Posted on November, 25 2024
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.
This announcement means that DART will work with 10 communities to establish a clear vision and roadmap for the future of public transit in Greater Des Moines. DART has a balanced budget through at least June 2026, and member communities will continue to contribute to DART based on the agreed upon phase-in of the new funding formula.
“We appreciate the time and effort elected leaders have given to find a path forward and for their commitment to Reimagine DART,” said DART CEO Amanda Wanke. “A lot has changed in how and where people travel since DART was formed. We look forward to thinking boldly and creatively about how we deliver a service that connects and strengthens our communities for the next decade.”
DART has hired Jarrett Walker + Associates (JWA) and Transpo Group to conduct a redesign of the transit network. JWA is led by Jarrett Walker, author of the book Human Transit, and has completed network redesigns in more than 30 communities. Transpo group is a leader in transit planning in small and mid-sized agencies, with expertise in Paratransit and microtransit options.
The consulting team will be on site in January to share an analysis of DART’s current network and to educate on the choices elected leaders will need to make about how to deliver a public transit network within a limited budget. DART will present network design concepts for public input in April.
“We know thousands of central Iowans depend on us and regional public transit is critical to a thriving metro,” said Wanke. “At a time when other Midwest communities are increasing their investment in public transit, we have a unique opportunity to create a new regional transit network that drives quality of life and economic opportunity in Greater Des Moines.”
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