DART seeks public input on final bus route redesign

DES MOINES, Iowa —

For the final time, DART is asking for public feedback throughout September on its proposed bus route redesign for 2026, marking the transit system's first major overhaul in more than a decade.

The "Reimagine DART" initiative features fewer routes with more frequent service every 15 minutes, even on weekends. The proposed plan includes routes focused on the busiest corridors of the metro, reduced hours during low-ridership times, and expanded service into less-populated suburban areas.

Amanda Wanke, CEO of DART, says the new plan "increases usability. It increases access to jobs. There are people who may not use transit themselves today, but may have someone they work with, may be interested themselves. And so really, this is about serving the region."

The DART Commi