Pace Bus Adds 30 New Stops in Libertyville

The Pace Bus route that operates through Libertyville will change to a posted-stop policy in late August. This new policy will ensure better on-time performance, according to Pace officials.

“Route 572 is the longest we have operating in Lake County,” said Pace spokesman Patrick Wilmot. “Between that and the amount of traffic the route encounters, it’s important to try to use posted stops as a tool to improve on-time performance.”

Route 572, which runs from Vernon Hills to Waukegan, previously had a flag-stop policy. Buses consistently made stops because riders could “hop on” anywhere along the route the driver deems safe to stop.

“There are a lot of things that can affect on-time performance,” Wilmot said. “Frequent stopping is one of those things.”

Where the New Stops Are

Pace will add 30 stops, all at the corners of major intersections, in Libertyville, 11 stops on Milwaukee Avenue, eight on Route 45, and four on Butterfield Road. Winchester Road and Route 176 also will have stops.

Wilmot says although passengers no longer will be able to board the bus at locations they prefer, posted stops still be more convenient.

“While someone may have to walk one or two blocks to a bus stop, the benefit will be that it’ll take less time on the bus to get where they need to be,” Wilmot said.

For a full list of stops, check out the PDF.

Bus Schedule, Fare Remain the Same

Libertyville residents do not need to alter their commuting plans. Pace will not make fare changes, and the route timetable also is unchanged, according to Wilmot. However, schedules will be modified once the bus company starts seeing decreased travel times.

Libertyville has a relatively low Pace bus ridership compared to other communities, according to Kelly Amidei, the assistant village administrator. The village also has not heard strong opinions toward Pace from residents.

“We let Pace operate freely in our village,” Amidei said. “Until we hear complaints about their bus system, we don’t usually interact with them.”

New Stops, Best Option for Libertyville

Pace has operated on flag-stops since its existence, but areas with busier traffic require better organization. Although ridership is low, the posted-stop policy is still the best option for Libertyville.

“Libertyville has a more urban environment,” Wilmot said.

However, posted-stops are not for everyone. The flag-stop policy will remain in other areas and routes.

“The reason for it is that we cover an area close to the size of the state of Connecticut,” Wilmot said. “To be able to put up posted-stop signs every two to four blocks to cover our area would be cost-prohibitive."