Reimagine DART

Reimagine DART is a collaborative effort to transform public transit in Greater Des Moines. This initiative will chart a fresh course for how DART can strengthen and connect communities within a growing region.  

Let’s Reimagine Together 

• Sign up for Reimagine DART emails with opportunities to learn and provide input. 

• Share your DART story by filling out this form.   

 

WHY REIMAGINE DART 

A thriving community begins with the right connections.  

Every day, 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.   

While DART delivers up to 12,500 rides on a weekday, Reimagine DART will relook at the types of connections we forge. Since DART formed as a regional transportation solution in 2006, we have adapted to shifting travel patterns, regional expansion and new technology. But where people work and live has changed through the pandemic, communities have developed city centers and more central Iowans are aging at home or choosing not to drive.  

As funding for public transit becomes tighter, now is the right time – and a unique opportunity – to take a fresh look at the region’s priorities for public transit. Through this process, the DART Commission will decide how DART can meet communities' and riders' needs of today—and tomorrow.
 

WHAT IS REIMAGINE DART 

What we choose to build and invest in today will be what connects people to our communities for the next 10 years and beyond.  

The DART Commission, comprised of an elected official from each of DART’s 12 member communities, will set a new vision for public transit that informs a roadmap for how DART delivers services as part of an inclusive and flourishing region.  

The process will include: 
 

A REGIONAL VISION

The DART Commission will decide what role DART plays in the region by setting shared goals and measures of success for public transit.
 

A NETWORK REDESIGN 

The Commission and DART staff will work with a consulting team to decide the types of services DART should deliver and how to deliver them based on goals and funding.

 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

DART will provide opportunities for staff, riders and residents to give input to inform decisions local elected leaders make about DART's service network. 

 

This effort has the potential to transform our public transit system. Our hope is that a new service network will allow DART to serve our current riders, while also providing new opportunities to better connect residents to places that matter. 
 

KEY STEPS

If successful in achieving a shared vision, DART will begin to implement a reimagined network of services in summer 2026. Here is how we’ll get there:  

• Shared Vision (Fall 2024): The DART Commission will prioritize the outcomes DART should achieve. 
   
• Consulting Team (October 2024): The Commission is expected to select transit consultants to work with staff and elected leaders on a network redesign.
   
• Public Input (late 2024 or early 2025): DART will gather staff, rider and community feedback to inform priorities of a network redesign.
   
• Network Redesign (2025): The transit consulting team will work with DART staff and the Commission to develop recommendations for a service network, including DART’s Paratransit service.
   
• Public Input (early fall 2025): DART will gather staff, rider and community feedback on the proposed network redesign.
   
• Final Network Redesign (December 2025): The Commission will vote on final recommendations for a network redesign.
   
• Service Changes (Summer 2026): DART could begin to implement the new service network based on level of funding.  
   

Get Involved 

Together we can ensure DART remains a vital force in driving Greater Des Moines toward a more connected tomorrow.  

Here’s how:  

• Sign up for email updates on Reimagine DART. 
• Share your DART story by filling out this form.   
• Share your thoughts on public transit with your elected leaders. 
• Participate in opportunities to learn and offer your ideas. We’ll share opportunities soon! 
   

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Frequently Asked Questions 

I ride DART today. How might changes impact me?

Reimagine DART will look at all services DART provides and how we deliver them. This will include looking at our Local and Express routes, On Demand zones, and Paratransit. The DART Commission will make decisions about DART’s future using your feedback, data collected, and goals established among all member communities.   

We are unsure how much of our current transit system could change. Our hope is that this process will allow us to provide transportation options that continue to serve our current riders, while also looking at how we can make connections that better align with where and how people are traveling. 

We will share regular updates about Reimagine DART and expect to implement any service changes starting in summer 2026.

Who is involved in Reimagine DART?

Reimagine DART will engage as many people as possible in charting a fresh course for DART’s future. Here is who will be involved:  

The DART Commission: DART’s governing body – comprised of an elected official from each of our 12 member communities – will make decisions on DART’s goals, services and budget.  

DART Staff: The team will facilitate the process, provide opportunities for public input and inform recommendations. Staff will implement the service network.  

Consulting Team: A team of consultants with expertise in public transit will propose options for how DART could deliver services to meet the Commission’s goals. Consultants will provide a final recommendation on a service network that can be scaled up or down depending on funding and possibly fares DART would charge for services.  

Advisory Cabinet: A group of business and community leaders will learn alongside the DART Commission and provide insight to help champion a reimagined public transit network.  

Business and Human Service Agencies: DART seeks to engage many partners in learning, sharing information and helping gather feedback to inform our future.  

Riders and Residents: Central Iowans – including you! – will play a valuable role by sharing feedback to inform decisions throughout the process. 

Why is DART hiring a consulting team to work on a network redesign? 

Hiring a consulting team will expand DART staff’s capacity and bring an outside perspective of how DART's service network could look. DART staff and the Commission will work collaboratively with a consulting team to give direction and a local understanding of public transit as the consultants also offer knowledge from work with other transit agencies across the country. We will engage staff, riders and residents to provide feedback on the options the consulting team develops.   

Some scenarios may consider a smaller transit network. The process of reimagining the service network will still be important to evaluate how DART can maximize the resources we have to deliver services that best meet communities’ and riders’ needs. 

How is Reimagine DART funded?

We are grateful for the Principal Foundation, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation and Polk County for providing more than $300,000 in grant funding to support Reimagine DART. We are still determining the total cost of Reimagine DART as we finalize everything we need to accomplish and continue to apply for grant opportunities.  

The DART Commission has agreed that this planning process is the best way forward for DART to provide greater stability long term. What we don’t raise through grants will be covered by our capital budget, which is separate from the budget we use to operate services.