous scheduling, high costs of taxi and private network services, poorly developed infrastructure and more.  

DuPage County is a committed advocate for companies and workers in need of important last mile connections.  In recent years, DuPage County and the RTA have partnered on a study to examine areas of the County where workers and companies are underserved in terms of transit accessibility.  The link to the 2016 study is included below. 

DuPage County Connectivity Study (PDF)

The County and its economic development partners ChooseDuPage and workNet DuPage will continue to collaborate with private firms and municipalities in the foreseeable future.  For information on transportation programs and specific projects, please contact jloper@dupagecounty.gov at 630-407-6882.  For new and existing business in DuPage County please contact ChooseDuPage or workNet DuPage.