Evanston Township High School students who ride Pace buses will pay 25 cents less per trip this school year, after Pace reduced its student fare from $1 to 75 cents as part of a new regional fare policy.
The change took effect Aug. 15 and standardizes the student fare across Pace and the Chicago Transit Authority. Eligible K-12 students can now ride Pace and CTA for 75 cents at any time of day, year-round, including weekends and summer, according to Pace and the Regional Transportation Authority. Students also can transfer for free between Pace and CTA within two hours of their first tap when using a Student Ventra Card.
The change is being funded through the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, which provided new funding for the coordinated student-fare policy. Pace said the goal is to make transit more affordable and consistent for students across the region.
What it means for ETHS students
Evanston Township High School does not operate the traditional yellow school-bus system used by many elementary and middle school districts. Students can instead use public transportation, including Pace Route 213 and CTA routes serving Evanston.
The city lists Pace Route 213 and CTA routes 93 and 206 among the transit routes serving Evanston.
The new policy expands the discounted fare beyond the school-day schedule that previously applied to student fares. Pace says students can now use the 75-cent fare at any time, including weekends and during summer break.
How to pay
Students using a Student Ventra Card can pay the 75-cent fare on Pace and CTA. Free transfers between the two systems are available within two hours of the first tap when using the Student Ventra Card.
Pace's current student-fare information specifically describes the 75-cent fare as applying when students pay with transit value on a Student Ventra Card. The policy also covers Pace regular routes and Pace On Demand.
ETHS's transportation information page is still being updated to reflect the new year-round policy; its existing page describes the previous school-day student-fare schedule.
What's behind the change
The new fare policy is one of the first visible changes resulting from new Northern Illinois Transit Authority funding for the region's public transportation system. Pace, CTA and Metra are coordinating their student-fare policies so eligible K-12 students have more consistent reduced-fare options across the three systems.
Metra, Pace and CTA are also offering free rides to K-12 students on Monday, Aug. 24, the first day of school for many Chicago-area districts.
ETHS began its 2026-27 school year Monday, Aug. 17, making the lower Pace fare immediately relevant to students commuting to and from school.
For students who regularly use Pace or CTA, the biggest change is simple: the student fare is now 75 cents, all year and at any time of day, with free Pace-CTA transfers when using a Student Ventra Card.
