Posted on March, 12 2026
Amanda Wanke will return to her home state of Minnesota to be closer to family after helping guide DART through a pivotal time for transit in Greater Des Moines.
The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) today announced that Chief Executive Officer Amanda Wanke has accepted a leadership position with Metro Transit in the Twin Cities. Her final day with DART will be May 9, 2026.
Wanke, who has worked at DART for 10 years, including the past 2½ years as CEO, will join Metro Transit as Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Operations Administration. Metro Transit is one of the nation’s largest transit systems, employing more than 3,000 people and operating an integrated network of buses, light rail and commuter rail serving the Twin Cities region.
“Amanda was the right leader for DART at an important time for transit in our region,” said DART Commission Chair and Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen. “When the Commission asked her to serve as CEO, it was because of her deep understanding of the organization, her collaborative style and her ability to bring people together around a shared vision for transit. We’re grateful for the strong team and momentum she helped build and wish her the very best.”
During Wanke’s tenure as CEO, DART advanced several significant initiatives aimed at strengthening transit service and aligning it with the needs, priorities and budgets of its member communities. The DART Commission adopted the Reimagine DART system redesign in December 2025 following extensive public input, establishing a new vision for transit service across Greater Des Moines. By taking steps to reduce operating expenses and to align on priorities for transit, the agency is in a strong financial position heading into next year. DART also secured a $20 million federal grant to support construction of a new Operations & Maintenance Facility that will meet DART’s infrastructure needs for safer and more effective bus service.
“Leading DART and serving this community has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my career,” said Amanda Wanke, DART CEO. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together in recent years—from the essential services we provide every day to the adoption of the system redesign that will shape the future of transit in our region. While it’s difficult to step away, the opportunity to return closer to family in Minnesota while continuing to grow as a transit leader felt like the right next step for me and my family. I’m deeply grateful to the Commission, our member communities, our riders, and the many people who believe in the value of public transit—and because of that, I believe DART is in a strong position for the future."
The DART Commission will discuss next steps for leadership transition in the coming weeks and plan to recognize Wanke following her last commission meeting on Tuesday, May 5.