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

Pace has announced that, starting Monday, it will increase service on both Bolingbrook-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.

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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 calls “flexible routing” to serve Bolingbrook, Lemont, Lockport and Joliet upon request.

However, due to low ridership, two reverse commute trips — one morning trip from Chicago to Plainfield and one evening trip from Plainfield to Chicago — will be discontinued on Route 755.

Three new morning trips will be added on Route 855, along with three new evening trips and two mid-day trips. New alternating evening express trips will provide direct service to Park-N-Ride locations.

For more information on the new routes and scheduling, click here.

The changes come after Pace began its Bus on Shoulder program in 2011. The five-year experiment allows buses to travel the shoulder on I-55. While on the shoulder, buses can travel no faster than 35 mph and will be allowed to exceed the speed of regular traffic by no more than 15 mph.