Published on: December 3, 2024
Most winters, Greater Des Moines experiences at least a few periods of very cold temperatures and blustery wind. Did you know DART offers free rides to warming centers in Polk County when the cold becomes extreme?
DART provides free rides to warming centers when the Polk County Emergency Management activates its Extreme Temperature Plan.
The Extreme Temperature Plan goes into effect when the following is expected in Polk County:
-
Wind chills of 10 degrees for 3 or more consecutive days, OR
-
Wind chills of 5 degrees for 2 or more consecutive days, OR
-
Wind chills of 0 degrees for one or more days.
Once the Plan is in place and you need to access a warm place, you should take these steps:
-
Identify a warming center location near you and the bus route to get there.
-
When you board the bus, tell the driver you’re heading to a warming center.
-
Be sure to then notify the driver when you need to exit the bus at the stop nearest the warming center.
DART Paratransit riders can also schedule a free ride to a warming center by contacting DART Customer Service.
You can call Customer Service at 515-283-8100, email dart@ridedart.com or visit the Customer Service window at DART Central Station if you have any questions.
Where are warming centers in Polk County?
Cities and towns in Polk County are asked to select heated spaces where people can go for a period of time when extreme cold develops.1 These designated warming centers are normally open during the facility’s regular business hours but may extend hours in special circumstances. Warming centers often include libraries, malls, community centers or senior centers. Here is a full list of locations that serve as warming centers in Polk County.
The following warming centers are located directly along one of DART’s regular routes:
|
Warming Center Name |
Bus Routes |
|
Altoona Public Library |
Express Route 99 |
|
Altoona Campus |
Express Route 99 |
|
Clive Public Library |
Local Route 52, Express Route 92 |
|
Des Moines Central Community Center |
Local Routes 3, 5, 14, 60 |
|
Des Moines Central Library |
Local Routes 5, 14, 60 |
| Des Moines Creative Visions |
Local Route 16 |
|
Des Moines East Side Library |
Local Route 17 |
|
Des Moines East Side Community Center |
Local Route 17 |
|
Des Moines Forest Avenue Library |
Local Routes 3, 16, 60 |
|
Des Moines Four Mile Community Recreation Center |
Local Route 1 |
|
Des Moines Franklin Avenue Library |
Local Route 5 |
| Des Moines Northwest Community Center |
Local Route 5 |
|
Des Moines North Community Center |
Local Routes 4, 15 |
|
Des Moines North Side Library |
Local Routes 4, 15 |
|
Des Moines Pioneer Columbus Community Recreation Center |
Local Route 6 |
|
Des Moines South Side Library |
Local Route 7 |
|
Johnston Public Library |
Local Route 5 |
|
Polk County Health Department |
Local Routes 3, 14, 60 |
|
Urbandale Public Library |
Express Route 93 |
|
West Des Moines Public Library |
Local Route 72, Express Route 96 |
|
Windsor Heights Public Safety Building |
Local Route 3 |
Before traveling, it’s a good idea to call your nearest warming center to find out hours of operation and to determine if it is open or closed (including for weekends and holidays).
How do I find out when DART has free rides to warming centers?
When the Polk County Emergency Management Agency activates its winter Extreme Temperature Plan, DART will share updates on ridedart.com and social media. DART will also send emails to riders who are signed up for email alerts. You can even listen to local news in Des Moines to find out when the Extreme Temperature Plan is put into place.
Why go to a warming center?
Extreme cold affects millions of Americans each winter. It can be especially dangerous when the wind increases, lowering the wind chill, or how cold it feels outside for people and animals. Frostbite and hypothermia can develop rapidly when the wind chill drops below 0 degrees.2 The best way to stay safe in bitter cold is to stay in heated places as often as possible and dress in layers, covering all areas of exposed skin, when you must go outside.
Remember, DART will give you and your family a free ride to a warming center during times when Polk County Emergency Management Agency’s Extreme Temperature Plan is in place. Plan your trip to a center here.
SOURCES:
1Polk County Emergency Management Agency, “Extreme Temperature and Sheltering Resources”
2Weather.gov, "Cold weather safety"
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