Shaw Local: Need a ride from Metra station to work? Pace now has $5-a-day rental vans at Crystal Lake, Geneva stations

People commuting to Crystal Lake will now have the option to rent a Pace vehicle through the transit agency’s VanGo program that aims to fill “first and last mile gaps” in commutes.

Pace Suburban Bus launched its VanGo program with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday at the Pingree Road Metra Station in Crystal Lake.

The service is described as a “flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gap” in people’s commutes and “make it easier for them to access greater job opportunities in the McHenry County community,” according to a Pace news release.

From left to right: McHenry County Assistant Director of Transportation Scott Hennings, Hannah Cook representing Congressman Bill Foster, Pace Board Member Erin Smith, McHenry County Treasurer Donna Kurtz McHenry County Board Member Carolyn Campbell and Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger cut the ribbon for the VanGo service at Pingree Road Metra train station on June 25, 2026, in Crystal Lake.

For $5 a day, drivers can rent a Dodge Grand Caravan to take the vehicle to work or anywhere within a 13-mile radius.

“VanGo is an innovative and practical option for commuters who face challenges getting from a train station or transit stop to their workplace,” Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger said. “VanGo helps address those challenges by filling critical first- and last-mile gaps to employment centers, especially in areas where traditional fixed-route service is not practical. VanGo supports employers by expanding access to their worksites, and it helps workers by making the commute more manageable, predictable and affordable.”

The Pingree Road Metra Station was chosen because of its large parking lot and its close proximity to large employers, like Snap-On, Stryker and MercyHealth.

There are currently two vehicles parked at the train station, but more can be added in the future if the demand is there, Metzger said.

“Riders reserve a VanGo vehicle, use it for round-trip travel to their work location, and return it at the end of the day. That model is especially important here because the purpose of VanGo is simple – helping people get to work,” Erin Smith, the Pace Board member representing McHenry County, said. “Crystal Lake has strong employment opportunities, and reliable transportation is essential to making sure workers can reach those jobs.”

People can rent the service by emailing or calling Pace to set up a reservation. Then, they will be assigned a vehicle number and keypad code to unlock the door and key locker.

Drivers will need to pass a physical and drug test and an online driver training class before becoming registered to drive the VanGo vehicles.

Pace staff takes care of fueling, washing and maintaining the vehicles, according to the Pace website.

McHenry County Treasurer Donna Kurtz said the service will make McHenry County more business-friendly, improve financial viability and attract more talent to businesses in the county.

There are nine VanGo locations in total, with vans added to Metra train station stops in Geneva this year. Other locations are the Itasca, Palatine, Lake-Cook, University Park and Lake Forest Metra stations; the Gateway Center in Joliet; and the CTA Blue Line station in Rosemont.

Smith said she would like to see VanGo vehicles at the Woodstock and McHenry train stations in the future.

Other than the drug test, physical and online training course, drivers must be at least 21 years old and meet standard requirements, including a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance and a clean driving record.