Greyhound's new Des Moines routes eligible for $551K in grants

Zoom in: Each route runs once per day in each direction, seven days a week.

• New Iowa stops include Monroe, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Burlington and Mount Pleasant.

Follow the money: The routes are supported by a federal grant administered by the Iowa DOT, which covers 50% of each route's operating deficit — the gap between costs and ticket revenue.

• The grant will cover up to $186,100 for the Indianapolis route and $364,700 for the St. Louis route this year, Matt Oetker, Transit Programs Administrator at the Iowa DOT, tells Axios.

One-way ticket prices fluctuate based on timing and demand, with some of the lowest costs this week starting at around $52.

What we're watching: Whether these routes will still be available next year and if new ones are added.

• The grants require an annual application.