DART has partnered with the City of Des Moines, Polk County and Prairie Meadows to help income eligible residents find and keep jobs through a program called Opportunities Thru Transit. Those who are eligible can ride the city bus at a reduced rate while traveling to a job, to look for work, or to an educational or training program.

Who is Eligible?

Several factors determine eligibility for the program:

• Must be a resident of Polk County.
• Must not be participating in DART programs offering reduced fare, including DART’s paratransit service.
• Must not be employed by a company that subsidizes bus passes for employees.
• Must be at least 18 years old and out of high school.
• Total household income must be below 125% of the federal poverty level.
• Income eligibility requirements are:

1-person household.....$13,963
2-person household.....$18,913
3-person household.....$23,863
4-person household.....$28,813
5-person household.....$33,763
6-person household.....$38,713
7-person household.....$43,663
8-person household.....$48,613
Effective April 2013
 

How Do I Apply?

Go to the community center closest to you and complete an application for the Opportunities Thru Transit program. Staff at the community centers will verify your income levels, so you should be prepared to present proof of your entire household income, including pay stubs and social security checks. DART staff will then review the applicants’ remaining eligibility requirements.

You will receive a letter saying whether you meet the criteria. If you do qualify, bring the letter with you to the community center where you applied. Present the letter and you will be able to buy monthly bus passes at the reduced rate. Cash only – no checks will be accepted.

The pass gives you unlimited use of DART’s buses during the month in which it was issued. To buy your pass for the next month, you must return to the community center where you originally applied. For accounting reasons, only that center can sell you the passes at a reduced rate.

What are the OTT Guidelines?

• The cost of the monthly OTT pass is $18.
• OTT passes may be purchased with cash only. No checks will be accepted.
• Neither DART nor the community center where you purchase a pass is
• responsible for lost or stolen OTT passes.
• Only one pass may be purchased each month.
• If you move, it is your responsibility to contact DART at 515.283.8100 to update your information. You will be cancelled if we cannot reach you.
• If you do not purchase a pass within three months you will automatically be cancelled and will then have to reapply.
• Failure to abide with guidelines will result in immediate and permanent termination from the program.

Bus passes are good on any DART regular route excluding special event service.

OTT Pass Distributors

6th Ave. Community Site Office
1618 6th Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50311

Central Iowa Center for Independent Living (CICIL)
655 Walnut St.
Des Moines, IA 50309

Iowa Comprehensive Human Services
1111 9th St., Suite 260
Des Moines, IA 50311

West Des Moines Human Service
318 5th St.
West Des Moines, IA

If you have any questions about the OTT program or need to update your information please call DART at 515-283-8100.