Mark your calendars—All new bus routes will begin on June 14, 2026. We're replacing our current routes with ten main routes that run more often, 7 days a week, on the busiest streets of the Des Moines metro.
The new network offers:
- 15-minute bus service on four main streets.
- Easier connections without coming into downtown.
- More service on weekends, especially on Sundays.
On June 14, your bus route, schedule and bus stop could change. Scroll down to learn more and start planning your new route today! Or attend an upcoming open house and we’ll help you get ready.
On this page, you’ll find:
- Schedules and turn-by-turn directions for each new route
- A map of the new bus network
- An interactive map showing you where bus stops will be located
- A chart comparing the new routes to our current routes
- Dates and times for getting in-person assistance
- Frequently asked questions
Explore the New Routes and Services
Click on each route to see a map, a list of important details, and an electronic version of the route schedule.
Route 2 – MLK Jr Pkwy
Route 2 will travel between DART Central Station and Polk County River Place on the north side of Des Moines.
How Often: Every 15 minutes, most of the day, 7 days a week
Main Streets Served: MLK Jr. Pkwy.
Key Destinations:
- Des Moines Central Library
- Unity Point – Iowa Methodist Hospital
- Oakridge Neighborhood
- Polk County Health Department
- Broadlawns Medical Center
- Hy-Vee Harding Hills
- Polk County River Place
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital
Route 3 – University Ave
Route 3 will travel between DART Central Station and Walmart in Windsor Heights. Route 3L will follow the same path as Route 3 but continue on to provide service to several areas of West Des Moines.
How Often:
- 3 and 3L - Every 15 minutes, most of the day, 7 days a week between DART Central Station and Walmart in Windsor Heights
- 3L - Every 30 minutes, most of the day, 7 days a week between Walmart in Windsor Heights and Walmart in West Des Moines
- University Ave.
- Jordan Creek Pkwy. (3L)
- Mercy One Medical Center
- DMACC Urban Campus
- Primary Healthcare
- Drake University
- Windsor Heights Town Center
- Hy-Vee – Windsor Heights
- Walmart – Windsor Heights
- Valley West Mall (3L)
- Target – Valley West (3L)
- Mercy One West Des Moines Medical Center (3L)
- Methodist West Hospital (3L)
- Jordan Creek Town Center (3L)
- Walmart – West Des Moines (3L)
Route 4 – Crosstown
Route 4 will travel in two directions from DART Central Station, connecting riders from downtown Des Moines to areas of east and north Des Moines, Urbandale, Clive, Windsor Heights and West Des Moines’ Valley Junction neighborhood.
How Often: Every 30 minutes, most of the day, 7 days a week.
Main Streets Served:
- E. 14th St. (Des Moines)
- Euclid Ave. (Des Moines)
- Douglas Ave. (Des Moines & Urbandale)
- 86th St. (Clive & Urbandale)
- 8th St. (West Des Moines)
- Grand Ave. (Des Moines & West Des Moines)
- Ingersoll Ave. (Des Moines)
- East Village
- Iowa State Capitol
- East High School
- Grand View University
- Park Fair Mall
- Polk County River Place
- Merle Hay Mall
- Urbandale Library
- Walmart – Windsor Heights
- Valley Junction
- Des Moines Art Center
- Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand
Route 5 – Merle Hay Rd
Route 5 will travel between DART Central Station and Johnston.
How Often: Every 30 minutes, most of the day, 7 days a week.
Main Streets Served:
- Ingersoll Ave.
- 42nd St.
- University Ave.
- 30th St.
- Franklin Ave.
- Hickman Rd.
- Merle Hay Rd.
- Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand
- Roosevelt High School and Shops at Roosevelt
- Drake University
- Franklin Avenue Library
- Merle Hay Mall
- Hy-Vee Johnston
- Johnston Library
Route 6 – SE 14th St
Route 6 will travel between DART Central Station and Southridge Mall.
How Often: Every 30 minutes, most of the day, 7 days a week.
Main Streets Served:
- Indianola Ave.
- SE 14th St.
- Southgate Shopping Center and Hy-Vee – SE 14th St.
- Walmart – SE 14th St.
- Southridge Mall
Route 7 – SW 9th St
Route 7 will travel between DART Central Station and Southridge Mall.
How Often: Every 30 minutes, most of the day, 7 days a week.
Main Streets Served:
- SW 9th St.
- Army Post Rd.
- County Line Rd.
Key Destinations:
- Lincoln High School
- IowaWORKS, DMARC Pantry and other services
- Blank Park Zoo
- Southridge Mall
Route 8 – Watrous Ave
Route 8 will travel between DART Central Station and Southgate Shopping Center.
How Often: Every 60 minutes, most of the day, 7 days a week.
Main Streets Served:
- Thomas Beck Rd.
- Fleur Dr.
- Watrous Ave.
Key Destinations:
- Southgate Shopping Center and Hy-Vee – SE 14th St.
Route 9 and 9L – 6th Ave
Route 9 will travel between DART Central Station and Park Fair Mall. Route 9L will follow the same path as Route 9 but continue on to provide service to Ankeny.
How Often:
- 9 and 9L - Every 30 minutes, most of the day on weekdays (Route 9 will run every 60 minutes on weekends) between DART Central Station and Park Fair Mall
- 9L - Every 60 minutes, weekdays only from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., between Park Fair Mall and Ankeny
- 6th Ave.
- Euclid Ave.
- 2nd Ave. (9L)
- State St. (9L)
- 1st St. (9L)
- Delaware Ave. (9L)
- Oralabor Rd. (9L)
- Mercy One Des Moines Medical Center
- DMACC Urban Campus
- North High School
- Highland Park
- Park Fair Mall
- DMACC Ankeny Campus (9L)
- The District at Prairie Trail & Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library (9L)
- Ankeny Market & Pavilion (9L)
- Albaugh Family Senior Community Center (9L)
- Mercy One North (9L)
- Walmart and Target – Ankeny (9L)
Route 11 – Hubbell Ave
Route 11 will travel between DART Central Station and The Outlets of Des Moines in Altoona.
How Often: Every 30 minutes, most of the day, 7 days a week.
Main Streets Served:
- E. University Ave.
- Hubbell Ave.
- Mercy One Des Moines Medical Center
- East High School
- East Side Library
- Walmart – Altoona
- The Outlets of Des Moines
Route 12 – Easton Blvd
Route 12 will travel between DART Central Station and Walmart in Altoona.
How Often: Every 30 minutes, most of the day, 7 days a week.
Main Streets Served:
- E. University Ave
- Easton Blvd
- E. 42nd St
- Hubbell Ave
- Mercy One Des Moines Medical Center
- East High School
- Iowa State Fairgrounds
- Walmart - Altoona
Route 20 – Mills Civic Pkwy
Route 20 will provide limited service between Walmart in Windsor Heights and Walmart in West Des Moines.
How Often: 5 trips daily on weekdays (2 trips in the morning and 3 trips in the afternoon)
Main Streets Served:
- Grand Ave. in West Des Moines
- EP True Pkwy
- Mills Civic Pkwy
- Walmart – Windsor Heights
- Hy-Vee – Grand Ave. (West Des Moines)
- West Des Moines Library
- Hy-Vee – Mills Civic Pkwy. (West Des Moines)
- Walmart – West Des Moines
DART On Demand
Three suburban areas will have DART On Demand service beginning in September 2026.
- Altoona
- Ankeny
- Clive and Urbandale
We will share more details about DART On Demand in summer 2026.
Important: DART On Demand in Ankeny will continue to operate as it does today through September.
View the Map of DART’s New Bus Network
Below is a map of our new bus network, effective June 14, 2026. DART On Demand zones will begin in late September.
After you look at the map, continue scrolling to see a chart comparing the new routes to our current routes and read or listen to turn-by-turn directions.
Click here to see the map larger.
Turn-by-turn directions for each route in the new bus network can be found here. Spoken audio directions are also available by video here.
What Else is Changing?
Operating Hours (All Services, including Paratransit)
- Monday – Saturday, 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- Sunday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Bus Stops
Some stops will move so we can provide faster, more reliable service. Bus stops will be located about every three or four blocks in our new network.
Explore our new interactive map to see where bus stops will be located along each route in the new network.
Services that will End on Friday, June 12
- Express Routes
- Flex Connect
- On Call services
- Downtown Des Moines LINK shuttle
DART On Demand
Three new DART On Demand zones in Altoona, Ankeny, Clive and Urbandale will launch in September of this year. The current DART On Demand service in Ankeny will operate as is until then.
Compare Your Routes
Several of our new bus routes will have different numbers but continue to travel along the same streets as our current routes, so most riders will still have access to local bus service.
Use this chart to see what routes you could ride in the new network.
| I Currently Ride | Starting June 14, I Could Ride | ||
| Route 1 | → | Route 4 | In the East Village |
| Route 12 | In East Des Moines and Altoona | ||
| Route 3 | → | Route 3 | Along University Avenue to Walmart in Windsor Heights |
| Route 3L | Along University Avenue to Walmart in Windsor Heights and Valley West Mall | ||
| Route 4 | → | Route 4 |
In the East Village (There will be no service on East 14th Street north of Euclid Avenue.) |
| Route 5 | → | Route 5 | This route will travel on similar streets as Route 5 does today. |
| Route 6 | → | Route 6 | This route will travel on similar streets as Route 6 does today. |
| Route 7 | → | Route 7 | This route will travel on similar streets as Route 7 does today. |
| Route 8 | → | Route 8 |
Along Thomas Beck Road and Fleur Drive to Watrous Avenue. (There will be no service on Fleur Drive south of Watrous.) |
| Route 10 | → | Route 11 | Along East University Avenue to Hubbell Avenue |
| Route 12 |
Along East University Avenue to East 33rd Street (There will be no service on East University Avenue east of East 33rd Street.) |
||
| Route 11 | → | Route 4 | Along Ingersoll Avenue and Grand Avenue to Valley Junction |
| Route 13 | → | Route 8 | The route will travel on similar streets as Route 13 does today. |
| Route 14 | → | Route 2 | Along MLK Jr. Parkway |
| Route 5 |
Along Merle Hay Road (There will be no service on Urbandale Avenue and Aurora Avenue.) |
||
| Route 15 | → | Route 9 | Along 6th Avenue |
| Route 16 | → | Route 2 | Along MLK Jr. Parkway and Hickman Road to Broadlawns Hospital |
| Route 4 |
Along Doulas Avenue (There will be no service on Lower Beaver Road or Meredith Drive.) |
||
| Route 17 | → | Route 11 | From Downtown Des Moines to Altoona via Hubbell Avenue |
| Route 50 | → | Route 4 |
Along Euclid Avenue and Douglas Avenue between Merle Hay Road and East 14th Street (There will be no service on East Euclid Avenue to East 29th Street.) |
| Route 52 | → | Route 3L | From Downtown Des Moines to Jordan Creek Mall and West Des Moines Walmart via University Avenue |
| Route 60 | → | Route 3 | Along University Avenue to 42nd Street |
| Route 4 or 5 | From Downtown Des Moines to Ingersoll Avenue and 42nd Street | ||
| Route 5 | Along 42nd Street | ||
| Route 72 | → | Route 20 | The route will travel on similar streets as Route 72 does today. |
| Route 74 | → | Route 4 |
Along 86th Street and University Boulevard (DART On Demand Clive-Urbandale Coming Fall 2026) |
| Route 92 | → | There will be no DART Service along Hickman Road in Clive. DART On Demand Clive-Urbandale will begin in Fall 2026 | |
| Route 93 | → | Route 4 |
Along 86th Street from University Boulevard to Douglas Avenue. (There will be no service north of Douglas Avenue to Johnston.) |
| Route 94 | → | There will be no comparable DART service. | |
| Route 95 | → | Route 3L | Between 60th Street and Vista Drive in West Des Moines. |
| Route 96 | → | Route 20 | Along EP True Parkway from Mills Civic Parkway to Grand Avenue. |
| Route 98 | → | Route 9L and DART On Demand Ankeny | |
| Route 99 | → | Route 11 or 12 |
From Altoona Walmart to Des Moines. (DART On Demand Altoona will begin Fall 2026.) |
We'll Help You Get Ready
We know this is a big change. Our team is committed to helping you learn your new bus route before the new route begin on June 14.
Join an open house to speak with a DART staff member and get help learning where to go and when you can catch the bus. We will have snacks and printed materials for you to take home.
Learn My Route Open Houses
- May 1, 2 to 4 p.m., at Des Moines Central Library
- May 5, 5 to 7 p.m., at Des Moines North Side Library
- May 6, 5 to 7 p.m., at Des Moines Franklin Library
- May 7, 1 to 3 p.m., in the Multimodal Room at DART Central Station (ASL interpretation provided)
- May 11, 1 to 3 p.m., at Des Moines Forest Avenue Library (Asistencia en español disponible)
- May 14, 5 to 7 p.m., at Des Moines South Side Library
- May 27, 4 to 6 p.m., at Urbandale Public Library
- May 28, 6 to 8 p.m., at Johnston Public Library
- June 3, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., at Ankeny Public Library
- June 4, 5 to 7 p.m., at West Des Moines Public Library
- June 6, Noon to 2 p.m., in the Multimodal Room at DART Central Station
There will be no formal presentation, so stop by any time during these events!
Free Rides on DART Bus Routes: June 14 - 30
All bus routes will be free to ride from June 14-30, to support you when the new routes launch. Fares will resume on July 1.
Please note: Fares will be collected on DART On Demand and Paratransit during this time.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When will DART's new routes begin?
-
All new bus routes will begin on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
- What routes are going away?
-
All current local bus routes will be replaced with the new bus routes beginning Sunday, June 14, 2026. All Express Routes, Flex Connect, On Call services and the LINK shuttle end on Friday, June 12, 2026.
- Why are DART’s routes changing?
-
The Des Moines metro has changed a lot in the last 10 years. We designed a new network to ensure our bus routes match people’s travel needs and our communities’ priorities for public transit with the funding we have. Many riders provided input on how we designed the new network.
- Where do I find a schedule for my new route?
-
You can view schedules for each new route on this webpage by clicking on the routes under "Explore the New Routes and Services".
- Is my bus stop going away?
-
We are removing about every other bus stop in some areas, especially closer to downtown Des Moines. You can view an interactive map of the bus stop locations here. In May, you will see new bus stop signs being installed and signs posted on any bus stop going away.
- How will these changes impact Paratransit?
-
We will continue to provide Paratransit service in most of the same areas we do today. The main change to our Paratransit zone is removing service in Bondurant and Pleasant Hill, because those communities are withdrawing from DART.
In addition, our hours of service will change to match the rest of the network.
The new Paratransit hours will be:
- Monday – Saturday, 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Sunday, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Why are you reducing the hours of service?
-
We cut service hours during the least traveled times of day to align with our budget. Learn more here.
- What happens if I can’t use one of the new routes to get where I need to go?
-
We’re sorry you won’t be able to ride DART to get where you need to go. With limited funding, we have designed our bus routes based on what most people want for service. We are considering other options to meet some travel needs. Please tell us about your transportation needs here.
- What will happen to school service in August?
-
We will still have service to most Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) middle and high schools. We’re in the process of finalizing school trip schedules and will be sharing those with the school district over summer break.
- Are fares changing?
-
No. Our fares will stay the same as today, $1.75 per ride. If your trip requires a transfer, you will be asked to pay fare for both trips. You can save money by buying an unlimited day pass for $4. We also have weekly and monthly bus passes available. In addition, you may be eligible for our Half Fare program.
We are also proud to offer free rides on all bus routes from June 14-30, to help you get comfortable with the new routes. Paratransit and DART On Demand are not included. Fares will resume on July 1.
- What does the “L” stand for in routes 3L and 9L?
-
Great question! The “L” means long. Routes 3L and 9L are longer than Routes 3 and 9 because they provide service to West Des Moines and Ankeny.