| Draft Recommendations |
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The DART Forward 2035 Recommendations put forward a clear vision for creating a truly regional transit system in Greater Des Moines. The updated transit system will serve thousands more people by going more places, more often, with quicker travel times. Use the following quick links to jump ahead to the information you're looking for: Public Input The DART Forward 2035 Recommendations were developed with input from more than 1,300 members of the public through their participation in an online survey and four public meetings in April. The public clearly identified three priorities:
The DART Forward 2035 Recommendations also take into account the four guiding principles that the DART Commission adopted in May. The Commission directed staff and the consulting team to develop a plan that meets the following criteria:
The recommendations call for streamlining and improving frequency on many of the bus routes already in place today as part of the core network. New routes have been added in areas. In other areas, existing routes have been identified for partial or total discontinuation due to several factors, including below-average ridership, other nearby services, and to allow for reinvestment in other routes. The recommendations include proposals for several new services to be launched the next 10 years:
The recommendations could begin being implemented as early as fall 2012. The majority of the recommendations would be implemented in the first three years. In years 4 through 6, two of the proposed new crosstown routes, Routes 50 and 51, would be implemented. Frequency of service on all routes would be gradually increased on routes over the first 10 years, as well. In addition, the recommendations identify possible expansions in service beyond year 2020, such as Express service to cities on the outermost perimeter of the metro area, as well as to and from Ames. As part of the DART Forward 2035 Recommendations, five corridors have been identified for possible enhanced transit services. For more information, click here to view the Alternatives Analysis page. Maps of Recommended New System The following maps detail the proposed new transit system in phases. The near- and mid-term recommendations are shown on the map titled "2020 Recommendations: 10-year Outlook." The long-term recommendations are illustrated in the map titled 2035 Recommendations: Beyond 2020." 2020 Recommendations: 10-year Outlook The degree of change outlined in the DART Forward 2035 Recommendations vary route to route. The change is minimal in some cases, while change is substantial in others. Click one of the following links to jump ahead to the information you're looking for. Fixed Routes Route 1 (Recommended New Route 1) -- No proposed changes. Route 3 North (Recommended New Route 15) -- Restructure turn-around loop near Park Fair Mall. New loop will provide service on Douglas, Cornell and Euclid. Route 3 West (Recommended New Route 3) -- Restructure travel into and out of downtown via 6th and 7th. Adjust service frequency to accommodate new University/Ingersoll Rapid Service. Routes 3 and 11 (Recommended New University/Ingersoll Rapid Route 60) -- New high-frequency, bi-directional route that loops on University and Ingersoll avenues between downtown and 42nd Street. Route 4 West (Recommended New Route 14) -- New route consolidates Routes 4 and 5 between downtown and Merle Hay Mall, traveling from DART Central Station via 10th Street to Woodland Avenue to Center Street to Martin Luther King Parkway and 19th Street to Hickman Avenue to Leado/Urbandale to Beaverdale Avenue to Aurora Avenue to Merle Hay Mall. Route 4 East (Recommended New Route 4) -- New route consolidates Routes 4 and 5 between downtown and Park Fair Mall, traveling from DART Central Station via Grand and Locust to East 14th Street to East Euclid Avenue to Park Fair Mall. Route 5 (Recommended for Discontinuation) -- Existing route would be consolidated into new Route 4 on the eastside and Routes 14 and 91 on the west side. Route 6 North (Recommended New Route 16) -- Route restructured to provide faster, more direct service to Merle Hay Mall, traveling from DART Central Station via 9th Street, University Avenue, 13th Street, Jefferson, Martin Luther King Parkway, and Douglas Avenue to Merle Hay Mall. Route 6 South (Recommended New Route 6) -- Route restructured along Indianola and extended to provided all-day service on SE 14th Street south of Park Avenue. Route 7 North (Recommended New Route 17) -- Route restructured to provide better connections with other services, traveling from DART Central Station via 6th and 7th Street, University Avenue, Hubbell Avenue, East 29th Street, Hubbell Avenue, 8th Street to the Altoona Walmart. Route 7 South (Recommended New Route 7) -- Route restructured, serving south of Army Post Road only during peak hours. Route 8 West (Recommended New Route 8) -- Route restructured to provided faster connections to downtown, traveling from DART Central Station via 7th Street, Thomas Beck Road, Fleur Drive, Army Post Road, SW 15th Street and Havens. Service will only operate during peak hours. Route 8 East (Recommended for Discontinuation) -- Service discontinued on South Union portion of the route. Route 11 (Recommended for Discontinuation) -- Service restructured and reallocated. See Route 60, Route 52 and Route 72 for alternatives. Route 71 (Recommended for Discontinuation) -- Service restructured and reallocated. For alternatives, see Ankeny Express Route 98 with new all-day service. LINK Shuttle (Recommended New LINK Shuttle) -- Route continues on current alignment during peak hours, with optional pattern to serve Iowa Events Center via 3rd and Court Avenue. D-Line Downtown Shuttle (Recommended New D-Line Downtown Shuttle) -- Continue current alignment with service to the State Capitol. DMACC Shuttle (Recommended for Discontinuation) -- Service restructured and reallocated. For alternatives, see Ankeny Express Route 98 with new all-day service and service to the Ankeny and Urban campuses of the Des Moines Area Community College. Route 13 (Recommended New Route 13) -- Route simplified to one consistent, counter-clockwise loop, traveling via Evergreen to SE 22nd to King to SE 19th to Park Avenue to Indianola Avenue. Express Route 90 (Recommended for Discontinuation) -- Service reallocated. For alternatives, see Route 8 with peak service along Fleur to and from downtown. Johnston Express Route 91 (Recommended New Route 91) -- Route realigned to limited-stop, express service operating to Johnston and Merle Hay Mall via Interstate 235. Midday service would operate to Merle Hay Mall. Route will no longer service State Capitol; see the D-Line for an alternative. Urbandale Express Route 92 (Recommended New Route 92) -- Route realigned and extended west to Dahl's Park and Ride at Hickman Road and NW 156th, traveling via Hickman Road to 63rd Street to Interstate 235 to downtown. Route would no longer serivce the State Capitol; see the D-Line for an alternative. NW 86th Express Route 93 (Recommended New Route 93) -- Route maintains current alignment for the near- and mid-term phase, then extended to Grimes Walmart in long-term phase. Route would no longer serve the State Capitol; see the D-Line for an alternative. Westown Express Route 94 (Recommended New Route 94) -- Route maintains current alignment, while deviation to Norwood Building is discontinued. Route would no longer serve the State Capitol; see the D-Line for an alternative. Vista Express Route 95 (Recommended New Route 95) -- Route maintains current alignment. Route would no longer serve the State Capitol; see the D-Line for an alternative. E.P. True Express Route 96 (Recommended New Route 96) -- Service extended to Jordan Creek Town Center. Route would no longer service the State Capitol; see the D-Line for an alternative. NEW Carlisle Express Route 97 -- Service to Carlisle implemented in the long-term phase, operating along SE 14th Street to Highway 69 to Highway 65 to Highway 5 to 8th Street. Proposed Park and Ride locations at Highway 69 and County Line Road and in downtown Carlisle. Ankeny Express Route 98 (Recommended New Route 98) -- Route restructured to include all-day service to Ankeny and Urban campuses of the Des Moines Area Community College. Route would no longer service the State Capitol; see the D-Line for an alternative. Altoona Express Route 99 (Recommended New Route 99) -- Route maintains current alignment. Route would no longer service the State Capitol; see the D-Line for an alternative. Des Moines East On Call (Recommended New Des Moines East On Call) -- No changes proposed in the near-term. Route would be phased out as hours expand on nearby fixed-route service. Urbandale On Call Zones 1-4 (Recommended New Urbandale Flex Route 73) -- On Call service restructured into a flex route. Route would deviate up to 3/4 mile from fixed route alignment for an additional fare. Service provided to Metro Ice Arena and Goodwill Industries. Clive On Call (Recommended for Discontinuation) -- Service upgraded. See Urbandale Express Route 92. West Des Moines On Call (Recommended New West Des Moines Flex Route 72) -- On Call service restructured into flex route. Route will deviate up to 3/4 mile from fixed-route alignment for an additional fare. Service provided between Jordan Creek Town Center, Valley Junction and Valley West Mall. Ankeny On Call (Recommended New Ankeny Flex Route) -- On Call service restructured into a flex route. Route will deviate up to 3/4 mile from fixed-route alignment for an additional fare. Service provided from Ankeny campus of Des Moines Area Community College to Ankeny Boulevard to Magazine Road to Delaware Avenue to 1st Street to Ankeny Boulevard. Regional On Calls -- All regional On Call service would continue to operate in its current service areas. NEW Route 50 (Recommended Douglas/Euclid Crosstown) -- New crosstown service would operate along Euclid Avenue and Douglas Avenue between East 33rd and Merle Hay Mall. Service would be implemented in the mid-term (4-6 years). NEW Route 51 (Recommended Douglas/86th/University Crosstown) -- New crosstown service would operate between Merle Hay mall and Jordan Creek Town Center. The route would travel from Merle Hay Mall to Douglas Avenue to 86th Street to University to 60th Street to EP True Parkway to 68th Street to Jordan Creek Town Center. Service implemented in the mid-term (4-6 years). NEW Route 52 (Recommended Downtown/Valley West/West Des Moines Crosstown) -- New crosstown, limited-stop service traveling along Interstate 235 between Valley West Mall to Jordan Creek Town Center, with service to AVIVA and Wells Fargo during peak hours.
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