County.”29 The Transportation Market Analysis states specifically that “more direct and
faster service to the job centers in the South Central Corridor might create greater job
opportunities for the lower-income residents in Waukegan.” In North Chicago, public
transit is largely absent; it continues to lack local bus routes.30
The Transportation Market Analysis recommended three key service improvements,
specifically in the Consortium member cities of North Chicago and Waukegan:
“Direct services can be considered between (North Chicago’s) Abbott
Laboratories and its vicinity and areas north of Washington Street.”
“Another direct connection can be further studied between Park City and North
Chicago destinations.”31
An express route connecting the Waukegan transportation hub via Interstate 94
to retail jobs in Vernon Hill's Hawthorne Mall and Lincolnshire Commons, both
located on Milwaukee Avenue at Townline Road (Route 60) and at Aptakisic
Road, respectively.
In the fall of 2013, Pace Suburban Bus worked with Lake County to implement some of
the short-term recommendations highlighted in the Transportation Market Analysis so
as to address the transportation needs in Lake County. One of the recommendations
was the Lake County Restructuring Initiative. In preparation, Pace announced that “with
the increase of activity occurring in the Central Lake County region, Pace will implement
a new transit structure in order to provide better and more reliable service to residents
and businesses in the area. The goal of this project is to increase frequency on routes
that are experiencing overcrowding, improve on-time performance, and increase
connectivity in west-central Lake County and new timed connections at the College of
Lake County.”32 These key short-term improvements were implemented in two phases,
with the first phase occurring in December 2013 and the second following in the spring
of 2014.
29
“Transportation Market Analysis,” Final Report, p. 7-4.
The sole bus route serving North Chicago is Pace route 563.
31
“Transportation Market Analysis,” Final Report, p. 7-6.
32
Press Release dated December 11, 2013 (www.pacebus.com).
30
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APPLIED REAL ESTATE ANALYSIS, INC.
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS