To the Editor:

The new PACE Call-N-Ride service for the greater Round Lake area is a welcome addition to list of public services provided to our residents and is long over due.

When I moved to Round Lake 15 years ago, the need was evident then and I have pursued this with elected officials ever since. Kudos to all those who were instrumental in bringing this about. It is an excellent public transportation option for the area until we see better fixed route service.

The existing PACE 570 route has had shortcomings in it's service for some time, considering it goes nowhere near all the shopping and employment that takes place in the area of Rollins Road and Route 83.

This encompasses area within the borders of Monaville Road on the north (between Cedar Lake Road and Route 83), Route 83 on the east (from Monaville Road to Washington Street), again on the north (Washington Street to Route 45). The most eastern borders of the service are Route 45 from Washington Street to Route 120. The southern border consists of Belvidere Road and Route 134 and run to Cedar Lake Road. Cedar Lake Road is the western end, running from Route 134 to Monaville Road.

Communities served by the new route include Grayslake, Hainesville, Lake Villa, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Park and Third Lake. Of the Round Lake areas, it appears Round Lake Heights is the orphaned child.

Call-N-Ride's service area will now allow many residents to get out and about to other connecting public transportation, such Metra trains and fixed bus routes. For an affordable fee of $1.75, those without vehicles or those just wanting to go green, will now be able to make trips to places like the College of Lake County, the new Super Wal-mart, Mallard Creek Shopping Center, Rollins Crossing, four Metra stations, several U.S. Post Offices, village halls and township offices.

Still, PACE may have again overlooked some obvious customers when establishing the service area. Not included within it's borders are the high profile and heavily used Round Lake Area Library Library and Round Lake Area Park District's Robert Rolek Community Center. They are just outside the southwest corner of the service. A quick call by PACE to these entities will confirm they are well visited.

Another benefit from Call-N-Ride may be its contribution to our green efforts when less people drive their cars, especially some of those pollution spewing clunkers.

Bish Krywko
Round Lake