Posted: June 8, 2020
DART is adding additional safety measures to its buses throughout the month of June, allowing for riders to begin boarding and exiting buses from the front doors. This change also means DART will resume collecting fares in the fareboxes at the front of buses beginning Wednesday, July 1.
New safety measures
DART has enacted a number of new policies since March 2020 as it continued providing service while the region dealt with community spread of COVID-19. This includes:
- Regular disinfection of high touch services in DART buses (including the fareboxes) and at DART buildings
- Asking riders to wear masks when on DART buses, at bus stops and at DART Central Station and requiring employees to wear masks.
- Providing protective materials for employees including disinfecting spray to use on buses as needed, hand sanitizer and masks.
- Blocking off seating areas on buses to encourage riders to practice social distancing as much as possible.
Along with those changes, riders will notice a plastic barrier between the farebox and bus operator. This sheeting will act as a barrier between riders and operators, helping both practice social distancing while riding transit.
Reduced fare options
DART recognizes that some riders may be facing economic hardships, especially due to coronavirus, that may make it difficult to pay for bus fares. We have several options and programs that help those in need access reduced bus fares. To learn more, speak to DART Customer service, or click here.
Touch-free ticketing with the MyDART app
Riders are encouraged to continue practicing social distancing, regularly wash hands and use hand sanitizer, avoid touching their face, and to stay home and not ride the bus when they are sick. DART is providing operators with bottles of disinfectant spray to use regularly on high touch surfaces in the bus, especially the fareboxes. Riders are encouraged to use our mobile ticketing app to pay for their fares. Doing so will allow riders to pay their fare without having to touch the farebox in buses. MyDART app passes are rolling period passes, not tied to particular days of the week or month, including a single day, seven day or 31-day pass.
Riders who qualify for DART’s reduced fare program can work with DART Customer Service to set up reduced fare ticket options in their MyDART app account.
Service update
DART will be making changes to its service to restore trips on several Local Routes after Sunday, June 28. You can learn more about these changes here.
Questions? Let us know
Thank you for your patience as we continue to provide service safely, while also dealing with the continued impact of COVID-19 in central Iowa. If you have any questions about DART fares or our services, please contact Customer Service by visiting the window at DART Central Station, by email or by calling 515-283-8100 option 0.