DART's final network overhaul phase launches Sept. 28
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Dart Central Station in downtown Des Moines. Photo: Courtesy of DART
The final piece of DART's network overhaul launches Sept. 28, changing how On Demand operates in Ankeny and adding two new zones in Altoona and Clive/Urbandale.
Why it matters: It extends the agency's reset beyond traditional bus routes to better address service gaps in suburban communities and give more people access to transit.
Context: On Demand is a flexible, app- or phone-booked service currently available only in Ankeny.
- Trips start or end at designated hubs, such as grocery stores, medical facilities, libraries, shopping centers or fixed-route connections.
Catch up quick: DART's June fixed-route overhaul reduced its network from 27 to 10 routes, eliminated roughly 900 stops, and increased frequency on major corridors.
- The upcoming rollout is the plan's second and final phase.
Zoom in: Service runs weekdays from 6am-6pm, with a goal of waits no longer than 30 minutes.
- Rides cost $3.50, or 75¢ for riders who qualify for reduced fares.
Friction point: Advance reservations, which can currently be made up to a week in advance, will end Sept. 28.
- About 75% of Ankeny trips are booked in advance, but 15% are canceled the day of travel, often within hours of pickup.
- Same-day-only booking should reduce unused trips and help address capacity constraints that once left about 20% of requests unfilled, DART spokesperson Sarah Welch tells Axios.
Flashback: Dozens of residents signed a 2024 petition urging Ankeny officials to expand On Demand services.
The big picture: DART is following a broader trend toward using microtransit to provide coverage in lower-density areas where traditional fixed-route buses can be costly or inefficient.
- Dallas' GoLink has become a major part of the city's system, providing 2.1 million rides in fiscal 2025.
- Metro Transit in the Twin Cities made its original micro pilot permanent in 2024 and expanded the service to several other areas in 2025, with plans to add additional zones through next year.
What we're watching: Whether On Demand expands to fill gaps in the metro's transit network left by the recent reset's fewer routes.