DART Making Major Changes to its Service on Aug. 19

Transit access for many Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority riders will improve as DART implements changes to its system beginning Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018. This will impact every DART route and service type. Major changes include:

• Addition of DART’s first-ever crosstown route, Local Route 50 – Euclid/Douglas Crosstown
• Earlier service on several Local Routes to get people to work by 6 a.m.
• Increased midday frequency on several Local Routes

Route 50 – Euclid/Douglas Crosstown
Service will begin on a new route, which is also DART’s first crosstown route, on Monday, Aug. 20. Local Route 50 will travel east and west along Euclid and Douglas Avenues between Merle Hay Road (Haymarket Mall) and Hubbell Avenue and East 42nd Street in north Des Moines.

This route will not travel downtown to DART Central Station. Instead, it will travel past transfer points for seven of DART’s Local Routes—saving up to 90 minutes of travel time for some riders and providing more convenient access to health care, education and employment opportunities. Route 50 was made possible through the Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program Grant DART received from the Iowa Department of Transportation. 

Earlier start times

DART will begin its service day for several Local Routes one hour earlier so people can get to work by 6 a.m.

Because of this change, DART Central Station will open one hour earlier on weekdays. Hours for DART’s Customer Service window and phones will not change.

Improved midday frequency

DART completed a comprehensive analysis of all Local Routes, and has identified several routes that will receive 20 minute frequency during the peak and midday travel times. Because of this, midday frequencies will improve for: Local Route 3 – University, Local Route 6 – Indianola Ave, Local Route 7 – SW 9th Street, Local Route 15 – 6th Ave and Local Route 16 – Douglas Ave.

In addition, Local Route 14 – Beaver Ave and Local Route 52 – Valley West/Jordan Creek Crosstown will also see improved midday frequency.

Other changes

Along with the major changes listed above, DART will also make the following changes as part of this service change:

• Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) Bell Times: Schedule adjustments on several DART routes align with the new bell times for DMPS students and staff.
• Route 10: Minor adjustments to the map for Route 10.

o   Des Moines changes: Removing service from the Iowa State Capitol Complex and onto East University Avenue in east Des Moines to serve Iowa Lutheran Hospital.

o   Pleasant Hill changes: Removing service from Little Fourmile Creek Drive and adding service to NE 12th Avenue. Copper Creek Park & Ride will be removed.

• Platform Changes: DART modified platform assignments for some Local Routes at DART Central Station