Pace Budget Balanced; Fares Stay the Same

The Pace Board released a balanced proposed 2006 budget without any general fare increase or service reductions. At their meeting on October 11, Executive Director T.J. Ross cited ridership increases as one of the reasons no such actions were needed. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the budget at nine public hearings scheduled for October 25 - October 27.

Following the hearings, Pace Board members consider public input at their November 9 meeting before giving the proposed budget final approval. It needs to be submitted to the RTA Board by November 15.

Pace Chairman John Case said the budget is based on a number of assumptions regarding available funding and operating costs, particularly relating to the agency's operation of the CTA's ADA paratransit service beginning on July 1, 2006. The 2006 operating budget, totaling $202.3 million, was balanced by once again drawing from federal capital funds and using reserves. All fares remain the same except for a $3.00 increase on the average monthly vanpool fare. Ridership growth is projected to continue with a 6.4 percent increase over this year.

Pace's Capital Program is $29.1 million, and includes the purchase of 18 fixed route buses, 60 paratransit vehicles, 119 vanpool vehicles as well as support facilities and equipment. A small amount of capital funding has also been designated for the development of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Transit Signal Priority (TSP) projects.

More budget details can be found in the proposed document available online at Pace's website, www.pacebus.com, on October 14. Copies are also being sent to public libraries and village halls. Anyone wishing to comment on the Pace 2006 Proposed Budget can use the Public Hearing Comment Form available on Pace's website, write to Pace, Government Affairs, 550 West Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005 or attend one of the following hearings:

 South Cook County
 Tuesday, October 25, 2005, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
 Phoenix Village Hall, 633 East 151st Street, Phoenix

 Lake County
 Tuesday, October 25, 2005, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
 Waukegan Public Library, 128 North County Street, Waukegan

 McHenry County
 Tuesday, October 25, 2005, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
 Crystal Lake City Hall, 100 West Municipal Complex, Crystal Lake

 Kane County
 Wednesday, October 26, 2005, 4:45 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
 Kane County Government Center, 719 South Batavia Avenue, Geneva

 North Cook County
 Wednesday, October 26, 2005, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
 Pace Headquarters, 550 West Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights

 Southwest Cook County
 Wednesday, October 26, 2005, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
 City of Palos Heights, 7607 W. College Drive, Palos Heights

 West Cook County
 Wednesday, October 26, 2005, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
 Forest Park Public Library, 7555 West Jackson Boulevard, Forest Park

 DuPage County
 Thursday, October 27, 2005, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
 Glen Ellyn Village Hall, 535 Duane Street, Glen Ellyn

 Will County
 Thursday, October 27, 2005, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
 Joliet Municipal Building, 150 West Jefferson Street, Joliet

Individuals who plan on attending these hearings and require certain accommodations (other than transportation) in order to allow them to observe or participate, can contact Pace at (708) 339-4065 (voice) or (847) 364-5093 (TTY).