Telling the Full Story: How Pace is Making the Economic Case for Transit

Executive Director
Pace Suburban Bus
Arlington Heights, IL

In an era of tightening budgets and changing travel patterns, public transit agencies must do more than deliver service. They must clearly articulate their value. At Pace, we’ve worked hard to make sure our riders, partners, and lawmakers understand what’s truly at stake when public transit is under threat: the health of our regional economy.

Our message to decision-makers is simple but powerful: transit is economic infrastructure. Every Pace route connects people to jobs, employers to talent, and communities to opportunity. Our services link suburban residents to the regional rail network, industrial corridors, medical centers, and educational institutions. Paratransit ensures that people with disabilities and older adults can fully participate in the economy. This isn’t just a matter of convenience; it’s a matter of economic resilience.

When faced with the possibility of future funding shortfalls, we knew we couldn’t lead with doom and gloom. Instead, we doubled down on data, storytelling, and coalition-building. We’re helping legislators see transit through the eyes of their constituents: the nursing assistant who relies on Pulse to reach the hospital at 6:00 a.m.; the warehouse employee who works the overnight shift; the employer who depends on reliable bus service to attract and retain staff.

We’ve also worked with chambers of commerce, workforce boards, and local governments to emphasize how transit drives development and supports business growth. Our capital -investments, including new facilities, electric buses, and improved rider amenities, are not just service upgrades; they are job creators and long-term economic catalysts.

At a time when every public dollar is scrutinized, it’s not enough to show what transit costs. We must continue to show what it delivers. That’s why we’ve embraced APTA’s call to elevate economic storytelling. Because when we frame transit as essential to workforce participation, regional competitiveness, and inclusive growth, we turn conversations about cost into conversations about value.

Pace is proud to be part of that story, and even prouder to be part of the solution.