New Express Routes Coming Soon.

[jesi2282]

I've been skimming thru a RFP Pace recently put up and they are looking for contractors to operate two new express routes including route #855. Looks like Pace is going full steam ahead with its I-55 BRT plan.

The two new routes are #655 Bolingbrook-Schaumburg Express & #755 Plainfield-UIC Express.

The RFP states that the contractor will have to coaches for the 1st year of service, after that Pace will provide its own motor coaches.

The new services will start November 30, 2009.

For all the details you can download the RFP:

http://www.pacebus.com/sub/purchasing/bid_...1&nogol=sey

[Busjack]

This assumes that the prior RFP for 855-1012 is dead. No indication of what happened to the one for 889, which was supposed to start in March 2009. Thus, "The new services will start November 30, 2009" is not assured.

I guess we get the tentative explanation for the OTR RFP, but who knows if the ARRA money came through so that the preexisting capital budget could be reprogrammed into this?

Also someone else brought up the supplying the bus point, and based on that, would Colonial get 7 more buses for just one year, or another contractor 12?

{note: probably rhetorical questions}

[Guest]

This assumes that the prior RFP for 855-1012 is dead. No indication of what happened to the one for 889, which was supposed to start in March 2009. Thus, "The new services will start November 30, 2009" is not assured.

I guess we get the tentative explanation for the OTR RFP, but who knows if the ARRA money came through so that the preexisting capital budget could be reprogrammed into this?

Also someone else brought up the supplying the bus point, and based on that, would Colonial get 7 more buses for just one year, or another contractor 12?

{note: probably rhetorical questions}

Ive looked at the new #655 route, I could see this being assigned to Colonial. As of now there hasnt been any noise on out of Colonial concerning their being involved in this process. Certainly the BRT service for the #855 probably would bring some changes at Colonial, mainly in the equipment. We would have to make some room to acommodate newer equipment because the yard is already overcrowded. If plans call for #855 to use the new Pace commuter buses, then either Colonial will lose the service to another contractor or the company will get assigned some of the new buses which I dont think would happen. I think Colonial will continue using their own buses. One thing that noticed recently at Colonial is an area on the north/back end of the yard. In this area theres some construction going on and it looks like the yard is possibly being expanded, I dont know what this means but maybe the yard is expanding. Ill try to find out more info on this.

[west towns]

Ive looked at the new #655 route, I could see this being assigned to Colonial. As of now there hasnt been any noise on out of Colonial concerning their being involved in this process. Certainly the BRT service for the #855 probably would bring some changes at Colonial, mainly in the equipment. We would have to make some room to acommodate newer equipment because the yard is already overcrowded. If plans call for #855 to use the new Pace commuter buses, then either Colonial will lose the service to another contractor or the company will get assigned some of the new buses which I dont think would happen. I think Colonial will continue using their own buses. One thing that noticed recently at Colonial is an area on the north/back end of the yard. In this area theres some construction going on and it looks like the yard is possibly being expanded, I dont know what this means but maybe the yard is expanding. Ill try to find out more info on this.

this is an open bid process, don't assume anything how this will end up and who will operate the service.

[Busjack]

this is an open bid process, don't assume anything how this will end up and who will operate the service.

In light of my prior comments in this thread, it would be interesting if Pace "threw a party and no one attended."

With comments in the minutes such as that RTA won't give Pace discretionary funds (not verbatim) I'm not sure this will be funded, even if contractors find it "advantageous" to bid.

[Busjack]

Ive looked at the new #655 route, I could see this being assigned to Colonial. ...

One other twist I saw was that while 855 continues to be in the rush direction only, 655 and 755 are bidrectional, in that a certain number of trips are back to Bolingbrook or Plainfield in the morning, UIC or Schaumburg in the evening.

For instance, while the first two trips on 655 are express back to make the last two trips, and those trips end at Schaumburg, trips 3 and 4 end in Bolingbrook.

Hence, the question whether this becomes geographically undesirable to bid, given the dispersed termination points.

[Guest]

One other twist I saw was that while 855 continues to be in the rush direction only, 655 and 755 are bidrectional, in that a certain number of trips are back to Bolingbrook or Plainfield in the morning, UIC or Schaumburg in the evening.

For instance, while the first two trips on 655 are express back to make the last two trips, and those trips end at Schaumburg, trips 3 and 4 end in Bolingbrook.

Hence, the question whether this becomes geographically undesirable to bid, given the dispersed termination points.

Im sure Colonial will have no reservations on bidding this contract. I would count on them throwing their hat in the ring.

[west towns]

In light of my prior comments in this thread, it would be interesting if Pace "threw a party and no one attended."

With comments in the minutes such as that RTA won't give Pace discretionary funds (not verbatim) I'm not sure this will be funded, even if contractors find it "advantageous" to bid.

Isn't this the ICE funded service approved last year? so this funding is secured at least for a year

[trainman8119]

Isn't this the ICE funded service approved last year? so this funding is secured at least for a year

Which means, given Pace's history, this route will be history within 18 months !!!!

[Busjack]

Isn't this the ICE funded service approved last year? so this funding is secured at least for a year

Even if it is, as it is on the list, South Cook was supposedly funded too, but then they just cut Pace's discretionary funds, which left them at square one.

Do you really believe a scenario where the OTRs show up just in time for Pace to invoke its clause that the contract is over because there is no money? If so, that would be real bad planning.

Again, except for the SWS on weekends, has any ICE project actually been implemented? And, BTW, what happened to the supposed grant for 889?

[west towns]

Even if it is, as it is on the list, South Cook was supposedly funded too, but then they just cut Pace's discretionary funds, which left them at square one.

Do you really believe a scenario where the OTRs show up just in time for Pace to invoke its clause that the contract is over because there is no money? If so, that would be real bad planning.

Again, except for the SWS on weekends, has any ICE project actually been implemented? And, BTW, what happened to the supposed grant for 889?

I thought the 889 is still in play, it will happen I suppose as the 294 corridor is part the Vision 2020.

[Busjack]

I thought the 889 is still in play, it will happen I suppose as the 294 corridor is part the Vision 2020.

Well, the RFP said March 30, 2009. So, if the RFP is any gauge, there is no assurance.

Basically Vision 2020 is a joke, since the highest ranked project in one of those CATS documents was Mike Payne's Gray Line.

I'm waiting until there is actually a Passenger Notice that the service will start on a particular day, with a posted schedule.

[west towns]

Well, the RFP said March 30, 2009. So, if the RFP is any gauge, there is no assurance.

Basically Vision 2020 is a joke, since the highest ranked project in one of those CATS documents was Mike Payne's Gray Line.

I'm waiting until there is actually a Passenger Notice that the service will start on a particular day, with a posted schedule.

Why the Pace bashing, if they were given the appropriate amount of funding by the RTA instead of funneling it off to the CTA they could actually do their jobs! IE the discrecionalry fundng which the majority goes to the CTA.

Vision 2020 is real look at the CMAP (CATS by the way went bye bye in 2006) 2030 plan it inclues the ART, express routes, TSP shoulder riding and community service, or basically the entire 2020 plan. So yes the region believes and supports the 2020 plan wihich includes the express route nework including I-55 and I-294

[Busjack]

Why the Pace bashing, if they were given the appropriate amount of funding by the RTA instead of funneling it off to the CTA they could actually do their jobs!

It is not Pace bashing, it is a simple recognition that, for whatever the reason, things in RFPs, board minutes, and CATS and CMAP plans for 10 to 30 years hence do not come to fruition.

And if you have read through these boards, you know I am no supporter of the CTA or RTA boards of directors or management.

I certainly don't want to get into another "reveal yourself" debate again, and am not asking for your identity. However, if you have inside information it is one thing, but if you are extrapolating from the web, the 4 transit authorities and CMAP have put out enough contradictory stuff that I ceased buying it. In this case, Pace has put up RFPs for 855-1012 and 889 and apparently superseded the 855-1012 one, and in the 889 case apparently pulled it without making an award. The later RFP for 655-755-855 may explain why the 855-1012 was not awarded and why an OTR RFP was issued (I'll admit I didn't make the connection with regard to the OTR one), but if there is a reason why 889 was advertised and not implemented on the date stated in the RFP, I would like to see it. I doubt that it has anything to do with discretionary money.

And, with regard to discretionary money, Pace got setasides for paratransit, South Cook, and Suburban Community Mobility Fund, of $100 million, $7.5 million, and $20 million, respectively (70 ILCS 3615/2.09( b ) and 4.03.03( c )). While the paratransit and suburban mobility funds are subject to the ups and downs of sales tax collections, I previously noted that Pace hasn't explained how all the sudden it is $30.5 million short on paratransit, despite the money off the top, and all of its public pronouncements have indicated that the Suburban Community Mobility Fund and South Cook money have not been spent for the intended purposes (i.e. there were the Passenger Notices that the second round of South Cook improvements were paid by the Suburban Community Mobility Fund, when that fund is explicitly for anything else but fixed route service (sec. 2.01e), and the finance committee minutes referring to the South Cook fund).

While I agree that it appears that Pace appears to do a better job with limited resources, it is no less subject to taxpayer scrutiny than the CTA.

[west towns]

I was trying to spell out the truths from what has already been discussed. Why the 855 bid was not carried out who knows, but could it be the work on the expansion proceeded faster than expected and it was better to go with the bigger bid?

I guess we will all know more in the next few months if service is planned for later this year.

[jesi2282]

An RFP for #889 has been posted by Pace.

http://www.pacebus.com/sub/purchasing/bid_...1&nogol=sey

[Busjack]

An RFP for #889 has been posted by Pace.

http://www.pacebus.com/sub/purchasing/bid_...1&nogol=sey

Alert on your part.

The only differences are that the effective date is Nov 30, 2009, and now it is only contractor provided motor coach, while before it could have also been a contractor provided paratransit.

I see looking there that they also awarded the 66X contract, but nothing new there.

[west towns]

Anyone else see on the pace website the I-355 corridor study out to bid? It looks like there are bigger plans for this corridor.

[Busjack]

I downloaded that. Basically it is requesting a four stage study to see if there is any market thoughout the whole corridor from New Lenox to Lake Cook Road via I355 and Ill 53, and develop an operations plan. However, nothing to do with actual service.

Of course, you can still download it, too.

(As I said in connection with CTA, there is no need to give actual identifying information.)

[Busjack]

The Pace September Board Minutes confirm west town's surmise that Pace did issue a contract to MCI. However, nothing said there about it being very conditional, although one could assume that the $16 million transferred from the prior capital budget covers the reported $5.88 million authorized. Correction: The minutes said 11 buses.

[jesi2282]

Pace has awarded the contract for #655, #755, #855 and #889 to Keeshin, aka Coach USA.

[New Flyer]

Well Acadamy has lost one route 855 with 5 to go.

[Busjack]

Of course, there is also the question of how much of the $10 million Coach USA will actually get for a 5 year contract, with contingencies such as it goes down when the 11 OTRs show up (someone posted on Wikipedia that they were diesels, so I don't know if they know something), the 889 gets superseded by the Tollway/Compobus project (if the TIGER grant for that goes through), and the usual contingency that the contract is over if Pace can't fund it..

I also note that they posted the results of those two contracts, but not the OTR one, even though the posted Sept. minutes say it was awarded.

[west towns]

Pace has awarded the contract for #655, #755, #855 and #889 to Keeshin, aka Coach USA.

It looks like Pace was correct all along in stating these new services will start in the fall.

[jesi2282]

Route #855 will be changing carriers sooner than I thought, operations for #855 will be handed over to Keeshin starting next week, Monday.