Project overview

DART has outgrown its existing operations and maintenance facility located at 1100 DART Way in Des Moines, which is beyond its useful life—requiring significant and costly renovations. As a result, DART is evaluating building a new operations and maintenance facility located in southeast Des Moines off of Vandalia Road in the vicinity of the area shown below.

The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority is investigating the feasibility of constructing a new Operations and Maintenance Facility that will be used to store, maintain and repair DART’s vehicle fleet, as well as house some administrative functions. DART is working with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and other relevant local, state and federal entities to ensure compliance with all appropriate laws and regulations. DART is currently collecting public feedback on two key elements:

• Historical Preservation (Section 106)
• Racial Equity (Title VI)

Section 106 and Historical Preservation

The FTA is initiating consultation with the Iowa State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO), interested parties and the public for this project. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) requires federal agencies to consider the effects on historic properties of projects they carry out, assist, fund, permit, license, or approve throughout the country. Section 106 gives interested parties and the public the chance to weigh in on these matters before a final decision is made.

For more information about the Section 106 consultation process, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has created a “Citizen’s Guide to Section 106” that can be found at the following link: https://www.achp.gov/digital-library-section-106-landing/citizens-guide-section-106-review

DART is soliciting public comments on any impacts the proposed project may have on surrounding historic, cultural or archeological sites. Comments may be provided by

• Emailing dart@ridedart.com 
• Calling 515-283-8100 and selecting option 0 
• Visiting the window inside the DART Central Station lobby (620 Cherry Street, Des Moines) 

Title VI and Racial Equity

DART is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of its transit services on the basis of race, color, or national origin, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.

Title 49 CFR Section 21.9 (b)(3) states, “In determining the site of location of facilities, a recipient or applicant may not make selections with the purpose or effect of excluding persons from, denying them the benefits of, or subjecting them to discrimination under any program to which this regulation applies, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin; or with the purpose or effect of defeating or substantially impairing the accomplishment of the objectives of the Act or this part.” Title 49 CFR part 21, Appendix C, Section (3)(iv) provides, “The location of projects requiring land acquisition and the displacement of persons from their residences and businesses may not be determined on the basis of race, color, or national origin.”

DART has used the following factors to select a preferred location for a potential new Operations and Maintenance facility:

• Proximity to DART Central Station
• Ease of access, traffic, surrounding roadway conditions
• Neighborhood compatibility
• Environmental Impact
• Site configuration
• Acquisition Cost
• Development Cost
• On Bus Route (current or planned)
• Utility condition
• Flood Plain and site drainage
• Geotechnical conditions
• Sustainable Design and Operation opportunities

The preferred new location for DART’s Operations and Maintenance facility has no residences in the immediate vicinity. DART conducted an analysis of the demographics of residents living in the broader area (census block group) and found that the wider area has a similar proportion of non-white and low-income residents living within it compared to Polk County as a whole. The preferred site therefore avoids disparate impacts to minority populations and avoids disproportionately burdening low-income populations.

DART is soliciting public comments on any potential for the proposed project to have disproportionate impacts on minority communities, or to potentially deny the benefits of its transit services on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Comments may be provided by

• Emailing dart@ridedart.com 
• Calling 515-283-8100 and selecting option 0 
• Visiting the window inside the DART Central Station lobby (620 Cherry Street, Des Moines)