Veterans Ride DART Free

Polk County Veterans Affairs provides free rides for veterans on DART Local, Express, On Call service and DART On Demand, as of June 18, 2018. Paratransit service and DART RideShare programs are not eligible.

Who Qualifies? 

Veterans with at least 90-days of active duty service and an honorable discharge listed on their DD-214. Active military is not eligible. 

How to Ride

Veterans need to show either a valid form of ID or scan a Veterans Mobile Pass while boarding.

Eligible Identification 

Show one of five following ID to the bus operator for the free ride: 

Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital card:

Retired military service ID:

Iowa license with veteran status:

Veterans Identification Card (VIC):

Polk County Veterans Affairs issued photo ID:

Receive a Veterans Mobile Pass

  • Download the MyDART app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store

  • Visit the Customer Service window at DART Central Station

  • Show your veteran ID and they will help you add the Veterans Mobile Pass to your phone.

The Veterans Mobile Pass does not expire. Simply open the app and scan the pass when you board the bus to ride. You can still show your physical ID card, but the Veterans Mobile Pass is offered in case you forget or lose your ID card.

The VA office staff at Polk County River Place can create a photo ID for veterans who do not have a VA hospital card, retired military service ID, Iowa license with veteran status or Veterans Identification Card. To create this photo ID, veterans need to bring some form of photo identification and a DD-214 form to VA offices. Staff can also start the process of helping veterans obtain a DD-214 form.

Polk County Veterans Affairs is providing veterans free rides after a successful pilot program in May 2018 during which veterans took 8,450 rides on DART. 

Veterans Affairs Office 

Polk County River Place (East end of bldg.)
2309 Euclid Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50310
Phone: 515-286-3670
Email: veterans.affairs@polkcountyiowa.gov

DART Customer Service

620 Cherry Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: 515-283-8100 option 0
Email: dart@ridedart.com

 
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