Pace is launching its first Pulse rapid transit line, the Pulse Milwaukee Line, with operations starting August 11.
Passengers traveling along Milwaukee Avenue between the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Jefferson Park Transit Center and Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles will soon benefit from increased service, state-of-the-art stations, and improved customer communications with real-time bus tracker signs at every boarding location.
"Pulse represents the next generation of Pace service," said Pace Chairman Richard Kwasneski. "The frequency and affordability of this service will improve access to jobs, education, medical care, shopping and entertainment for the residents we serve."
Modern purple buses branded with the Pulse logo and equipped with WiFi and USB charging ports will serve completely accessible stations featuring raised platforms to facilitate faster boarding, prominent vertical markers with local and regional maps and real-time bus arrival information, heated shelters with seating, snow-melt pavement and bike racks. All stations will feature community expression elements designed in partnership with the communities and businesses along the route.
"A lot of hard work has gone into launching this service," said Executive Director Rocky Donahue. "I would like to thank our dedicated staff and all of the agencies, organizations and communities that had a hand in this, including the village of Niles, city of Chicago, Regional Transportation Authority, Illinois Department of Transportation, Chicago Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Authority, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and HNTB. There are also several business and property owners along the corridor who deserve a big thank you. This wouldn't be possible without their partnership and support."
Pulse service will operate on weekdays between 5 am and midnight with 10-minute frequency during rush hours, 15-minute frequency during non-peak hours until 10 pm, and every 20 minutes from 10 pm until midnight. On Saturdays, Pulse service will begin at 5:30 am and on Sundays it will start at 6 am. Service on both Saturday and Sunday will run until midnight. On weekends and holidays, Pulse will run every 15 minutes until 10 pm when it will transition to every 20 minutes.
As Pace finishes work at several stations this fall, passengers may have to use a temporary bus boarding area in some locations after the August launch. The launch of the Pulse Milwaukee Line corresponds with a reduction in frequency on the mostly-overlapping Route 270. Route 270 will continue to make all local stops.
