Naperville bus riders could see significantly more service under a sweeping plan Pace unveiled Oct. 21.

The suburban bus agency's draft "ReVision" plan calls for a 50% overall increase in service across its six-county region, including DuPage and Will counties, the Chicago Tribune reported. Every county in Pace's service area would receive at least a 45% increase, according to Pace officials.

The plan targets growth on fixed routes, Pace Pulse rapid-transit lines and On Demand service, with a focus on more evening and weekend buses. Pace estimates the expansion would require $150 million per year in new investment, according to the agency's ReVision plan page.

The numbers are big. But the draft plan does not yet specify which individual routes in the Naperville area would gain frequency, change paths or be eliminated.

"When we increase frequency and make our service faster, ridership grows," Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger said in a statement.

Where the money comes from

The expansion is backed by the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), the new regional oversight body that replaced the Regional Transportation Authority on Sept. 1. NITA was created under 2025 state legislation that channels gas and sales tax revenue to transit, raising roughly $1.5 billion annually for public transportation across Illinois, according to a governor's office fact sheet. Regional transit revenues alone are forecast to grow by more than $900 million per year from 2025 to 2028, Pace said.

NITA Interim Executive Director Jamie Rhee said in a Pace statement that the plan "aims to put funding from the NITA Act to work in a way that riders will really feel."

Pace began developing ReVision in late 2023 during a transit funding crisis. The agency surveyed riders on options such as running buses every 15 to 30 minutes, seven days a week, and expanding routes across the suburbs, the Tribune reported.

What it means for Naperville

Pace's full report and detailed network maps are posted on its website, but the agency has not published a Naperville-specific breakdown of route changes. Some routes could change and a few could be removed under the plan, according to Pace's site. Buses would run more frequently, serve more places and operate later in the evening.

DuPage County is represented on the Pace board by David Pileski. Pace Board Chair John Noak, who also serves as Romeoville's mayor, said the plan reflects "years of analysis and public input."

How to weigh in

Pace is collecting public feedback through Dec. 10. Residents can take an online survey at PaceBus.com/ReVision or attend a virtual webinar on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. via Zoom.

The agency is also holding pop-up events at locations across the suburbs, including Helen Plum Library in Lombard on Nov. 11 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Joliet Public Library on Nov. 10 from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. No Naperville-specific pop-up appears on Pace's published schedule. A full list is at PaceBus.com/popups.

After the comment period closes, Pace will submit the plan to NITA for regional planning. The plan includes short-term improvements Pace could pursue in 2027 in partnership with NITA, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Metra.