DART cuts hit Des Moines school routes
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Photo: Courtesy of DMPS
DART's route reductions will require Des Moines Public Schools to hire 10 additional drivers in the coming months.
Why it matters: Hundreds of students will be affected by the changes, potentially facing longer commutes or walks to stops under the new transportation plan.
- The shift comes as the district is already grappling with budget shortfalls, declining enrollment and long-term restructuring.
Driving the news: At least one DART route serving Callanan, Meredith and Merrill middle schools, as well as East, Hoover, Lincoln, North, and Roosevelt high schools, is being cut, district officials said in a statement to parents on Wednesday.
Catch up quick: DART is launching a redesigned network on June 14 that cuts more than half its routes and shifts toward more frequent service on the busiest streets, with wider stop spacing intended to speed up trips.
- The cuts are intended to modernize and better align services with current travel patterns, after years of budget challenges.
Stunning stat: With the new design and fewer stops, the agency estimates that 15% more jobs will be reachable within 45 minutes for the average resident.
Yes, but: The changes reduce DART's ability to serve school routes, Sarah Welch, a spokesperson for the agency, tells Axios.
Context: DART's routes have supplemented the district's roughly 70 drivers and 50 bus associates through a long-standing partnership.
- The district covers DART's costs for school service and funds free DART access for staff and limited free rides for middle and high school students.
By the numbers: DART provides over 3,400 DMPS student trips per day, according to information DART published in June.
- The new network will reduce the number of school routes DART makes in the upcoming school year by 20%, from 45 to 36, according to the district.
- Over 500 students will be affected, Samantha Sonnichsen, the district's transportation director, tells Axios.
What we're watching: Whether student attendance or family complaints become pressure points once the new routes take effect.