DART outlines reimagine DART plan, warns member withdrawals and federal rules could affect service

Amanda Wonke, chief executive officer of Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART), told the Polk County Board of Supervisors on an unspecified date that DART is beginning a regional network redesign called “reimagine DART” and that the commission has asked consultants to model options under a cost-neutral first scenario.

The presentation framed DART as both an economic driver and a social-equity service. “Last year, we provided 3,500,000 trips, more than the airport,” Wonke said, adding that nearly nine of 10 trips are for people going to work or to spend money. She said average weekday ridership is about 12,000 and that riders disproportionately come from lower-income households — “we only have 4% who have a household income of $75,000 or more,” she said — and include veterans, seniors and people without driver’s licenses.

Wonke described specific partnerships with Polk County: the county helps fund senior meal-site trips (about 20,000 trips in fiscal 2024), supports a veterans-ride-free program launched about seven years ago, and pays part of a community mobility coordinator position shared between DART and Polk County. She said the county also helps subsidize Ride to Thrive, a low-income half-fare program that has about 1,400 enrolled riders in its current iteration.

Why it matters: Wonke framed the redesign as a response to changing travel patterns, competition from other regions investing in transit, and the need for a sustainable funding and service model. She warned that member jurisdictions withdrawing from DART affect both service and budgets. “Grimes is scheduled to withdraw at the end of this summer,” she said, and Pleasant Hill has signaled it will withdraw; DART’s five-year planning documents currently assume those withdrawals for budgeting purposes.

Key details from the presentation

- Network redesign and schedule: Consultants will present network redesign options to DART commissioners; the first round is modeled on a cost-neutral basis (meaning choices and trade-offs are shown without assuming new net revenue). Wonke said the commission expects to vote on a new network by next December so it can be reflected in budget planning for fiscal 2027. She described the process as including workshops, community leaders, planners and public comment.

- Funding and levy example: Wonke said a new DART property tax formula is being implemented in phases and is scheduled for full implementation in fiscal 2029. Under the formula Polk County’s levy rate for unincorporated areas has decreased from 54¢ to just under 49¢ (she said a $200,000 homeowner would pay about $45 a year under the lower rate). Wonke said local operating funding for transit typically is 60–80% of operating budgets, while federal funding covers roughly 80% of capital costs.

- Member withdrawals: Wonke said Grimes’ withdrawal is scheduled for the end of the fiscal year; DART’s next-year budgeting assumes Grimes is not a member. She said Pleasant Hill has signaled it intends to withdraw and that DART is exploring options communities have asked for, such as tailoring service mixes (for example, paratransit without fixed routes). She warned that withdrawals have ripple effects: residents in neighboring cities who ride into a withdrawing community may lose service or require new payment arrangements.

- Service pilots and efficiency work: DART has run three on-demand pilots; Wonke said two provided lessons but were not successful and one in the Anthony area is “thriving.” She said the agency compares operating costs against peers and quoted a bus operating cost per mile of about $8.50 for DART versus an industry average near $12. DART reduced the D-line service in November and cut roughly $1 million in administrative expenses over the prior year, she said.

- Federal rules and minimums: Wonke said DART must remain an FTA-certified agency to receive capital and some operating funds and undergoes a triennial review. She cited Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) obligations and FTA rules that require paratransit service within three-quarters of a mile of fixed routes during route hours; DART historically has provided service beyond the federally required minimums, she said, and that decision raises costs that the commission will need to consider as the population ages.

Quotes and attribution

Direct quotes in this article are attributed to people listed in the meeting transcript. The primary speaker was Amanda Wonke, chief executive officer, Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART). Unnamed supervisors asked questions during the public meeting; their queries are summarized where they sought clarification but direct quoted material in this article comes from Wonke.

Ending

Wonke asked Polk County supervisors for continued input as DART develops draft network plans for public review later this spring and said the commission will set final parameters and a vote timeline to align the new network with fiscal 2027 budget planning. She emphasized the county partnership on veterans, low-income and senior programs and said DART aims to produce a sustainable system that balances coverage, ridership and local return on investment.