Reimagine DART is a collaborative effort to transform public transit in Greater Des Moines. This initiative is charting a fresh course for how DART can strengthen and connect communities within a growing region.
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WHY REIMAGINE DART
A thriving community begins with the right connections. Through 3.75 million trips in a year, DART connects people to vital destinations, including workplaces, schools, healthcare and local businesses.
With nearly 9 out of 10 trips resulting in people earning or spending money, DART not only supports those who ride, but also fuels economic growth and opportunity within neighborhoods.
Reimagine DART is driven by a need to:
- Respond to changes in where and how people are traveling throughout the region.
- Maximize limited funding by aligning services with the region's priorities for public transit.
With DART's member communities defining a shared vision and roadmap for public transit, DART can deliver transit services that meet the needs of today - and tomorrow.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Throughout 2025, Reimagine DART achieved:
A REGIONAL VISION
The DART Commission, comprised of an elected official from each of DART’s member communities, established priorities for regional transit.
A NETWORK REDESIGN
DART staff and the Commission worked with transit consultants to determine the services DART should deliver and how to deliver them based on priorities and funding.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
DART gathered input from more than 1,500 riders and residents to inform decisions about how to design new bus routes and services.
A LOOK AT DART'S NEW BUS NETWORK
In December, the DART Commission approved the first major redesign of bus routes and services in more than a decade. The new network will increase transit access and speed up travel times for most transit trips while reducing total service hours to limit property tax growth.
FEATURES OF THE NEW NETWORK
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4 corridors will have 15-minute service most of the day, every day.
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10 main bus routes will run along the busiest streets and reflect residents’ preferences for more frequent service all week.
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Spacing bus stops farther apart and timing transfers at DART Central Station will provide faster and more efficient service.
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3 DART On Demand microtransit zones will provide local service in some suburban areas, resulting in more residents with access to public transit.
OUTCOMES OF THE NEW NETWORK
When DART implements the new bus network in June 2026:
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15% more jobs will be accessible within 45 minutes for the average resident.
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7% more residents will be near 15-minute bus service.
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5% more residents will be near any transit service
GREATER RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Increased access to opportunities means:
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Residents can reach more vital destinations, with 60% of trips taking people to and from work.
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Ridership potential grows, increasing cost-effectiveness. Today, DART averages 18 passengers per service hour on local routes today.
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Economic attractiveness of our region increases, with public transit generating $5 in economic return for every $1 invested. (APTA, 2020)
Learn about the new routes.
Learn about the process.
MOVING FORWARD
In 2026 and 2027, Reimagine DART will achieve:
NEW NETWORK LAUNCH
DART will begin implementing the redesigned service network in summer 2026. New microtransit zones will begin in fall 2026.
A FARE STUDY
DART staff and the Commission will conduct a comprehensive study to evaluate DART’s fare policy and recommend updates.
PARATRANSIT UPDATE
The DART Commission will revisit Paratransit boundaries and how to best deliver this critical service with limited resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
- I ride DART today. How might changes impact me?
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We will change all new bus routes beginning in summer 2026. Learn more about the new network and what changes are coming here.
- Did the public have an opportunity to comment on these changes?
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We asked riders and residents for feedback at two important points in the network redesign process. The public had a chance to give input on two concepts for how our services could be designed based on different priorities in spring 2025. We offered a second opportunity to provide feedback on the draft bus network in the fall.
Through both public input periods, we collected more than 2,000 survey responses and engaged hundreds of people through presentations, public meetings and tabling events in the community and at DART Central Station. This process ensured we were designing our services based on most people’s preferences.
Any changes DART considers making to fares or Paratransit service will be presented to the public for feedback.
- Why did DART hire a consulting team to work on the network redesign?
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Hiring a consulting team expanded DART staff’s capacity and incorporated an outside perspective of how DART's service network could look in the future. DART staff and the Commission worked collaboratively with the consulting team to give direction and a local understanding of public transit, while the consultants offered knowledge from work with other transit agencies across the country.
- How is Reimagine DART funded?
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We are grateful for the Principal Foundation, Polk County, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, Delta Dental and EMC Insurance for providing more than $500,000 in grant funding to support Reimagine DART. The remainder of the funding was covered through our capital budget, which is separate from the budget we use to operate services.