New Pace Budget

The Pace Board of Directors released a proposed 2014 budget with a very stable outlook for the year ahead. No fare increases or service reductions are anticipated. Budget public hearings will take place during the end of October, and will be combined with hearings to discuss proposed fare policy changes tied to the transition to the new Ventra fare collection system.

Although final funding marks have yet to be approved by the RTA Board of Directors, Pace staff based the initial projections on information received from the RTA. Pace will make any necessary adjustments to balance the proposed budget based upon the final marks. “We are in a good position heading into the coming year because we’ve controlled costs without diminishing safety or service effectiveness while the region’s economy has improved,” said Pace Chairman of the Board Richard Kwasneski. “We are committed to finding additional opportunities to improve efficiency and ask that people participate in our public hearings or write to us to share their ideas.”

Detailed financial projections for 2014 will be provided upon the release of the proposed budget document that will include any adjustments necessitated by the RTA’s final funding marks. However, the agency anticipates investing roughly $3.4 million during 2014 on new initiatives and service expansion after finishing 2013 under budget by roughly $5.4 million. For 2014, the agency expects ridership to grow by a combined 2.7% on fixed route, non-ADA dial-a-ride and vanpool services. Ridership on Pace’s regional ADA Paratransit service is projected to increase by 4.9% over 2013.

Highlights of the projected capital program for 2014 include approximately $32 million of improvements to rolling stock, including the purchase of new fixed route buses, paratransit vehicles and vans for the agency’s vanpool program. Approximately $12 million will be used to renovate Pace South Division in Markham and convert the facility to operate buses powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).

As in past years, budget public hearings will take place during the last two weeks of October. Thirteen hearings will be located regionally and will also provide information about and the opportunity to discuss proposed fare policy changes tied to the transition to the Ventra fare collection system. A copy of the budget document is available for review and download at PaceBus.com.

The proposals include eliminating the issuance of transfer cards to passengers paying fares with cash as of December 15. Although passengers will continue to be able to pay fares with cash, only those using Ventra will continue to transfer to other routes for 25 cents, or for free in certain designated areas. The change reduces the expense of handling cash and creates parity with a similar policy at CTA that has existed for several years.

Additionally, Pace proposed the elimination of its 10-Ride Plus tickets in response to declining usage on the system and greater flexibility for customers to purchase fares in advance using Ventra. A Pace analysis determined 10-Ride Plus tickets were used an average of between eight and nine times before expiration, meaning many customers were unable to get the full value of the rides for which they’d paid while the pass was valid.

Ventra offers the ability to pay in advance for the number of rides that’s best for the customer as well as balance protection in the event of a lost or stolen card- something not possible with existing 10-Ride tickets.

The all-new Premium 30-Day Pass, priced at $140, became available October 7 through the Ventra system and was developed in response to customer requests on premium fare routes including routes 755 and 855, Pace’s I-55 Bus on Shoulders express service.

The third proposed change is to roll Pace’s Student Haul Pass, a monthly pass for high school students, into the 30-Day Reduced Pass in order to consolidate the menu of passes. Students retain unlimited access to Pace fixed bus routes for a 30 day period with no change in price between the two passes. Students also benefit from the protection of Ventra’s account-based system in the event of a lost or stolen card.

A special section of Pace’s website, pacebus.com/Ventra, has been dedicated to informing customers about the proposed changes as part of a comprehensive public outreach campaign that includes two weeks of direct outreach at transit centers, a targeted advertising campaign, and outreach to units of local and regional government.