Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority

What Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority does

Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) is a regional public transit authority organized under Iowa state law, founded in 1973 and headquartered at DART Central Station, 620 Cherry Street, Des Moines. It provides fixed-route bus, ADA paratransit, microtransit (DART On Demand, currently in Ankeny), and vanpool (Caravan) services across the Greater Des Moines metropolitan area. As of June 14, 2026, DART operates ten main bus routes following the Reimagine DART network redesign, with 15-minute service on four main streets and 7-day-a-week coverage. The authority is governed by a Board of Commissioners representing member cities and is funded through federal FTA grants, member-community property taxes, state funds, farebox revenue, advertising, and employer partnerships. Notable customers/employer partners include Kemin Industries, TPI Composites, Des Moines Public Schools, Principal Foundation, Anawim Housing, and YSS.

DART's technology stack centers on the MyDART mobile app (powered by Bytemark), which provides trip planning, real-time bus tracking via Next Bus, and mobile ticketing, supplemented by an online Trip Planner, GTFS data feeds, and developer resources. The agency employs 280+ staff and operates from a new 35-acre Operations & Maintenance Facility at 3500 Vandalia Road (maintenance garage opened late May 2026), replacing a flood-prone prior facility. The authority delivered 3.75 million rides in FY2025, up from 3.5 million in FY2024. DART's revenue model combines unit-priced bus fares (with reduced-fare options for seniors, persons with disabilities, and Medicare cardholders), subscription-based Unlimited Access employer programs, paratransit fees, advertising, and government funding streams. Recent strategic actions include the $20 million February 2026 FTA grant for the new O&M facility, the June 2026 Reimagine DART network launch, and leadership transitions appointing Erin Hockman as CEO and Luis Montoya as Deputy CEO/COO following Amanda Wanke's May 2026 departure to Metro Transit in Minnesota.

Name

Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority

Legal name

Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority

Website

https://ridedart.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

DART is a regional public transit authority founded in 1973 that provides fixed-route bus, paratransit, microtransit, and vanpool services across the Greater Des Moines metropolitan area. It is funded by federal FTA grants, member-community property taxes, fares, and employer partnerships, delivering 3.75 million rides in FY2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transit Services

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Other Urban Transit Systems (485119), Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (48599), Special Needs Transportation (485991)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

On-Demand Shared Shuttle / Vanpool (Dynamic Routing, Door-to-Door) (TLAFAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

On-Demand Microtransit & Vanpool (App-Dispatched Shuttles) (THAIAGAF), Vanpooling & Commuter Shuttle Carpool Services (THADAFAE), Community & Senior Transportation Shuttles (Dial-a-Ride, Non-ADA) (TLAFAJAI), Event & Venue Shuttle Services (Sports/Concerts/Conventions) (TLAFAJAJ)

Keywords

• Public bus transit
• Paratransit services
• Microtransit solutions
• Vanpool programs
• Transit authority services

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Passenger Fares: DART generates revenue through bus fares including standard fares, reduced-fare options, and unlimited access programs
2. Federal Transit Administration Grants: FTA grants including Buses and Bus Facilities program funding for operations and maintenance facility
3. Property Tax Revenue: DART is funded by member communities through property tax contributions
4. Advertising: DART offers advertising opportunities on buses, shelters, and digital displays
5. Business Partnerships: Unlimited Access program allowing employers to provide transit benefits to employees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DART provides fixed-route public bus service across the Greater Des Moines metropolitan area, supplemented by ADA paratransit, app-based DART On Demand microtransit in designated zones, the Caravan vanpool program for employer and commuter groups, and seasonal park-and-ride services such as the Iowa State Fair shuttle. Customers access trip planning, real-time bus tracking, and mobile fares through the MyDART mobile app and online tools, while employers can subscribe to Unlimited Access transit benefits for their workforce.

Product overview

DART operates as a public transit authority offering fixed-route bus services across Greater Des Moines, supplemented by on-demand microtransit, ADA paratransit, and vanpool programs. The core product is the Bus Network, which as of June 2026 features ten main bus routes running frequently (15-minute service on four main streets), 7 days a week. The MyDART App serves as the primary digital touchpoint, providing trip planning, real-time bus tracking, and mobile ticketing. Additional services include Paratransit for accessible transportation, Caravan vanpooling, school transportation partnerships, and seasonal State Fair park-and-ride service. DART On Demand provides microtransit in designated zones like Ankeny. These services are coordinated through DART Central Station and supported by the new Operations & Maintenance Facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DART On Demand: A flexible, app-based transit service that lets you request rides in real time within designated zones. Ideal for short trips, first/last mile connections, and areas without fixed-route coverage.
• Caravan
• Paratransit
• MyDART App

Products and services

• DART Bus Routes (Fixed-Route Bus Network) Fixed-route bus services connecting major neighborhoods, business districts, and community destinations throughout Greater Des Moines with reliable schedules and frequent stops; the Reimagine DART redesign launched 10 main routes in June 2026 with 15-minute frequency on four main streets and 7-day-a-week service.
• DART On Demand (Microtransit) Flexible, app-based transit service that lets riders request rides in real time within designated zones; ideal for short trips, first/last-mile connections, and areas without fixed-route coverage, currently serving Ankeny.
• Paratransit (ADA) Accessible, curb-to-curb transportation for riders with disabilities who are unable to use fixed-route services; trips are scheduled in advance to provide safe, convenient, and inclusive mobility under ADA requirements.
• Caravan Vanpool Program Ride-sharing vanpool program designed for employer groups and commuters traveling similar routes; helps reduce costs, ease traffic congestion, and provide a more sustainable way to travel together.
• MyDART Mobile App Mobile application enabling trip planning, real-time bus tracking, next-bus arrivals, and mobile ticketing for DART bus services; powered in partnership with Bytemark and available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
• State Fair Park & Ride Seasonal park-and-ride shuttle service operated in partnership with CIT Transportation from Southridge Mall, providing convenient transit access for the annual Iowa State Fair.
• Unlimited Access Employer Program Subscription-based employer-sponsored transit benefit program that gives participating organizations' employees unlimited access to DART bus services for a monthly fee, supporting workforce transportation, retention, and sustainable commuting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3.75 million rides delivered in FY 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BytemarkcoreTechnology or IntegrationBytemark provides the MyDART mobile application for trip planning, bus tracking, and mobile ticketing. The company is a third-party software solutions provider for public transit agencies.
• Anawim HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit housing organization partnered with DART to offer free bus rides to residents, supporting transportation access for low-income individuals.
• YSSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth services organization partnering with DART to help youth access transportation for education and opportunity.
• Kemin IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal nutritional ingredient manufacturing company; DART highlights as example of employer investing in public transit for workforce transportation.
• TPI CompositesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer partnered through DART's Caravan vanpool program for employee commuting.
• Des Moines Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDMPS partnership providing school bus service and transportation programs for students.
• Principal FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided grant funding for free DART rides to and from school for most North and Harding students.
• Federal Transit AdministrationcoreOthersFTA awarded $20 million grant in 2026 and $17.275 million grant in 2019 for the Operations & Maintenance Facility project through the Buses and Bus Facilities program.
• Iowa State FairminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDART provides park-and-ride shuttle service during the Iowa State Fair for event attendees.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Metro Transit (Minneapolis-St. Paul): Regional transit authority serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro with fixed-route bus, light rail, and commuter rail. Most directly comparable peer given similar mid-sized metro scope and multi-modal operations; notably, DART's outgoing CEO departed to take a Deputy COO role here.
• IndyGo: Indianapolis's public transit agency, similar mid-sized Midwest metro with a primarily bus-based service portfolio including fixed-route, paratransit, and microtransit. Comparable in scale, governance model, and reliance on federal funding.
• TriMet: Portland, Oregon's regional transit authority operating bus, light rail, and paratransit across a mid-sized Pacific Northwest metro. Comparable governance structure (regional authority), multi-modal service offering, and member-jurisdiction funding model.
• Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT): Sacramento's regional transit agency operating bus and light rail. Mid-sized regional transit authority with comparable service portfolio (fixed-route bus, paratransit, microtransit pilots) and similar governance structure.
• Utah Transit Authority (UTA): Statewide regional transit authority serving the Wasatch Front (Salt Lake City metro) with bus, light rail, and commuter rail. Comparable multi-modal regional authority operating in a growing mid-sized metro with similar federal funding profile.
• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA): Cleveland's regional transit authority operating bus, rail, and paratransit across a mid-sized Rust Belt metro. Closely comparable in scale, governance (regional authority under state law), and operational portfolio to DART.

Broad incumbents

• King County Metro: Larger Seattle-area regional transit agency operating bus, rail, paratransit, and vanpool. Comparable service mix (including vanpool via its Rideshare Operations program that mirrors DART's Caravan), though materially larger in scale.
• Regional Transportation District (RTD Denver): Denver metro regional transit district operating bus, light rail, and commuter rail. Larger incumbent comparable on governance (regional district with member-jurisdiction funding), multi-modal service mix, and federal funding reliance.

Regional players

• Spokane Transit Authority (STA): Mid-sized regional transit authority in eastern Washington operating fixed-route bus, paratransit, and vanpool. Comparable size and multi-modal structure, though operating in a different geographic region (Pacific Northwest inland vs. Midwest).

Others

• Bytemark: Technology vendor providing the MyDART mobile app, mobile ticketing, and trip planning platform. Enabling ecosystem participant whose product powers DART's primary digital rider interface, making it a strategically relevant counterpart despite not being a transit operator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ridedart/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/ridedart
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/des-moines-area-regional-transit
• Instagraminstagram.com/ridedart
• Xx.com/ridedart

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority