Niles officials say halt to free in-town Pace bus service due to financial dispute

The free Pace bus service that operates within the village of Niles has been suspended because of a dispute over paying for insurance for the service, village officials announced in a news release Sunday.
The routes directly impacted are the 410, 411 and 412. Other suburban bus lines that run through or service the town are not part of the suspension, the release explains.
“The Village of Niles has been engaged in ongoing contractual discussions with Pace regarding the Niles free bus service,” the release states. “This difficult decision has been made after Pace declined to continue responsibility for the insurance coverage for the Niles free bus service as well as refusing to indemnify the Village against potential liability as required by the contract.”
The three lines of free bus service run through the east, west and north sides of town, and help give riders access to major shopping strips and centers, area high schools, the library, apartment complexes and more. Buses had operated seven days a week, from morning to late-afternoon.
Pace did not immediately respond to a Pioneer Press request for comment.
However, according to information on the public bus company’s website, the free bus routes – combined – at one point transported fewer than 750 riders per day. Ridership was considered “relatively low.”
Those assessments were made about a decade ago when Pace was launching a modernization project that included service-wide upgrades.
The village subsidizes the free bus service but has looked to Pace for some assistance.
“Despite our best efforts to negotiate a solution that would preserve this service, the Village cannot in good conscience continue operations without adequate insurance protections in place. The safety of our residents and employees and the legal integrity of our municipal operations must remain paramount,” the village release reads.
It was anticipated that the interruption of service could disproportionately affect seniors and people with limited mobility.
The release explains that the village would look to help impacted residents.
“Our elected officials and village staff continue discussions with Pace and state officials to resolve this matter as quickly as possible,” according to the release.
Riders are advised in the release to check the village website for updates on the situation, which would be provided “as soon as they become available.”