Final Network

Thank you for being involved in creating DART’s new bus network!

Over the past year, we have worked with member communities and riders to reimagine the bus routes and services DART should deliver. DART’s governing board is preparing to adopt the final bus network featured on this page in December.

Scroll down to review the final map, learn about changes we made this fall, and leave a comment.

The Final Bus Network

In September, DART presented a Draft Bus Network for public feedback. The proposed network was based on the region’s priorities and budget for public transit.

After receiving public input on the plan, DART is recommending this final bus network.

Features of the new bus network:

  • Most bus routes run more often all day, seven days a week. More residents will have access to bus service that comes every 15 minutes.
  • Faster, more reliable service due to wider bus stop spacing and easier transfers at DART Central Station. The average resident can access 21% more jobs within 45 minutes using public transit.
  • Three microtransit zones provide limited, local service in suburban areas, resulting in more residents with access to public transit.

Final Map

This map features the bus routes and services DART will deliver in 2026. New bus routes will launch in June 2026 and new microtransit zones will launch in fall 2026.

This object is a map portraying Greater Des Moines, and the bus routes of the Final Network. On this map, routes are represented by frequency during the midday on weekdays. Routes that run every 15 minutes or better are shown in red. Routes that run every 30 minutes are in dark blue. Routes that run every 60 minutes are in light blue. Microtransit service is shown as brown zones. There are 10 main fixed bus routes, but compared to the Existing Network, they are generally more frequent. Four corridors have service every 15 minutes, 8 routes run every 30 minutes, and 2 routes run every 60 minutes. There are 3 microtransit zones that operate in Altoona, Ankeny, and Clive. There are also four boxes on the map with notes. The first box says “Faster Travel: Bus routes will be scheduled to meet at DART Central Station and leave at the same time for shorter transfers. Bus stops will be spaced about every 3-4 blocks for more reliable service.” The second box says “Connections Across Town: Route 4 will travel in two directions from DART Central Station and connect to several routes. The portion of Route 9L in Ankeny will travel in two directions to support local travel. Frequent Service: Most routes will run 7 days a week with the same frequency most of the day.” The third box says “New Service Hours: Service will run Mondays-Saturdays from 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Route 9L from Park Fair Mall to Ankeny and microtransit zones will run weekdays only from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. Coverage Service: Route 20 will have 5 trips on weekdays during peak demand; route is subject to available funding. Route 21 will provide limited trips on weekdays to and from Amazon facilities.” The fourth box says “Microtransit: Trips can be booked when you want a ride during service hours with wait times up to 30 minutes. Trips will run between main street corners and key destinations within the zone. Paratransit: Service zones are not featured here; they will continue as is today.”

Click on the map to view it in your web browser.

For turn-by-turn directions of the routes in the Final Network click here.

Changes DART Made this Fall

The final bus network map features these larger changes from what was shared in September:

  • Thanks to additional funding from West Des Moines, a new Route 20 will provide five trips each weekday to serve an area where several residents expressed concern about losing service. West Des Moines and DART will work together to evaluate the usefulness of the route after the first 1-2 years of service and determine if it will remain a part of DART’s bus network in the future.
  • The Ankeny microtransit zone now covers a similar area as today. The zone will not extend as far west as planned and will instead cover an area south of Oralabor Road, based on feedback from many residents who rely on the service in that area.
  • We removed the route that currently serves the Kemin campus (today’s Route 2). With very limited service on the route, we have not had high ridership and are preparing to end the route as we prioritize routes with more frequent service.

Scroll down to view specific route adjustments at bottom of page.

Ending Flex Connect and On Call

Please note, the final bus network map also reflects that some special services DART provides today will no longer be offered starting in June 2026. These services include:

  • Flex Connect in Urbandale and Des Moines
  • On Call in the northeast suburban, Easter Lake, and Jordan Creek areas.

DART will continue to provide Paratransit service using the same service map as today with service spans that align with the new bus network.

What we didn’t change

We will space bus stops about every 3-4 blocks after public input confirmed that most people support the change. View bus stop locations here.

Hours of service for fixed route and paratransit will be:

  • Mondays - Saturdays from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
  • Sundays from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
  • Microtransit will run Mondays - Fridays from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Microtransit service will operate as proposed during public input in September. Trips can be booked when you want a ride during service hours with wait times up to 30 minutes. Trips will run between main street corners and key destinations within the zone. This model will maximize the number of trips we can provide and ensure the service is reliable.

What’s Next

The DART Commission will vote to adopt the final plan at its December 2 meeting. DART will launch new bus routes in June 2026 and new microtransit service in Fall 2026.

  • If you want to leave a comment about the final bus network and the changes we made, please fill out this form.
  • If you are concerned about being able to walk to a bus stop in the new network, please learn more about our Paratransit service.
  • If you rely on DART to get to work and will not be able to use our services when the new network begins, please tell us about your transportation needs.

Watch for more information about the new network in early 2026. Schedules for the new bus routes will be posted at least eight weeks prior to launching new bus routes. DART staff will be available to help riders plan their trips on the new bus network at that time.

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Additional route adjustments

We made the following small changes to bus routes this fall to ensure buses can run on time and safely travel each route.

  • Routes 1A and 1B will run a slightly different path in Altoona.
  • Route 3 and 3L will provide 15-minute service from downtown Des Moines to Windsor Heights. The 3L will continue from Windsor Heights to Jordan Creek, providing service every 30 minutes.
  • Route 4 will travel along Douglas Avenue between Beaver Avenue and Merle Hay Road instead of deviating onto Aurora Avenue.
  • Route 6 will leave DART Central Station and travel along MLK Parkway to SE 6th Avenue, turn onto Hartford Avenue, and then onto Indianola Avenue.
  • Route 7 will travel on Payton Avenue instead of Porter Avenue due to speed humps on Porter.
  • Route 9 will travel in a slightly different loop around Park Fair Mall to avoid tight turns on Euclid. The route will run every half hour during the weekday and then hourly on evenings and weekends, like today.
  • Route 9L will travel in a loop through Ankeny and end at or near DMACC. The exact end point is still being determined.