Six new routes, new buses and a new park-n-ride go into service this week in the I-90 corridor.

And that bodes well for the local economy and local jobs, as well as for commuters between Elgin and O’Hare, according to a Pace news release.

Pace says that by 2040 the 27-mile stretch of I-90 between Elgin and O’Hare is projected to have as many jobs as the Loop. Until now, however, many of those suburban jobs weren’t easily accessible by public transit. But as of Monday (Dec. 19, 2016) transit users are seeing vastly improved job access to and from the northwest suburbs. Those who drive will discover new opportunities to use efficient and affordable transit to get to work, including free access to Pace’s Park-n-Rides, which will offer 551 new parking spaces by the end of 2017.

Pace has officially launched Phase 2 of the I-90 Market Expansion Program, which includes express routes 603, 605 and 607; local routes 604, 608 and 611; improvements to service on five existing routes 550, 600, 606, 610 and 616; a new Park-n-Ride at I-90 and Randall Road; and 25 new 40-foot express buses.

The new buses will have free Wi-Fi, USB charging ports, and comfortable high-back seating, interior overhead storage. Convenient connections to O-Hare and Chicago are available via the CTA Blue Line at the Rosemont Transit Center.

The service improvements have been planned in coordination with the Illinois Tollway’s rebuilding and widening of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90). The service expansion is made possible through the work of many partners, including the Federal Transit Administration, Illinois Tollway, Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Chicago Transit Authority, Cook County, Kane County, Village of Hoffman Estates and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Fares

The new services will have a regular fare of $1.75 ($2 with cash).

Based on fare, tolls and distance from the Pace I-90/Randall Road Park-n-Ride; gas cost of $2.50/gal.; and average daily parking costs in downtown Chicago. *One-way fare can range from $1.75 to $2.50 based on origin and destination.

Please see Pace’s fare information page and note that cash fares are higher. There are no transfers when using cash.

SOURCE: Pace news release