DART seeks public input on final bus route redesign

COMING UP IN A BIT. THANK YOU. ZANE. THE DES MOINES AREA REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY IS ASKING FOR A FINAL ROUND OF PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON ITS BUS ROUTE REDESIGN. TODAY. IT RELEASED A PROPOSED MAP FOR 2026. ��vlog’S OLIVIA TYLER HAS THE DETAILS ON THIS PLAN. REIMAGINED DART IS THE TRANSIT SYSTEM’S FIRST MAJOR REDESIGN IN MORE THAN A DECADE. IT FEATURES FEWER ROUTES WITH MORE FREQUENT SERVICE EVERY 15 MINUTES, AND EVEN ON THE WEEKENDS, AND DART IS ASKING FOR PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON THIS MAP ALL MONTH LONG. THE PROPOSED PLAN WOULD INCLUDE ROUTES FOCUSED ON THE BUSIEST CORRIDORS OF THE METRO AND REDUCED HOURS DURING LOW RIDERSHIP TIMES. PLUS, IT WOULD EXPAND SERVICE INTO LESS POPULATED SUBURBAN AREAS. THAT INCREASES USABILITY. IT INCREASES ACCESS TO JOBS. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT USE TRANSIT THEMSELVES TODAY, BUT MAY HAVE SOMEONE THEY WORK WITH, MAY BE INTERESTED THEMSELVES. SO REALLY, THIS IS ABOUT SERVING THE REGION. THE DART COMMISSION, MADE UP OF ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM ALL 11 CITIES DART SERVES, DIRECTED STAFF TO DESIGN A NEW NETWORK WITH 10% LESS SERVICE TO LIMIT PROPERTY TAX GROWTH IN ALIGN WITH WHAT THE REGION COULD AFFORD OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. DES MOINES MAYOR CONNIE BOESEN SAYS FASTER ROUTES BRING MORE RIDERSHIP AND MORE RIDERSHIP BRINGS MORE REVENUE. COSTS HAVE GONE UP AND WE ARE TRYING TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AND AS UNCOVER THE PEOPLE’S NEEDS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. IN AUGUST, DES MOINES CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO PASS A HIGHER FRANCHISE FEE TO HELP KEEP DART FUNDED. THAT FEE WILL RAISE THE PRICE OF UTILITY BILLS FOR DES MOINES RESIDENTS, WHICH MEANS IF YOUR BILL IS AROUND 100 A MONTH, IT WOULD ADD AN EXTRA 30 PER YEAR ON TOP OF WHAT YOU ALREADY PAY. WE DO FEEL THAT WE NEED TO FIND OTHER SOURCES THAN TAXES. WE’LL BE WORKING ON THAT, BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ABSOLUTELY DO NEED IT. THE SURVEY AND THIS MAP ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON DART’S WEBSITE THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THE TRANSIT SYSTEM WILL ALSO HOST PUBLIC MEETINGS AND STAFF AND INFORMATION TABLE AT THE CENTRAL STATION DOWNTOWN. DART WILL BE SHARING PUBLIC FEEDBACK WITH THEIR COMMISSION IN OCTOBER. THEY HOPE TO SET THE PLAN BY TH

Updated: 12:07 PM CDT Sep 5, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

DART seeks public input on final bus route redesign

Updated: 12:07 PM CDT Sep 5, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

For the final time, DART is asking for public feedback throughout September on its proposed bus route redesign for 2026, marking the transit system's first major overhaul in more than a decade. Right now, DART has 27 bus routes. Most stops can take up to an hour, and frequency drops dramatically on the weekends. With the new network, under the "Reimagine DART" initiative, the transit system will cut down to 10 routes, but majority of those routes will run every 15 minutes, including on the weekends.The proposed plan includes routes focused on the busiest corridors of the metro, reduced hours during low-ridership times, and expanded service into less-populated suburban areas.Amanda Wanke, CEO of DART, says the new plan "increases usability. It increases access to jobs. There are people who may not use transit themselves today, but may have someone they work with, may be interested themselves. And so really, this is about serving the region."The DART Commission, composed of elected officials from all 11 cities DART serves, directed staff to design a new network with 10% less service to limit property tax growth and align with what the region could afford throughout 2027.Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen emphasized the importance of the redesign, stating, "Faster routes bring more ridership, and more ridership brings more revenue." In August, the Des Moines City Council voted to pass a higher franchise fee to help keep DART funded, which will increase utility bills for Des Moines residents. For utility bills of around $100 per month, the fee will add an extra $30 per year.Boesen added, "We do feel that we need to find other sources than taxes. We'll be working on that. But I think that we need to make sure we have a transit system that works for the people that absolutely do need it."The survey and map are available on DART's website through the end of September. The transit system will host public meetings and staff an information table at Central Station downtown. See the list below.DART says they want feedback from all community members, not just riders. Officials plan to share public feedback with its commission in October and hopes to finalize the plan by the end of the year.You can see the draft network here.» Subscribe to ��vlog's YouTube page» Download the free ��vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayPublic input meeting schedule11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9: DART Central Station (2nd floor)5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9: Franklin Avenue Library 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11: Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16: West Des Moines Public Library5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17: East Side Library5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18: Des Moines Area Religious Council5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22: Urbandale Public Library5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24: Virtual (Zoom)12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept 25: Caring Hands of Iowa (Altoona)

DES MOINES, Iowa —

For the final time, DART is asking for public feedback throughout September on its proposed bus route redesign for 2026, marking the transit system's first major overhaul in more than a decade.

Right now, DART has 27 bus routes. Most stops can take up to an hour, and frequency drops dramatically on the weekends. With the new network, under the "Reimagine DART" initiative, the transit system will cut down to 10 routes, but majority of those routes will run every 15 minutes, including on the weekends.

The proposed plan includes routes focused on the busiest corridors of the metro, reduced hours during low-ridership times, and expanded service into less-populated suburban areas.

Amanda Wanke, CEO of DART, says the new plan "increases usability. It increases access to jobs. There are people who may not use transit themselves today, but may have someone they work with, may be interested themselves. And so really, this is about serving the region."

The DART Commission, composed of elected officials from all 11 cities DART serves, directed staff to design a new network with 10% less service to limit property tax growth and align with what the region could afford throughout 2027.

Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen emphasized the importance of the redesign, stating, "Faster routes bring more ridership, and more ridership brings more revenue."

In August, the Des Moines City Council voted to pass a higher franchise fee to help keep DART funded, which will increase utility bills for Des Moines residents. For utility bills of around $100 per month, the fee will add an extra $30 per year.

Boesen added, "We do feel that we need to find other sources than taxes. We'll be working on that. But I think that we need to make sure we have a transit system that works for the people that absolutely do need it."

The survey and map are available on DART's website through the end of September. The transit system will host public meetings and staff an information table at Central Station downtown. See the list below.

DART says they want feedback from all community members, not just riders. Officials plan to share public feedback with its commission in October and hopes to finalize the plan by the end of the year.

You can .

» Download the free ��vlog app to get updates on the go: |

Public input meeting schedule

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9: DART Central Station (2nd floor)

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9: Franklin Avenue Library

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11: Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16: West Des Moines Public Library

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17: East Side Library

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18: Des Moines Area Religious Council

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22: Urbandale Public Library

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24: Virtual (Zoom)

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept 25: Caring Hands of Iowa (Altoona)

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DART seeks public input on final bus route redesign

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