Public Input Opportunities!
Tuesday, March 2nd
North Side Library
3516 5th Avenue
Topics to be discussed:
Waveland Trail, Phase 2 project (Des Moines)
Highway 44 Beautification project (Grimes)
Tuesday, March 9th
North Side Library
3516 5th Avenue
Topics to be discussed:
Hubbell Elementary School Enhanced Crossing (Des Moines)
Citywide Fixed-Time Signal Upgrade (Des Moines)
Des Moines River Trail, Phase 1 (Des Moines)
Iowa Designated Off-Highway Vehicles Park Maintenance and Development Project (Iowa Department of Natural Resources)
Snowmobile Grooming Equipment Replacement Project (Iowa Department of Natural Resources)
86th Street and Douglas Avenue Intersection Improvements (Urbandale)
Traffic Adaptive Signal Control System – Jordan Creek Parkway (West Des Moines)
73rd Street and Hickman Road Intersection Improvements (Windsor Heights)
Route #7 Fort Des Moines/Hubbell Service Improvements (DART)
Route #11 Jordan Creek/Mills Civic Parkway Service Improvements (DART)
The MPO will host the public meetings using an open forum format. You may share your opinions with the MPO staff orally at the meeting; in writing via forms available at the meetings; or by submitting written comments to the MPO after the meeting date, but before the close of the public comment period on March 18th.
View the Federal Fiscal Year 2010-2013 Transportation Improvement Program before attending the meeting
here or by contacting the MPO at 515-334-0075 to request a copy. The North Side Library is accessible via public transportation using
DART’s #3 route.
DART Approves Budget, Preserves Some Services & More Services May Be Restored
The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) approved its FY2011 budget tonight at their Commission meeting and approved a fare adjustment and service reductions to be implemented starting April 25, 2010.
The Commission also approved moving forward with a new liability debt financing plan that is projected to save $100,000, allowing them to preserve several services that had been previously proposed for elimination including:
· Night service on all DART’s local routes after 8:45 p.m. will remain in place.
· An afternoon trip on the Ankeny Express was restored.
· Service on the Clark/Forest Avenue Route #5 will be restored on Sundays.
The Commission agreed to hold a special meeting at 12:30 p.m. on March 9 at the DART offices to give additional time to identify further additional revenues and perhaps preserve additional services slated for reduction.
“It’s great news that we have found ways to put back the service people so desperately need” said Commission Chair Angela Connolly. “I’ve been to the public meetings and heard how important DART’s bus service is for many people lives. By not cutting these services, we are allowing people to keep their jobs. Hopefully by meeting again in two weeks we might avoid reducing a few more services.”
While service reductions will be made to many routes throughout the region on April 25, no rider, or area of the region will have service completely eliminated. The Commission approved a service plan that calls for less-frequent buses or alternative routes to serve people while also approving improvements to service in Pleasant Hill, West Des Moines, and grant-funded enhancements to Des Moines and Altoona.
For additional information on DART’s services please visit DART’s website at
www.ridedart.com or call 283-8100.
Congratulations Rest Your Car Winners!
Congratulations to Diane Stiles and Lance Knaack. They each won $1,000 Visa Check Cards for their participation in the Rest Your Car program! The Rest Your Car encourages the use of alternative commute options such as riding the bus, carpooling, walking, biking and telecommuting to work. In order to be eligible for program benefits, participants are asked to alt-commute at least four times a month.
Diane Stiles Lance Knaack
In addition, Rest Your Car awards 31 members with Downtown Gift Cards each month. (Check out the December winners!) Every quarter two lucky Rest Your Car members are chosen to receive grand prizes of $1,000 Visa Check Cards.
D-Line Changes Route for 2010 Legislative Session
The D-Line downtown shuttle will be temporarily rerouted beginning Monday, January 11th, stopping in front of the State Capital, on the westward side, instead of running behind it on East 12th Street.
The change is made every year to accommodate the hundreds of lawmakers, lobbyists and citizens who visit the Capital when lawmakers are in session. The D-Line route will return to normal once the 2010 legislative session ends.
The D-Line is a free shuttle running east and west through downtown Des Moines, from the Western Gateway to the Capital. It was started in May 2008 by the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) and today averages more than 15,000 rides per month. The shuttle is paid for by DART, the City of Des Moines, Operation Downtown and the State of Iowa.
DART is the public transportation provider that serves Polk County. DART operates a family of transportation services that makes getting around the Greater Des Moines area easier and more convenient. For more information about DART services, schedules, routes changes, or directions to the nearest DART stop, visit DART's website or call 283-8100.
