Ontario Construction News staff writer
Pace’s new maintenance and storage garage near the Plainfield Park’n-Ride is now open, thanks to a $52 million investment from the Rebuild Illinois capital program.
“Our bipartisan Rebuild Illinois plan comes at a critical time for our growing Chicagoland region, and we’re making sure our infrastructure can meet the needs of everyone who lives, works, and plays here,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement. “This funding for Pace is a $52 million investment in the future of Will County, ensuring that residents have accessible, reliable Pace service throughout the community and beyond.”
The state-of-the-art facility has capacity for 135 buses, which will allow for future growth in Pace’s operations in Will County. It also has 13 maintenance bays, allowing bus repairs and maintenance to be handled efficiently on site.
“We owe much of our success with Pace’s Bus on Shoulder program to our state’s leaders, who were bold enough to try this idea back in 2011, make it permanent in 2014, and then, invest in modernizing the program’s infrastructure through Rebuild Illinois,” said Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski.
The facility will allow for the expansion of Pace’s Bus on Shoulder Express Service and create space for additional vehicles.
“This garage benefits the entire region,” said Regional Transportation Authority Chairman Kirk Dillard. “Bus on Shoulder passengers can transfer to Chicago Transit Authority and Metra to get from the southwest suburbs to virtually anywhere in Chicagoland.”
The Rebuild Illinois capital plan is investing $33.2 billion into the state’s aging transportation system, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. It’s the largest capital program in state history and the first to impact all modes of Illinois transportation: roads and bridges, transit, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.
