Planning Process

The DART planning study will include four major areas of work:

 

Data Collection

Collecting data is the first, critical step of the DART Forward 2035 planning study.

These include a full count of passengers, a study of passengers' origins and destinations, household incomes, and an analysis of transfers. In addition, the study will examine current and projected population concentrations, as well as current and projected employment centers.

Public Participation

Public participation was a key component in developing the DART Forward 2035 Transit Services Plan.

On-bus surveys of riders were conducted in fall of 2010, and an online survey of the general public will be conducted in spring 2011.

In addition, DART met with stakeholder groups and member city government representatives, and it held 13 public meetings.

April Public Meetings: An initial series of public meetings was held in April for the public to give input on how they would like to see public transit developed over the next 25 years. Those meetings were held April 5 through April 7 at Ankeny City Hall, the Urbandale Public Library, and the Des Moines Central Library.

April 2011 Public Meeting Presentation

July Public Meetings: A second round of public meetings was held in July for the public to provide feedback on a set of draft recommendations. Those nine meetings were held July 18 through July 21 at the Des Moines East Side Library, Kirkendall (Ankeny) Public Library, Des Moines Central Library, Des Moines South Side Library, Northside Senior Center, Merle Hay Mall, Des Moines Central Library (a second time), West Des Moines Community Center, and Urbandale City Hall.

 

Regional Transit Services Plan

The ultimate goal of the planning study was to develop a regional transit services plan, which will guide the growth of and investment in public transit throughout Greater Des Moines over the next quarter century.
 
Specific service recommendations will be developed for the short-term (1 to 3 years), mid-term (4 to 6 years) and the long-term (7 to 10 years), as well as guidelines for growing service beyond the year 2020. 
 
In addition, the plan will include recommendations for improving the long-term financial stability of DART as it adapts to meet the changing service demands.
 
 

A major component of the DART Forward 2035 planning study is completing an "Alternatives Analysis."

The purpose is to identify the ideal type of rapid transit -- such as express bus, bus rapid transit or light rail -- to develop along a major corridor in Greater Des Moines. In addition, the analysis will include conceptual operational plans.

This corridor will be identified through the Regional Transit Services Plan that is developed as part of the DART Forward 2035 planning study.