Park Ridge and Niles families sending students to Maine East or Maine South on the bus are now paying 25% less per ride.

Pace's K-12 student fare dropped from $1.00 to 75 cents on Aug. 24, the first day of school. The change directly affects riders on Route 241, which runs through Uptown Park Ridge and provides school-day service to both Maine Township high schools, Journal & Topics reported Aug. 24.

The 25-cent cut is part of a regional overhaul that standardizes student fares across CTA and Pace at 75 cents per trip. All K-12 students rode free on the first day of school, with regular 75-cent fares kicking in going forward.

Beyond the lower price, the policy expands when students can use the discount. The 75-cent fare now applies year-round, at any time of day, not just during school hours or the academic calendar, according to a Pace press release issued Aug. 14.

Students with a Student Ventra card also get free transfers between Pace and CTA within two hours of their first tap. Students paying 75 cents in cash with a student ID do not qualify for the free transfer, according to Pace's student fare page.

For frequent riders, Pace offers a $30 monthly pass that gives Student Ventra cardholders unlimited Pace rides for 30 days.

"Lowering Pace's student fare from $1 to 75 cents will make a meaningful difference for families while giving students more opportunities to travel independently throughout the region," Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger said in the Aug. 14 announcement.

The fare reduction is funded in part by the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act. The Regional Transportation Authority formally transitions to NITA on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Maulik Vaishnav, NITA's chief transition officer, called the student fare policy one of the first rider-facing improvements enabled by the new agency's increased funding.

Niles residents have a separate option as well: the Niles Free Bus program, which resumed service in spring 2026 under a long-term agreement between Pace, the Village of Niles and state leaders, connects riders to schools, jobs and shopping destinations throughout the village at no cost.

Students without a Ventra card can pay the 75-cent fare in exact change after showing a student ID at any time.