A proposed new Pace suburban bus line from Evanston to O’Hare International Airport drew qualified support Thursday from members of a citizens’ transportation group.
A dozen members of local advocacy group Evanston’s Transportation Future discussed several preliminary Pace proposals Thursday night at Evanston Public Library, 1701 Orrington Ave.
The Pace bus system is in the process of redesigning its routes in Evanston and surrounding communities as part of its ongoing North Shore Restructuring Initiative.
The study involves bus routes in Evanston, Skokie, Lincolnwood, Wilmette and other nearby areas, and is being coordinated with the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and other transit providers.
“It’s extremely detailed,” Pace spokesman Blaine Krage told The Daily Thursday afternoon. “It is comprehensive, to say the least.”
Pace officials had presented the drafts at an April 21 meeting of the study’s Citizens Advisory Committee, composed of representatives from the affected communities.
Two of the proposed plans worked within Pace’s existing budget, while another laid out a more long-term transportation vision.
Changes within current budget limits could include more frequent service on several lines, expanding some routes further west and south and the O’Hare proposal.
Members of Evanston’s Transportation Future supported the O’Hare idea, but said they wanted to make sure it served the Davis Street El station.
The Pace proposal also suggested altering the route of its No. 426 bus, which serves as a Northwestern intercampus shuttle in the early morning, afternoon and at night, to eliminate service west of Sherman Avenue.
Attendees at Evanston Transportation Future’s meeting also discussed several modifications to Pace’s proposal, such as asking CTA to replace its No. 205 bus route, which runs from Howard Street north on Chicago Avenue and west to the Cook County Courthouse in Skokie, with an expanded Pace No. 208 line.
Some members also suggested that Pace negotiate with NU to take over all intercampus shuttle service and have the Pace route make local stops in Evanston.
Several members expressed frustration that Pace’s study was too limited in its scope, focusing too much on specific service changes and not enough on promoting public transportation in general.
“We’re trying to change people’s thinking,” Evanston resident Gladys Bryer said. “Changing routes is not going to do it.”
But, overall, attendees considered the route proposals an improvement over current service.
“One thing that surprised me in this is that it turns out there’s a lot of things we want to praise them for,” said Evanston resident Peter Nicholson. “And we didn’t come up with anything overtly negative either.”
Nicholson said he would submit a summary of the group’s suggestions to Pace.
Pace will hold additional public meetings on the proposed service changes at the Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton Street, May 19 at 6 p.m., and at the Evanston Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave., May 20 at 9 a.m.
The Pace study began last fall with surveys, focus groups, passenger counts on existing routes and meetings with local officials to determine community transit needs.
Pace officials involved in the study plan to present a final service plan to Pace’s board of directors at its August meeting, and some route changes could be made by the end of the year, Krage said.
“We are less than a year away at this point as far as the beginning of the implementation process,” Krage said. He said changes would likely be phased in over several months.
