News

The smartest way to get to the fair!

• Get dropped off directly on the fairgrounds in an air-conditioned ride.

• Safety first! Avoid walking or driving in the traffic around the fairgrounds.

• Find free parking in large, dedicated lots.

DART ended all services in the City of Grimes in June 2025, due to the city’s decision to withdraw from DART. 

Below is a summary of the upcoming service change. 

Please be aware that the July 8 DART Commission meeting will be held virtually, via Zoom, beginning at noon. The DART Commission will not meet in person, due to a short agenda.

Members of the public who wish to provide a brief comment at the beginning of the meeting can attend in person in the Multimodal Room at DART Central Station or join the Zoom call.

Click here to view the July 8 DART Commission meeting agenda and Zoom meeting link.

On June 3, The DART Commission voted to design a new bus network that prioritizes ridership for the region overall with a preference for coverage in Ankeny, Altoona and Clive, along with a budget that would maintain 90% of DART’s current service level. This major milestone for the Reimagine DART initiative will allow DART staff to present a draft network for public input in September and prepare to implement new routes and services starting in summer 2026.

Please be aware that DART will no longer hold a special DART Commission meeting on Monday, May 19. The DART Commission is now scheduled to vote on the budget and priorities for designing a draft bus network – part of Reimagine DART – at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 3, at noon.

DART delayed this vote due to uncertainty surrounding a property tax bill introduced by the Iowa Legislature that would impact funding for DART. The Legislature adjourned Thursday morning without passing the property tax bill.  

FY2025 Section 5310 Funds Call For Projects

DART is a designated recipient of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding in the Des Moines/Central Iowa Urbanized Area and is responsible for administering grants and distributing funds.

Below is the 2025 Call for Projects for Sections 5310 funds. It will run from January 23, 2024 to February 20, 2024.

Many DART riders ask for shelters and benches at bus stops. Based on this feedback, DART is working to add shelters and benches at its busiest bus stops.  

Upcoming DART Shelter Locations for 2025:  

Des Moines 

• West side of Ascension St. at 6th Ave.
•  Southeast corner of Ingersoll Ave & 35th St.
• Southwest corner of MLK Jr. Pkwy & Post St.

Altoona

• Southwest corner of 34th Ave. SW & Walmart

Please see below for information on a public meeting between DART and representatives of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 441, scheduled for Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 8:30 a.m., in the Multimodal conference room at DART Central Station.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

Elected leaders of DART’s member communities have issued a press release announcing a commitment to remain in DART and participate in the Reimagine DART process.

DART made several changes to bus service on Sunday, November 24, 2024. The changes included: