New DeKalb bus line offers new route to work, school

DeKALB – A new bus route in DeKalb hopes to expand transportation options for students and residents with access to jobs near DeKalb’s Park 88 industrial park.

Through TransVAC and the Huskie Line, Route 19 operates at two separate times throughout the day: Route 19E is an early morning route from 4 a.m. to 8:10 a.m. with a special school route from 8:15 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. that picks back up again at 12:05 p.m.

Route 19 is the afternoon option, operating from 12:05 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

The service will provide transportation for residents employed at the 570-acre industrial complex located on the west side of Peace Road, south of East Lincoln Highway and north of Fairview Drive. It’s a major hub for the workforce, home to Nestle, Panduit, the Target distribution center, 3M and Goodyear.

The new bus route is also meant to provide an option for students and families in DeKalb District 428, specifically Tyler, Lincoln and Founders Elementary School, and Huntley Middle School, said Marcus Cox, transit manager for the City of DeKalb.

Route 19E’s special school route is called 19S, and is meant to assist families in the Annie Glidden North Area.

Route 19S departs the DuSable Turnaround (Stop 1 on the map) at 8:15 a.m. and travels south on Annie Glidden Road before making a left on to Taylor Street. Once on Taylor Street, the bus travels to Glidden Avenue, and eventually to Alden Place to drop off at Tyler Elementary. After departing Tyler Elementary, the bus travels east along Sunset Avenue over to Lincoln Elementary. After making a stop at Lincoln, the bus travels south on Fourth Street, passing by Huntley Middle School. After a drive down Lucerne Lane, the bus travels north on South Seventh Street and up to Founders Elementary before continuing north on Seventh Street and back around to the Annie Glidden North neighborhood and eventually ending the first stop, DuSable Turnaround.

The afternoon route, Route 19, picks up the school route at 12:05 p.m. to 7 p.m. After 7 p.m., the bus will travel along Taylor St. to Fourth St. and bypass Alden Ct. and Sunset Pl.

All DeKalb bus routes can be tracked online at www.dekalbpublic.etaspot.net and using any smartphone, Cox said. You can also download the bus tracker app, ETA Spot, available in Google Play and Apple stores for free.