Pace North Shore

[Guest]

Hello,

Im planning to apply at Pace to operate out of North Shore. Can someone tell me how the routes are out of N.S.?

Is it good to apply at N.S. or should I apply to Pace NW?

[Busjack]

Hello,

Im planning to apply at Pace to operate out of North Shore. Can someone tell me how the routes are out of N.S.?

Is it good to apply at N.S. or should I apply to Pace NW?

North Shore basically has the lighter routes, including the old Wilmette ones (421-423); the Shuttle Bugs (rush hour reverse feeders); two regular transit routes (213 and 215); one express route (626) and two employer supported or subscription routes (426 and 1023). It has some 210 runs. It is closed on Sunday, and runs only 11 buses on Saturday.

Northwest is a much more conventional transit operation. So, it depends on what you are seeking.

You can go to the Pace site and in the Route Finder pull down the search by Carrier/Division, and then select the division.

Both cover the same territory, so the rider demographics are about the same.

[trainman8119]

When it opened, North Shore was regarded as the best Pace garage

to work out of. Many Northwest drivers were the first to go there. At

the time, the union set up was better, working conditions were considered

better and the route line up there was considered better. Plus, the facility

was new so being at the garage was not considered a downer.

I know times have changed, but I think it still is considered a good

place to work out of. As Busjack noted, Northwest is more of a conventional

operation, 7 days a week, some long runs. So I agree with his assessment.

Keep in mind, that unlike the CTA, when you hire out at a garage, that is

where you will be. Each garage has it's own union, and the company has

fought to keep it that way, preferring that to one mega union that would

have a little more clout. If you were to want to get out of one garage and

go to another, it would mean quitting and gettinig rehired at the bottom

of the seniority roster. So when considering what garage you might want

to work out of, keep that in mind, 'cause that is where you will be.

Good luck...hope you get in and like it !!!!!

[Guest]

When it opened, North Shore was regarded as the best Pace garage

to work out of. Many Northwest drivers were the first to go there. At

the time, the union set up was better, working conditions were considered

better and the route line up there was considered better. Plus, the facility

was new so being at the garage was not considered a downer.

I know times have changed, but I think it still is considered a good

place to work out of. As Busjack noted, Northwest is more of a conventional

operation, 7 days a week, some long runs. So I agree with his assessment.

Keep in mind, that unlike the CTA, when you hire out at a garage, that is

where you will be. Each garage has it's own union, and the company has

fought to keep it that way, preferring that to one mega union that would

have a little more clout. If you were to want to get out of one garage and

go to another, it would mean quitting and gettinig rehired at the bottom

of the seniority roster. So when considering what garage you might want

to work out of, keep that in mind, 'cause that is where you will be.

Good luck...hope you get in and like it !!!!!

[Guest]

Thank you everyone for your input. I spent 7 yrs with CTA operating out three different garages during that time. Of course FG was undoubtly the best, North Pk being the worst garage to run out of. Im hoping to get back into the business which I enjoyed so much. I left to pursue another venture but driving buses is still in my blood and my passion. I do miss it. Im hoping that with my current work schedule I will be able to work driving buses again. I hope Pace will be flexible with my schedule. Im closer to the N.S. facility rather than D.P. Also when I was with CTA working out of NP and FG Ive gained much experience with the streets of Evanston and Skokie. I think N.S. will be my choice.

What model buses do they currently operate out of N.S.?

[jesi2282]

Currently the Orion I (2100 and 2300's), Nova Classic, Eldorado EZ Rider and Transmark, NABI 35 & 40 LFW.

[Busjack]

I hope Pace will be flexible with my schedule.

I would wonder about that, since North Shore's runs are heavily biased in the direction of the rush hour (i.e. 13 Shuttle Bugs, also 626 and 1023, out of 22 routes, and out of the remainder, 3 are shared with NW). See the Route List. Some single round trips on routes such as 422 and 423 are 3 or 4 hours long (considering interlining on Saturday and the like).

[trainman8119]

Im hoping that with my current work schedule I will be able to work driving buses again. I hope Pace will be flexible with my schedule.

Don't count on any flexibility. Part time means being available full time hours

for less than 30 hours a week with reduced benefits. Figure on working a lot

of split runs, pieces and a lot of filling in, especially in the summer, working

an extra board and always being available for call or assignment.

Also, if you will be working a second job, it is necessary to inform them of that, and

they may disqualify you based on if they feel you will be attentive enough or

not to fullfill your duties. Also, they will require you to consider the Pace part

of the job as being your primary, making yourself available for them first.

I think Pace2322 will back me up on this !!!

[Busjack]

Also when I was with CTA working out of NP and FG Ive gained much experience with the streets of Evanston and Skokie. I think N.S. will be my choice.

Again, that wouldn't make much difference with N.S., since its only Evanston route is 213 and Skokie route is 215 (but is similar to the south end of 97). Odds are, you would have to know how to navigate around Lake Cook Road or Willow Road (lots of luck with road construction messing up Willow around the TriState and undoubtedly affecting routes 623 and 624). Knowing how to snake around Winnetka is essential for 423.

The big Pace routes for Evanston and Skokie are 208 and 250, which run from NW.