Published on: January 20, 2025
At 62 years old, West Des Moines resident Todd Kilzer relies almost exclusively on DART Paratransit to get him where he needs to go.
“All of my appointments are centered around DART transportation,” Todd explained. “I have dialysis on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and I usually have other medical appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I literally use DART Paratransit services every day.”
Todd’s mobility challenges began nearly 10 years ago, when diabetes caused a severe infection to develop in his heel. The infection became so serious that his doctors ultimately had to amputate his foot.
Following the amputation, Todd started using a wheelchair to get around and needed his wife’s help for regular activities like showering and getting dressed each morning.
“My life changed dramatically,” Todd said. “It was really devastating.”
Public Transit is a Solution
Eventually, Todd and his wife decided to move from Madrid, Iowa – where Todd had retired from working in city government after 25 years – to the Des Moines metro so they could be closer to medical offices and other services, as well as move into an ADA-accessible home.
Todd’s physical condition continued to deteriorate over time, making it increasingly difficult to get in and out of a car. Since his wife works full time and can’t leave work to take him everywhere he needs to go, and it was becoming unsafe for him to drive, Todd was forced to find an alternative way to get around.
Outside of riding a DART shuttle from Southeast Polk High School to the Iowa State Fair every August, Todd had never used public transit in central Iowa, nor even considered it as an option for his transportation needs.
“My insurance would not cover private transportation,” Todd said. “One day, I happened to see an ad for DART Paratransit services, and I decided to apply.”
Todd was quickly approved and began to use the service to travel throughout Greater Des Moines. DART was the solution he needed, whether he used it for shopping in Des Moines, going to doctor’s appointments in West Des Moines, or watching horse racing at Prairie Meadows in Altoona. Todd said, “my whole world focused totally on DART and other forms of public transportation.”
Sharing a Unique Perspective
In December 2022, Todd applied to join TRAC, DART’s Transit Riders Advisory Committee. TRAC is a group of 11 riders who advise DART staff and the DART Commission on a variety of topics related to public transportation in Greater Des Moines. Inspired by his long career in city government, Todd felt compelled to serve and share his unique perspective.
“I missed interacting with others in groups,” he explained. “I wanted to be involved in something that I was so heavily reliant upon.”
Todd appreciates that DART staff prioritize attending TRAC’s meetings each month, as he often likes to share feedback on DART’s Paratransit services.
“I feel like the staff hear me,” he said. “I love that they are so willing to be up front. I feel that the organization is transparent, and it truly is here to provide a service for the public.”
Todd is an important voice not just at the TRAC table but also in speaking about the importance of public transit with others. For example, he has provided public comment at DART Commission meetings and recently spoke on a panel for 1000 Friends of Iowa’s Community Transportation Academy.
An Essential Daily Service
Todd says he's formed personal relationships with most of DART’s Paratransit operators, often chatting with them about their interests and hobbies.
“They’re there to help you,” he said. “They want to be part of your life, even if just for that moment.”
He’s also grateful for DART’s affordability because using private transportation to travel throughout the community isn't financially feasible for him.
“It is an essential service,” he said. “It’s no different than other public entities. You may go your whole life and never call the police department. You may go your entire life and (hopefully) never call the fire department. Just the same, you may go all your life and never need public transit, but you don’t know if that will change one day.”
Having lived in a small Iowa town for most of his life, he never imagined that riding public transit was in his future. Now, he says he can’t picture life without it.
“DART means everything to me. I literally couldn’t do anything if it weren’t for DART.”