Ride Lake County

Ride Lake County is a borderless countywide paratransit service thaRide Lake Countyt provides seniors age 60+ and people with disabilities transportation to any area of Lake County for work, shopping, medical appointments and more.

As a reservation-based program, vehicles do not travel on a fixed route each day. Riders schedule their trips in advance and the vehicles provide curb-to-curb service from the rider's desired pick-up and drop-off destinations. Ride Lake County is a shared-ride service, so vehicles may make stops for other passengers. 

Important Resources

Registration 

Before scheduling their first ride, residents must register through Pace by calling their call center at 1-800-201-6446. Residents can register as either a senior (60+) or as an individual with a disability:

  • The Pace Call Center will ask for birthdate information for residents registering as a senior. 
  • The Pace Call Center will ask for an *RTA Reduced Fare Permit number for residents registering as an individual with a disability 

Registering as an individual with a disability

For riders registering as an individual with a disability, Ride Lake County is using the Reduced Fare Permit to verify the status of an individual’s disability to determine eligibility. Riders registering as an individual with a disability can either provide proof of disability benefits or have their doctor fill out a proof of disability form to obtain the Reduced Fare Permit. 

Riders can apply for the Reduced Fare Permit in the following ways: 

  • Online at fares.rtachicago.org 
  • In-person at one of the RTA’s local offices. Please call 312-913-3110 to find the RTA office located nearest to you to fill out an application. Additionally, you can call this number and request an application to be mailed to your residence 
  • By mail by downloading an application from the RTA website and mailing to the address listed on the application

Booking a Trip

Residents can call the Pace Call Center at 1-800-201-6446 daily between 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. to book a trip.

Riders can schedule a trip any day of the week from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the exception of certain holidays. Riders can reserve a trip as far as seven days in advance or as little as two hours in advance. 

Fare Structure

Ride Lake County has a flat rate with distance tiers structure meaning the cost of the trip depends on the length of the trip. 

Distance0 to 5 miles5 to 10 miles10+ miles
Cost$2.00$4.00$6.00

Service Area

Riders can book a trip anywhere within the service area if either the pick-up or drop-off location is within Lake County. The service area includes the entirety of municipalities that extend beyond the Lake County border.

Ride Lake County Service Area Map

Background of Ride Lake County

Since the mid-2000s, Lake County along with communities, townships and transit partners have been evaluating and working to enhance paratransit options. In 2005, the Lake County Coordinated Transportation Services Committee (LCCTSC) was created to facilitate the implementation of public transportation, with an enhanced emphasis on paratransit service. The LCCTSC was comprised of dedicated community members that worked tirelessly to move paratransit initiatives forward and were a driving force in the creation of Ride Lake County. 

In 2019, Lake County completed a paratransit market study that garnered input from residents and a dedicated group of stakeholders to identify strategies to improve service in Lake County. The new Ride Lake County service is the culmination of these efforts from the community. 

This change and expansion of service created a network that covers all seniors and residents with mobility limits throughout Lake County. Ride Lake County reduces overlapping services in some areas and expands services in other areas of the county by filling service gaps.

PACE Bus

How Ride Lake County is Funded

Ride Lake County is sponsored by Lake County and Pace Suburban Bus. The service is funded in part by grants from the Regional Transportation Authority. Local matching funds for these federal grants are provided by Lake County. 

Title VI Program Notice

No person in the United States shall on the ground of race, color, or national origin be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal Financial assistance.” (42 USC 2000d)

The Ride Lake County Title VI Program includes an explanation of the complaint and appeal process. To file a Ride Lake County Title VI complaint on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, please download this form and follow the instructions.

Questions 

For questions or comments about the service, call the Lake County Division of Transportation at 847-377-7400.