DART to enact further reductions to its schedule on April 12

Effective Sunday, April 12, DART is further reducing its weekday service due to COVID-19. Most DART Local Routes will operate on the Saturday service schedule on weekdays as part of the additional, temporary service reduction. There are no changes to Saturday and Sunday service at this time. To protect the health and safety of employees and riders, DART is asking that people only ride when absolutely necessary to get to work or to other essential destinations like the grocery store and pharmacy.

New temporary service changes

Nearly every DART route is impacted by this additional, temporary service reduction. Changes include:

• The following Local Routes will follow a Saturday service schedule on weekdays: 3, 7, 16
• The following Local Routes will follow a Saturday service schedule on weekdays with reduced service in the evenings after approximately 8:30 p.m.: 1, 4, 6, 14, 15, 17, 52, 60, 72
• Local Route 5 will continue to operate on its weekday schedule since it does not have a Saturday service schedule to follow. This route will end earlier in the evening.
• Regular weekday service will continue for the following: Local Route 50, Ankeny On Call, Bondurant On Call, Easter Lake On Call, Grimes On Call and Flex Connect
• Several Local Routes will be temporarily suspended: 8, 10, 11, 13, 74

Several changes DART enacted as part of its first temporary service reduction will continue, including:

• Reduced frequency on the D-Line downtown shuttle to run every 15 minutes
• Suspension of the Link downtown shuttle
• Paratransit service will end at 10 p.m. on Weekdays
• DART Central Station will close at 10 p.m. on weekdays

Copies of these temporary schedules are available now at ridedart.com. DART will not print new schedules for this temporary service reduction, but riders can request a printed schedule from the DART Customer Service window at DART Central Station.

Further changes to service are possible as the situation with COVID-19 evolves. These decisions will be made by evaluating ridership data, considering the availability of our workforce and with guidance from public health and government officials.

Other measures DART has implemented to protect the health and safety of employees, riders and the public include:

• Stopping all fare collection to minimize interaction between employees and riders;
• Asking all riders who can safely do so to get on and off the bus through the back door;

• Disinfecting all vehicles daily by spraying a CDC-recommended antiviral agent;
• Restricting the use of the lobby at DART Central Station;
• Increasing the frequency of cleaning and sanitizing high touch surface areas throughout our facilities;
• Encouraging social distancing by asking riders to maintain six feet of distance from other people on the bus, at bus stops or while at DART Central Station; and
• Cancelling all public meetings and how-to-ride training sessions until further notice.

More information about how DART is responding to COVID-19 can be found at ridedart.com.

The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) is Iowa’s largest, and only, regional transit agency, providing service in and around Polk County. DART operates a family of transportation services, providing nearly 4.5 million annual rides that connect thousands of people every day to jobs, school, healthcare and other essential destinations. Twelve member governments make up DART’s service area, where the agency carries out its mission to enrich lives, connect communities and expand opportunities for central Iowans. For more information about DART services, schedules, route changes, or directions to the nearest DART stop, visit the website at ridedart.com, download the free MyDART app or call 515-283-8100.