4 Ways DART Benefits the Community

From residents and visitors to businesses and neighborhoods, DART is a public service providing value to all in central Iowa. Let’s dig into the ways DART impacts the communities it serves: 
 

DART is an economic driver. 

Strong public transit makes for a competitive economy, supporting job creation, worker attraction/retention and economic activity. Every $1 invested in transit results in $4 in economic development.* 

“As a community, investing in public transit options is crucial. Many people rely on it to get to work, and it's a part of economic development. … If the only way to access the city is through driving, it limits our potential for growth.”  

— Kuuku, small business owner, employer and DART rider 

That’s why, in addition to serving 12 member communities, DART has partnered with public and private entities to expand its transit network to new areas of the region. 

Beyond the critical value DART provides to the thousands of customers it serves, 96% of non-riders surveyed feel DART’s services are valuable to the community. 

DART helps people make or spend money. 

Last year, more than 20 organizations partnered with DART to offer free transit for their workers.  Why does this matter?  

• 87% of central Iowa leaders express concern they will not be able to meet future workforce needs.+  
• The #1 reason people ride DART is to get to jobs, according to 57% of DART riders surveyed. 
• Nationally, 87% of public transit trips directly benefit the economy, with riders either spending or making money.** 

The takeaway: Access to transit is a critical piece to the economic formula in central Iowa.  

DART is an equity tool.     

Nationally, households spend as much on transportation as on food and health care.^ And in central Iowa, 30% of DART riders make less than $12,000 per household annually — well below the threshold to meet a basic household budget.  

DART also serves a higher percentage of people of color, veterans and individuals with disabilities compared with the overall population.  

“Many of the students I work with have various disabilities [and] the bus system is the bridge between having no independence and enjoying an independent life. Without public transport, they'd be confined to the vicinity of their home, and for some, that would mean being housebound, unable to venture into the community at all. Their lives would be drastically limited without public transportation.”  

— Mary, sign language interpreter at Des Moines Public Schools 

It's clear DART can improve quality of life by removing lack of transportation as a barrier to accessing services and opportunities across the region.  

DART is key to future growth. 

DART averages 12,000 bus rides each weekday or 3.2 million a year — more than the Des Moines International Airport! DART has stretched its services to meet needs: Since 2009, central Iowa’s population has increased 24% while DART’s services have increased 1%.  

And the region’s growth will continue. As the fastest-growing major metro in the Midwest according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Central Iowa's population is expected to reach 1 million with a 40% increase in jobs by 2040. 

Transit benefits the Region

Learn all the ways that DART benefits the region on our Transit Benefits webpage and share your story for why you value public transit in Greater Des Moines. 

SOURCES: 

++DART and ETC Institute: Customer Survey 2022 

^ Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Survey, “Transportation Economic Trends” 

* American Public Transportation Association (APTA), "Economic Recovery: Promoting Growth the Benefits of Public Transportation" 

** American Public Transportation Association (APTA), "Nearly 90% of Public Transit Trips Impact Economy Through Work Commute and Consumer Spending" 

+BPC and Bâton Global: Envision Iowa: Statewide Leaders Economic Outlook Survey Report 2022, "87% of Iowa leaders express concern the state will not be able to meet workforce needs" 

The rider quotations used in this article have been edited for brevity.