Chicago’s Pace and local officials unveiled the agency’s first electric paratransit vehicle.

Pace received the 15-passenger, accessible vehicle earlier this year thanks to Community Project Funding secured by Congressman Sean Casten. The vehicle represents a milestone for Pace’s Project Zero plan for the transition to a zero-emissions fleet by 2040.

“I was thrilled to secure the federal funding for the brand new all-electric Pace buses. These buses will lower fuel costs, make our environment healthier and cleaner, and work to combat climate change in Illinois,” said Congressman Casten.

Adding New Electric Paratransits

The Community Project Funding of $1 million allows Pace to purchase five new battery-electric paratransit buses to replace existing fossil-fuel buses at Pace’s River Division in Elgin, Ill.

The new vehicle, a Coach and Equipment Phoenix bus, will be placed into service in the western suburbs later this year after training and vehicle testing are complete.

Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger welcomed Congressman Casten to Pace’s Burr Ridge Park-n-Ride, a popular station for the agency’s successful I-55 express bus service, which uses the shoulder of the Stevenson Expressway.

“As exciting as our I-55 express service is, today we’re here to celebrate another Pace success story — that of our climate change mitigation efforts,” Metzger said. “Pace’s legacy of progress and innovation has led us to this vehicle you see today — which is better for passengers, easier for our bus operators, and cleaner for the environment.”

The Road to 100% Zero Emissions

Pace is committed to the goal of operating 100% zero-emission vehicles by the year 2040.

Pace recognizes its responsibility for pollution reduction as an operator of hundreds of vehicles across the region. This is why one of Pace's top priorities is to reduce its carbon footprint and improve the quality of the region’s environment.

As Pace celebrates 40 years of service, the agency is pleased to report that overall ridership is at approximately 78% of 2019 ridership levels, and ADA paratransit service ridership is already over 100% of 2019 levels.