Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 20114:00:00 PM
Media Release Office: (847) 228-4295
Contact: Patrick Wilmot (847) 228-4295
No fare increases or service cuts included in budget as public hearings begin October 17
The Pace Board of Directors officially released the agency's 2012 budget for public review and comment, with the first of 13 public hearings beginning next week. Despite the struggling economy, the agency plans no fare increases or service reductions in its balanced budget for the second straight year.
"We've been aggressively containing our costs and restructuring service to maximize efficiency," said Pace Chairman of the Board Richard Kwasneski. "The actions we've taken in recent years have put us in good position to release a positive budget message- one that not only calls for no negative impacts on riders, but increases service in some areas."
The Suburban Services operating budget, which includes fixed route bus service, vanpool and Dial-a-Ride service, totals $195 million and includes some new service to be implemented in late 2011 and early 2012. These include two new Call-n-Ride routes in the Wheaton/Winfield and St. Charles/Geneva areas, additional trips on I-55 express service, and a federally-funded route connecting the southwest suburbs with employment centers near OHare Airport and in the northwest suburbs.
The Regional ADA Paratransit budget is set at $126.6 million to provide complementary transportation to people with disabilities in Chicago and the suburbs. The RTA has set contingencies on funding requiring Pace to implement certain efforts to increase efficiency on the service in Chicago. These include setting trip reservation hours to regular business hours and continuing progress toward implementation of a centralized dispatch system.
Thirteen public hearings have been scheduled regionally throughout the city and suburbs, and take place October 17-27. For the first time, Pace will host an online webinar to provide access to those unable to attend a hearing. Details and registration are available at www.pacebus.com. "Our budget message is very positive this year, but we still encourage people to participate in the public hearing process," said Kwasneski. "We're always interested in hearing ideas on how we can improve." The budget document is available at public hearings and has been distributed to municipalities and libraries to be made available to the public. It can also be downloaded from Pace's website. Those unable to attend the hearings can submit written comments to Pace Government Affairs, 550 West Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005 or through the Public Hearings section of www.pacebus.com.
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Pace, the Suburban Bus Division of the RTA
Public Hearing on Pace's Proposed 2012 Operating and Capital Programs,
2012-2014 Financial Plan for Operations, 2012-2016 Capital Plan.
Notice is hereby given that Pace, the Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority, is holding public hearings on its proposed program and budget for the year 2012 (January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012), the operating financial plan for 2012-2014, and the capital plan for 2012-2016.
Pace proposes a balanced and stable budget for 2012 as no fare increases or service reductions are anticipated for Suburban Service or Regional ADA Paratransit.
RTA funding for Regional ADA Paratransit service is contingent upon Pace’s pursuit of centralized dispatch and reduction of paratransit reservation hours to normal business hours. Pace proposes reservation hours from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Any person wishing to comment on the proposed budget may present views orally at the public hearings or by submitting written material on or before the last date of the hearings, which is Thursday, October 27, 2011, or by accessing our website at www.pacebus.com in the “Public Hearing Comment Form” area. Copies of the proposed program and budget are available for public inspection at:
• Pace
• 550 West Algonquin Road
• Arlington Heights, Illinois
• 60005-4412
Individuals with disabilities who plan to attend these hearings and who require certain accommodations other than transportation in order to allow them to observe and/or participate in these meetings, are requested to contact Pace at (847) 364-7223 option 3 (voice) or (847) 364-5093 (TTY) ten days prior to the scheduled meeting.
Budget information will be available at most public libraries, as well as townships, city and village offices in the six county Pace region. You can also view the document via the Internet at www.pacebus.com by clicking on “About Pace” and selecting the link “Annual Budget,” followed by “2012 Annual Budget Document.” Pace will conduct a Webinar on the 2012 Budget on Friday, October 14, 2011 from 10:00 am to 10:30 am. Participants can register at www.pacebus.com.
Public Hearing Locations, Dates and Times follow:
Dates and Locations
City of Chicago:
Monday, October 24, 2011
City of Chicago (North) Budget Public Hearing
11:00 am –1:00 pm
Sulzer Regional Library
4455 N. Lincoln
Chicago, IL 60625
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
City of Chicago (West) Budget Public Hearing
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Garfield Park Conservatory
Community Room
300 North Central Park Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60624
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
City of Chicago (Southwest) Budget Public Hearing
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Arturo Velasquez
Westside Tech. Inst.
2800 S. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
Thursday, October 27, 2011
City of Chicago (South) Budget Public Hearing
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Olive Harvey College
Cafeteria
10001 S. Woodlawn
Chicago, IL 60628
Suburban:
Monday, October 17, 2011
Lake County Public Hearing
4:00pm - 6:00pm
Waukegan Public Library
Bradbury Room (lower level)
128 N. County Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
Monday, October 17, 2011
North Cook County Public Hearing
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Pace Headquarters
Board Room
550 W. Algonquin Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
McHenry County Public Hearing
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Crystal Lake Municipal
Complex, Council Chambers
100 W. Woodstock St.
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Will County Public Hearing
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Joliet Public Library
Meeting Rm. B (second level)
150 N. Ottawa St.
Joliet, IL 60432
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Kane County Public Hearing
4:30 pm -- 6:30 pm
Kane County Government Center
Auditorium, Ground Floor
719 S. Batavia Ave
Geneva, IL 60134
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Southwest Cook County Public Hearing
4:30 pm -- 6:30 pm
Oak Lawn Village Hall
Auditorium
9446 S. Raymond
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
Thursday, October 20, 2011
West Cook County Public Hearing
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Howard Mohr Community Center
7640 Jackson Blvd.
Forest Park, IL 60130
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
DuPage County Public Hearing
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
DuPage County Government Center
Auditorium
421 N. County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187
Thursday, October 27, 2011
South Cook County Public Hearing
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Homewood Village Hall
Board Room
2020 Chestnut
Homewood, IL 60430
If you have any questions, please contact Pace Customer Services at (847) 364-7223 "Option 3" (voice) or 847-364-5093 (TTY)
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