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Clive candidates back continued regional cooperation on transit as DART eyes on-demand pilots
Summary
Candidates said Clive should remain a regional partner on transit and cultural programs while weighing cost and local benefit; they discussed a reimagined DART program and a prospective on-demand pilot for suburban areas.
At the Chamber forum, candidates described Clive as a committed regional partner that helps fund cultural programming and public services, and they discussed the future of the Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART) system.
"Clive pays almost a million dollars into DART," Councilmember Eric Klein said, noting the city must balance its financial contribution with rider counts and service value. Candidates described a reimagined DART plan that shifts some suburban service to on-demand models like Uber-style pickups to increase efficiency and coverage in low-density areas.
Mike McCoy and others said Clive has advocated for service models that fit suburban usage patterns and argued it was important to maintain a seat at regional planning tables even while pressing for cost-effective service. Several candidates said a one-to-three year pilot for on-demand service had been tested in nearby communities and could be appropriate for Clive if the financial and operational details are acceptable to council.
