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Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority
DART #2112, a 2022 New Flyer XD40.
Founded1973 (as Des Moines MTA)
2006 (as DART)
Headquarters620 Cherry St, Des Moines, IA 50309
LocaleDes Moines, IA, United States
Service areaDes Moines and surrounding communities in Polk County
Service typeBus service, Express bus service, Paratransit, On Demand, Vanpool
Routes26
Stops1,721[1]
Hubs1 (DART Central Station)
Fleet139 (106 Fixed Route buses & 33 On Call/Paratransit buses)
Daily ridership7,547
Annual ridership2.75 million (FY2022)[1]
Fuel typeDiesel, Hybrid, Electric
Chief executiveElizabeth Presutti
Websiteridedart.com

Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) operates mass transit service in Greater Des Moines. It is the largest public transit agency operating in the state of Iowa.[2]

History

[edit]

DART was founded in 1973 as the Des Moines Metropolitan Transit Authority, commonly known as the MTA. Formed by a partnership of the cities of Des Moines, West Des Moines, Clive, Windsor Heights, and Urbandale. The MTA eventually developed a 14-county carpool and vanpool system in addition to its bus system.[3]

By 2006, population growth in varying regions of central Iowa led to Polk County and nineteen cities forming a regional transportation agency following changes to Iowa law in 2005.[4]

Sunday service was added for the first time in 2007. In 2008, a free shuttle linked downtown Des Moines with the Iowa State Capitol.

DART has offered a Park & Ride service during the Iowa State Fair since 2006.[5]

Free wifi connectivity began to be offered on all buses in 2018. This was implemented at the same time new fareboxes were installed, which required an internet connection.[6]

DART began a pilot electric bus program in October 2020, starting with seven Proterra Catalyst buses on route 60 (Ingersoll/University). The pilot program was funded by a grant from the Federal Transit Administration, with a local match from MidAmerican Energy.[7]

DART is represented by a board of 12 Commissioners, one from each member government it serves. DART serves Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Johnston, Pleasant Hill, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, and greater Polk County.

Structure

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DART utilizes a hub and spoke system, designed to favor commuters, as opposed to point-to-point system.[8] The network was redesigned in 2012 to utilize the new DART Central Station, which most local and express routes terminate at or pass through. A secondary hub around Valley West Mall connects multiple western routes. A northern crosstown route 50 (Euclid/Douglas Crosstown) was added in 2018.[9]

DART also has On Call routes that operate within specific zones in the Greater Des Moines area.

DART Central Station

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Located at 620 Cherry Street in downtown Des Moines, DART Central station serves as the primary hub of the DART system. The $21 million bus transfer station opened in November 2012 on the south end of downtown, ending decades of using Walnut Street as a transit mall.[10] DART Central Station has been certified LEED Platinum, the highest certification of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council. The site was selected in part due to proximity of the historic Rock Island Railroad depot, which is hoped to have passenger rail service in the future.[11][12] It was designed by Substance Architecture, built by Weitz Construction, and contains both a bicycle storage room and a cafe.[10]

Routes

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Local routes

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Route Name Description
1 Fairgrounds DART Central Station - 6th Avenue - Locust Street - Pennsylvania Avenue (back Grand Avenue - 7th Street) - East Grand Avenue - East 30th Street - East University Avenue - East 33rd Street - Easton Boulevard - East 38st Street - Hubbell Avenue - Hubbell Avenue & East 42nd Street (back East 42nd Street - Easton Boulevard)
3 University DART Central Station - 6th Avenue (back 7th Street) - University Avenue - Apple Valley - Buffalo Road - Westown Parkway - 28th Street - University Avenue - 31st Street - Valley West Mall (back Westown Parkway)
4 E 14st St DART Central Station - 6th Avenue - Locust Street (back Grand Avenue - 7th Street) - East Grand Avenue - East 15th Street (back East 14th Street) - East 14th Street (shuttle to Polk County Jail and Dee Zee) - East Euclid Avenue - Park Fair Mall
5 Franklin Ave / Johnston DART Central Station - 6th Avenue - Grand Avenue (back 10th Street - Locust Street - 7th Street) - 10th Street - Woodland Avenue - 31st Street - 30th Street - Clark Street - 34st Street - Franklin Avenue - Merle Hay Road - Merle Hay Mall & Haymarket - Merle Hay Road - Johnston Public Library
6 Indianola Ave DART Central Station - MLK Jr Parkway - SW 2st/3rd Street - Indianola Avenue - SE 14th Street and on 14th & Watrous splits into two routes:

Watrous Avenue - SE 5th Street - Army Post Road - Southridge Mall (shuttle to McCombs Middle School) SE 14th Street - Army Post Road - Southridge Mall (shuttle to McCombs Middle School)

7 SW 9th St DART Central Station - SW 7th Street - Turtle Street - SW 9th Street (back 8th Street - Turtle Street) - Army Post Road - Southridge Mall (shuttle to McCombs Middle School)
8 Fleur Dr Service operates between DART Central Station and Airport South Park & Ride, including destinations at Wakonda Shopping Center and Iowa Center for Higher Education.
10 East University DART Central Station - 6th Avenue - Locust Street - Pennsylvania Avenue (back East 6th Street - East Walnut Street - 2nd Avenue - Grand Avenue - 7th Avenue) - East University Avenue - Sherrylynn & East University Avenue
11 Ingersoll / Valley Junction DART Central Station - 6th Avenue - Grand Avenue (back 17th Street - Locust Street - 7th Street) - 17th Street - Ingersoll Avenue - 59th Street - Grand Avenue - WEST DES MOINES - 4th Street - Elm Street - 8th Street - Grand Avenue - 9th Street - 9th Street & Ashworth (back Ashworth Road - 8th Street - Grand Avenue)
13 SE Park Ave (Weeks Middle School) - Indianola Avenue & Evergreen - Indianola Avenue - Evergreen Avenue - SE 22st Street - East King Avenue - SE 19st Street - East Park Avenue - Indianola Avenue - Indianola Avenue & Evergreen
14 Beaver Ave DART Central Station - 6th Avenue - Grand Avenue - 8th Street - High Street (back 9th Street - Locust Street - 7th Street) - 15th Street - Center Street - 19th Street - Cottage Grove - 19th Street (back MLK Jr Parkway - Cottage Grove) - MLK Jr Parkway - Hickman Road - 30th Street - Leado Avenue - Urbandale Avenue - Beaver Avenue - Aurora Avenue - Merle Hay Mall & Haymarket
15 6th Ave DART Central Station - 6th Avenue (back 7th Street) - Douglas Avenue - Park Fair Mall (back Douglas Avenue - Cornell Street - Euclid Avenue)
16 Douglas Avenue DART Central Station - 6th Avenue - Mulberry Street (back 7th Street) - 8th Street (back 9th Street) - 9th Street - University Avenue - 31st Street - 16th Street - Hickman Road - Broadlawns Medical Center - Hickman Road - MLK Jr Parkway - Douglas Avenue (shuttles along Lover Beaver Road and to Meredith & Hoover Schools) - Merle Hay Road - Merle Hay Mall & Haymarket
17 Hubbell Ave / Altoona DART Central Station - 6th Avenue (back 7th Street) - University Avenue - Hubbell Avenue - 29th Avenue ( - Douglas - 26th Street) - East Euclid Avenue - Hubbell Avenue - 8th Street SW - 36th Avenue SW - Outlets of Des Moines/Altoona
50 Euclid / Douglas Crosstown* Merle Hay Mall & Haymarket - Merle Hay Road - Douglas Avenue - Euclid Avenue - East Euclid Avenue - Hubbell Avenue - East 42nd St & Hubbell Ave (back East 42nd Street - East Douglas Avenue - East 38th Street) *Does not to go DART Central Station
52 Valley West / Jordan Creek Crosstown DART Central Station - 6th Avenue (back 7th Street) - I-235 - Valley West Mall - I-235 - Jordan Creek Parkway - EP True Parkway - 68th Street - Jordan Creek Town Center (back Mills Civic Parkway - I-35)
60 Ingersoll/University DART Central Station - 6th Avenue (back 7th Street) - University Avenue - 24th Street - Ingersoll Avenue - 17th Street - Locust Street - 7th Street (back 6th Avenue - Grand Avenue) - DART Central Station
72 West Des Moines Loop* Service operates between DART Central Station and Airport South Park & Ride, including destinations at Wakonda Shopping Center and Iowa Center for Higher Education. Does not to go DART Central Station
74 NW Urbandale* Operates between the Windsor Heights Walmart, Valley West Mall, Mercer/Marsh and the business parks in northwest Urbandale. Does not to go DART Central Station

Express rush hour-only routes

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Route Name Route
92 Hickman Express Downtown Des Moines - I-235 - 63rd Street - Hickman Road - 72nd Street - Buccaneer Arena - 73rd Street - Hickman Road - NW 108th Street - Clive Hotel Park&Ride - NW 111st Street (back Hickman Road) - Hickman Road - Hickman & 156th Street Park & Ride
93 NW 86th Express Downtown Des Moines - I-235 - NW 98th Street - Crescent Chase
94 Westown Express Downtown Des Moines - I-235 - 22nd Street - Westown Parkway - Valley West Mall - Westown Parkway - Jordan Creek Parkway - Wells Fargo
95 Vista Express Downtown Des Moines - I-235 - Valley West Drive - Ashworth Road - 39th Street - Woodland Avenue - 50th Street - Ashworth Road - Prairie View Drive - Vista Drive - Wells Fargo
96 EP True Express Downtown Des Moines - I-235 - 73rd Street - Office Park Road - 11th Street - Ashworth Road - 13th Street - Grand Avenue - EP True Parkway - Jordan Creek Town Center
98 Ankeny Express Downtown Des Moines - Mercy North Park & Ride - Hawkeye Park & Ride - Ankeny DMACC
99 Altoona Express Downtown Des Moines - I-235 - East Euclid Avenue - Hubbel Avenue - SW 8th Street - Walmart - SW 8th Street - NW 5th Avenue - Adventureland Drive - Adventureland Drive & Prairie Meadows Drive
Route 52 at DART Central Station.

Former routes

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  • 2 Kingman (Discontinued on June 8, 2004, due to budget crisis)[13]
  • 9 Express Service (Split into Routes 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, and 96)[14]
  • 10 Pleasant Hill (Discontinued on April 25, 2010, due to budget crisis)[15]
  • 12 Urbandale Business Park (Discontinued on April 25, 2010, due to budget crisis)[16]
  • 51 Merle Hay Crosstown (merged with Route 5 on August 23, 2015)[17]
  • 71 Ankeny / Delaware Avenue (Discontinued on November 23, 2012)[18]
  • 73 Urbandale / Windsor Heights FLEX (peak only, 20-30 minutes; replaced by DART Flex Connect on October 13, 2019)[19]
  • 90 Airport South Business Park Express (Discontinued on June 10, 2012; replaced by extension of Route 8)[20]
  • 91 Merle Hay Express (Discontinued on October 1, 2017; replaced by extension of Route 5)[21]
  • 97 SW Park Avenue Express (Discontinued on November 22, 2003, due to budget crisis)[22]
  • Windsor Heights Express (replaced with new Urbandale Express and On Call Service on March 4, 2002)[23]
  • Urbandale Express (replaced with new Urbandale Express and On Call Service on March 4, 2002)[24]
  • Summer Special (replaced with new Urbandale Express and On Call Service on March 4, 2002)[25]

Shuttles

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  • The LINK (free)
  • D-Line Shuttle (free)
  • Iowa State Fair Park & Ride Shuttle

Flex Connect in Urbandale/NW Des Moines

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Flex Connect is a new on-demand service DART is testing that connects riders in the Flex Connect zone to DART buses. Flex Connect replaced Flex Route 73 in Urbandale and Windsor Heights.

With Flex Connect on weekdays, riders in the zone can book an Uber, YellowCabCo. taxi or a DART accessible vehicle to take them to and from one of three transfer points: Gloria Dei Park & Ride, Buccaneer Arena Park & Ride or Merle Hay Mall. From there, riders can connect to DART buses via routes 5, 14, 16, 50, 92 or 93.

On call

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  • Ankeny
  • Bondurant
  • Easter Lake
  • Grimes

Fares and Passes

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Fares

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The following fares are charged on the various services DART operates: [26]

Type Adult Half Fare Full Fare Token Half Fare Token Children 6-10 Children 5 and Under
Local Fares $1.75 $0.75 Token (10/$17.50) Token (10/$7.50) $0.75 Free
Express Fares $2.00 $0.75 Token (10/$17.50) + $0.25 Token (10/$7.50) $0.75 Free
On Call Fares $3.50 $0.75 2 Tokens (10/$17.50) Token (10/$7.50) $0.75 Free
Shuttle Fares Free

Unlimited Ride Passes

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Type Price Half Fare Price
Weekly $16.00 $7.00
Monthly $48.00 $24.00
Monthly Express Plus $58.00 $29.00
Day Pass $4.00

Fleet

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Fleet number(s) Photo Model Year Manufacturer Model Powertrain Notes
1001-1020 2010 Orion Bus Industries Orion VII NG
  • 1003-1005 and 1019 are retired.
  • 1005 was donated to the Salvation Army of Des Moines as a mobile grocery store.
1021-1022 2011 Orion Bus Industries Orion VII EPA10
1023-1027 2012 Orion Bus Industries Orion VII EPA10
1029-1032 2013 New Flyer XDE35
  • 1031 is retired.
1033-1034 2012
(built in 2013) 		New Flyer XDE40
1101-1106 2016 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 40 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
1201-1212 2016 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 60 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
1301-1306 2017 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 HEV 35 FT

hybrid system

  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
1307-1312 2017 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 60 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
1401-1410 2014 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
  • 1403-1405 and 1407-1410 are retired.
1411-1416 2014 New Flyer XD40
1501-1506 2015 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 40 FT
  • Originally had Cummins ISB6.7 Engines.
1507-1512 2015 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 60 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
1601-1606 2016 Freightliner
Glaval Bus Legacy 		S2C
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
1607-1633 2016 New Flyer XD40
  • Originally had Cummins ISL9 Engines.
1701-1706 2017 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 40 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
1707-1712 2017 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 60 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
1801-1806 2018 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
1807-1810 2018 New Flyer XD35
1811-1813 2018 New Flyer XD40
1901-1906 2019 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 40 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
1907-1912 2019 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 60 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
2001-2007 2020 Proterra Catalyst BE40
  • Funded by a Federal Transit Administration grant with the local match provided by MidAmerican Energy.[27]
  • All buses in this series have been sidelined as of October 2022.[28]
2008-2012 2020 Gillig Low Floor Plus 29'
2013-2017 2021 New Flyer XD40
2101-2105 2021 Gillig Low Floor Plus 29'
2106-2115

2022
(built in 2021) 		New Flyer XD40
2201-2206 2022 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 40 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
2207-2212 2022 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 60 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
2301-2304 2023 Gillig Low Floor Plus 29'
2305-2311 2023 Ram
New England Wheels 		ProMaster
Frontrunner
LFXLT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
2401-2422 2024 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 HEV 40 FT

hybrid system

  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
7601-7606 2024 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 40 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
7607-7612 2024 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 60 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
7701-7712 2024 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 60 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
7801-7812 2025 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 60 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
7901-7912 2026 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2 60 FT
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
8601-8606 2016 Freightliner
Champion Defender 		M2
  • Used for On-Demand and Paratransit service.
28453-28454 2012 Gillig Low Floor 29'
  • Originally used for paratransit service without destination signs.
  • Reassigned to fixed-route service and retrofitted with destination signs in 2020.
28455-28461 2008 Orion Bus Industries Orion VII NG
  • 28459 and 28460 are the only active units.

[29]

Fixed Route Ridership

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The ridership and service statistics shown here are of fixed route services only and do not include demand response. Per capita statistics are based on the Des Moines urbanized area as reported in NTD data. Starting in 2011, 2010 census numbers replace the 2000 census numbers to calculate per capita statistics.[30]

Ridership Change Ridership per capita
2002 3,905,433 n/a 10.54
2003 3,748,879 Decrease04.01% 10.12
2004 3,696,785 Decrease01.39% 9.98
2005 3,854,006 Increase04.25% 10.4
2006 3,919,908 Increase01.71% 10.58
2007 3,987,237 Increase01.72% 10.76
2008 4,612,776 Increase015.69% 12.45
2009 4,212,082 Decrease08.69% 11.37
2010 3,768,611 Decrease010.53% 10.17
2011 3,909,347 Increase03.73% 8.69
2012 4,094,122 Increase04.73% 9.1
2013 4,185,756 Increase02.24% 9.3
2014 4,388,019 Increase04.83% 9.75
2015 4,413,233 Increase00.57% 9.81
2016 4,359,827 Decrease01.21% 9.69
2017 4,239,530 Decrease02.76% 9.42
2018 4,163,656 Decrease01.79% 9.25
2019 4,061,258 Decrease02.46% 9,02
2020 2,132,628 Decrease047.49% 4.74
2021 2,207,078 Increase03.49% 4.9
2022 2,754,733 Increase024.81% 6.12
[edit]
  • 2010 Orion VII NG #1020
    2010 Orion VII NG #1020
  • 2010 Orion VII EPA10 HEV #1028 (retired)
    2010 Orion VII EPA10 HEV #1028 (retired)
  • 2013 New Flyer XDE35 #1029
    2013 New Flyer XDE35 #1029
  • 2014 New Flyer XD40 #1413
    2014 New Flyer XD40 #1413
  • 2016 New Flyer XD40 #1630
    2016 New Flyer XD40 #1630
  • 2018 New Flyer XD35 #1809
    2018 New Flyer XD35 #1809
  • 2018 New Flyer XD40 #1813
    2018 New Flyer XD40 #1813
  • 2020 Gillig Low Floor Plus 29' #2012
    2020 Gillig Low Floor Plus 29' #2012
  • 2021 New Flyer XD40 #2016
    2021 New Flyer XD40 #2016
  • 2021 Gillig Low Floor Plus 29' #2103
    2021 Gillig Low Floor Plus 29' #2103
  • 2022 New Flyer XD40 #2113
    2022 New Flyer XD40 #2113
  • 2023 Gillig Low Floor Plus 29' #2303
    2023 Gillig Low Floor Plus 29' #2303
  • 2006 Orion VII #26442 (retired)
    2006 Orion VII #26442 (retired)
  • 2008 Orion VII NG #28460
    2008 Orion VII NG #28460
  • 2010 Orion VII NG #1011 interior
    2010 Orion VII NG #1011 interior
  • 2012 Orion VII EPA10 #1023 interior
    2012 Orion VII EPA10 #1023 interior
  • 2010 Orion VII EPA10 HEV #1028 interior
    2010 Orion VII EPA10 HEV #1028 interior
  • 2016 New Flyer XD40 #1621 interior
    2016 New Flyer XD40 #1621 interior
  • 2018 New Flyer XD35 #1810 interior
    2018 New Flyer XD35 #1810 interior
  • 2008 Orion VII NG #28459 interior
    2008 Orion VII NG #28459 interior

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority FY 2024 Budget" (PDF). Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  2. ^ "About DART". Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  3. ^ Hancock, Jason (October 22, 2006). "Miller hopes DART scores a bull's-eye". Business Record.
  4. ^ Conetzkey, Chris (March 27, 2010). "DART's budget: Exploring the need for route reductions". Business Record.
  5. ^ "Record number of Fair goers used DART Park & Rides" (PDF). August 20, 2019.
  6. ^ "IA: DART Now Offering Free Wi-Fi on All Routes". Mass Transit. January 3, 2018.
  7. ^ Wanek-Libman, Mischa (October 2, 2020). "DART unveils Iowa's first battery electric bus". Mass Transit.
  8. ^ Taylor, Chad (September 6, 2012). "Two weeks on the bus". Cityview.
  9. ^ "DART Making Major Changes to its Service on Aug. 19". Mass Transit. August 15, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Olson, Gunnar (November 21, 2013). "IA: DART Central Station Certified LEED Platinum". Mass Transit. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023.
  11. ^ "DART central station". Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  12. ^ "DART central station". Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  13. ^ "Des Moines Metropolitan Transit Authority". Archived from the original on 2004-08-21.
  14. ^ "What's New". Archived from the original on 2002-08-03.
  15. ^ "Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority". Archived from the original on 2010-03-26.
  16. ^ "Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority". Archived from the original on 2010-03-26.
  17. ^ "August Service Change: Effective Sunday, August 23, 2015 | DART - des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority". Archived from the original on 2015-08-11.
  18. ^ "DART - des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority". Archived from the original on 2012-11-02.
  19. ^ "Service changed in des Moines (Local Routes 3, 8, 10, 11, 14, 52 and Flex Connect) | DART - des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority".
  20. ^ "DART - des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority". Archived from the original on 2012-07-17.
  21. ^ "October service change scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 1 | DART - des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority". Archived from the original on 2018-02-11.
  22. ^ "Des Moines Metropolitan Transit Authority". Archived from the original on 2003-12-03.
  23. ^ "What's New". Archived from the original on 2002-08-03.
  24. ^ "What's New". Archived from the original on 2002-08-03.
  25. ^ "What's New". Archived from the original on 2002-08-03.
  26. ^ Bus Fares ridedart.com/fares, retrieved 09-27-2023
  27. ^ "Electric Bus Pilot Program | DART - des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority".
  28. ^ "Electric DART buses undergoing maintenance". 9 December 2022.
  29. ^ "PTMS Ranking - Transit Portal". secure.iowadot.gov.
  30. ^ "The National Transit Database (NTD)". Retrieved June 30, 2022.
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