Gov. Pritzker Opens New Pace Campus in Markham

MARKHAM – Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation were joined today by community leaders and transit officials to celebrate the completion of Pace’s new Markham campus, a project that modernizes operations and strengthens the agency’s south suburban workforce while advancing safety and the use of more environmentally friendly electric buses. The Markham campus project was made possible by a $7.1 million investment from the governor’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program and an additional $27.1 million in state funding. These improvements further the record investments being made in transit by the state throughout the region.

“Not only does this project make Pace a more efficient and modern part of our transit system, but it also prioritizes clean and efficient energy growth—a win across the board,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Rebuild Illinois is funding projects like this all across the state, making a stronger Illinois that works better for its people.”

A $40 million project involving federal, state and local funds, Pace’s new south campus includes expanded charging capabilities for the growing electric fleet and a training section that allows drivers to practice in a contained area instead of on city streets. It also has space for the customer service and safety departments as well as a new facility for buses to be tested and repaired from other Pace garages.

In addition to the new Pace facility, Rebuild Illinois is fueling transformational investments in transit across the Chicago region. Since the passage of the governor’s capital program, Rebuild Illinois has generated $4.1 billion for capital investments by agencies under the Regional Transportation Authority: the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace.

Passed in 2019, Rebuild Illinois is investing a total of $33.2 billion over six years into the state's transportation system, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. Rebuild Illinois is not only the largest capital program in state history, but also the first one that touches all modes of Illinois transportation: transit, roads and bridges, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.

For the first time in the region’s history, Rebuild Illinois created a dedicated funding stream for transit via the state motor fuel tax, which is generating an average of $250 million a year in sustained revenue through PayGo for projects and capital needs at the CTA, Metra and Pace long after the bonding capital program expires.

“Rebuild Illinois has been a gamechanger for transit in the Chicago area and our entire system of multimodal transportation in Illinois,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “Under Gov. Pritzker, IDOT is proud to help deliver these important projects that ultimately make buses and trains safer, more reliable and accessible for the public.”

The Markham site is anticipated to spur additional economic development due to Pace hosting training at the new facility for its existing workers as well as recruiting new employees from the surrounding area.

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