I am SO grateful to DART. I needed some assistance a little bit ago, and Stephanie helped me, with no issues. She walked me, step by step, thru my confusion, easy as can be. I have a TBI, so being able to get to and from work, the gym, social engagements, it is a HUGE blessing. My only complaint is that they, very sadly, did away with the bus 50. I work and live on that route, so them taking it has affected me, and SO many others. We have quite a bit of mothers with children, elderly, handicapped, and houseless individuals, that used it to get to, not only MY job, but to the mall, to JOPPA, The DMV, homeless advocacy resources, the food pantry, DHS office, WIC, the list is endless, and it was a VERY needed and VERY used line,so I truly hope they bring it back. But in the meantime, we are all making it work, as best as we can. The depot is clean, they really monitor it. The drivers make me feel safe and secure, and the front desk staff are ALWAYS helpful. Again, after well over 2 years, I finally asked if someone could assist me, to teach me how to use the app the way it was intended, and Stephanie came to the rescue. She explained to me what I need to do, the best way to utilize it, and how I can go about getting my pass in order next month. Thank you DART, Stephanie, and all the rest of your staff. And please, when talks are in the works for routes, usages, and needs, PLEASE, PLEASE reconsider bringing the important Line 50 back ) read more

I haven't ridden a bus in the Des Moines metro for years. Probably since 1993 or 1994; it may have not even been called DART at that time... I used DART for the Park & Ride to the Iowa State Fair this year. From the 7th and Center ramp to the state fairgrounds. Buying a ticket was easy. The $2 price ($1 if you use the DART app) for a round trip was more than reasonable. Usually I fight traffic, battle for finding a lot space, and pay a premium for parking... I'll never do that again. DART made it so simple. The buses were clean. The staff was polite and easy to work with. And I got dropped off and picked up right from the gate... You just can't ask for better than that! read more

I love the D.A.R.T central station. I ride the city bus about 5 times per week. I mostly ride bus number 52 and 6. Most of the time the busses are on time, but sometimes a train will make the bus late. Overall I love riding the bus. In the afternoon I like to listen to music on my headphones, but since it's quite in the morning, I usually don't wear my headphones. read more

The Des Moines bus system is a little hard to use for visitors. Google maps doesn't get the arrival times quite right and being unfamiliar with the area makes it hard to figure out which side of the street or which corner to wait for a specific bus. Tourist destinations like the art museum aren't served well, and that's really my biggest complaint. The drivers are nice, the buses are clean and cool in summer, maybe too cold. Most stops don't have any place to sit. The price is very reasonable. read more

Des Moines Area Regional Transit - Rt 60 from downtown to art museum - Public Transportation Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Absolute joke now! Never on time! Some of the bus drivers are like turtles. Starting think this company has no clue about how to run things.

Currently on Dart Bus 5 right now and had such an ordeal getting on the bus. I am a DMACC student who is eligible to ride DART free, but unfortunately do not posses a student ID from DMACC (like a lot of their students). I told the driver I was a DMACC student and asked if they rode free and the driver replied, "No" just no.. after asking again, the driver verified that without a card it was not free, but since I don't posses a card I asked the driver if there was another way to verify my student status. The driver said "Yes", I tried to show them an update to email from DMACC verifying my admission to the school, but all the driver said was, "That don't mean nothing, whatever, I'll let you ride this one, but next time..." Come on DART, NOT ALL DMACC STUDENTS HAVE A STUDENT ID! Maybe it'd be more believable if the bus was going straight to DMACC but unfortunately, it's NOT. I must catch a connecting bus to freaking downtown and then back up to Ankeny, are you kidding me? There's got to be a more economical way to get around with public transit, it just doesn't make sense- I was willing to put that all aside too because at least I got free admission to wear I was needing to go, but this time I was hassled to it in such a rude way. BE BETTER UPDATE: I WAS LEFT AT THE BUS STOP!! THEY COULDN'T WAIT FOR MORE THEN 10 SECONDS! I WAS ALREADY RUNNING AND THEY LEFT ME read more

I may become a trans person (don't ask me about it) and when I do, I'll have to find out where a Des Moines Area Trans sits while waiting for a bus. And then sit there. Or maybe not sit there, so people can't be sure of my status. Des Moines is not really a bus-type city but it's doable by public transport and not too bad. The vast majority of people who have any kind of income are using their own cars so it can be a little bit depressing to see how the other half live. I've been part of that other half for most of my life and let's be honest, it's an other 77%. OK it depends where you are. But that's where real life happens and if you can't afford a car or don't want to drive one this bus service will do. read more

Des Moines Area Regional Transit - I'm going to have to Dart down the road and look for a bus - Public Transportation Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines Public Transportation under serves the city's needs. There are many places in the city that are over a mile from a bus stop or a bus stop that has more than one time slot. This would be ok in the seasons where walking is not a problem but we are in Iowa and there are many days that a mile walk is not possible. It makes it hard for people who can't afford a car or car insurance (mandatory in Iowa) to have transportation to work, job interviews, or even routine trips to the store or the doctor. If they want everyone off public assistance and jobs filled where others would not take them, they need to improve public transportation. I used to ride it all the time when I was in high school because that was our mode of transportation to get there instead of a school bus, however since then they have dropped a lot of routes that go into underprivileged areas, not for safety reasons but for lack of funding. Do a better job Des Moines. read more

I use dart for over 60 years, and it's gone downhill for 10 years or more. Today I had to get on # 60 to get to Mediacom on Ingersoll. so, I'm bus to go down Ingersoll, but it's keep going down grand Ave it's up to 31 St. I'm thinking it is and I'm like are you going on Ingersoll? A mad yes! So, we at 31 and Ingersoll. I had to walk at 71 years old 10 blocks to get to Mediacom and all the way to the old tech high to get any bus at all and get the 17 home. read more

My Son and I enjoyed our time at the Iowa State Fair today. We arrived soon after the opening time of 9 AM via a DART bus from the Capital. The price is still $2 round trip per person and less if you're a younger kid, over 60 or pre-purchased your State Fair admission. The lines ran efficiently, the buses were clean and safe, the fellow travelers were an interesting lot, and the drivers were super professional. EXACT CHANGE REQUIRED. We headed out in the early afternoon. The DART "bus station" at the State Fair is right next to the West Gate and very convenient. So too was the ample free parking at the Capital Complex. The alternative is $10 to park at the North Lot at the Fair Grounds, a little less at several surrounding residences, and free street parking if you're willing to to walk several blocks and know your way around (which I don't). Did I mention that Gayle, the Kid, and I rode DART to the Iowa State Fair last year too? read more

I never really ride the bus, but today I did.. The station is super nice and I dig that they have a coffee shop in it. Bus system is easy to navigate and the drivers seem nice.. I got some smiles while I was on the bus from passengers so thats nice too. Cheap to ride and moves and grooves fast in our little city! Nice to have the windows open on a nice day! read more

bus has been arriving late and missing turns often lately, becoming less reliable for making it to work on time

Coming from Chicago where riding the bus or train is essential to living, I am very displeased by how terrible Des Moines bus system is. They will change a route or dropoff/pickup location without warning most times and sometimes if you are taking multiple busses to get to your destination they will not time it even remotely well. Prime example, the bus to Valley West (52) will drop off 2 minutes after the bus going up university meaning you will have to wait a whole hour to get on the second bus....cant they just wait 2 minutes so that all connections can be made? I also hate that the D Line wont make a full rotation on their last loop of the night and instead will drop you off at 7th street... Also, can we please use the restrooms while they are being cleaned? I swear every time I go to dart central for a layover, there is someone cleaning the restrooms and they block off the entrance so they cant be used. read more

Rude customer service at main station. Saw one nastily asking a customer to put on a mask (she was behind a partition) and this was the only other customer in the hall. Clearly on a power trip. Teach your staff customer service. We are all tired of lazy staff who talk down to us. read more

-3 stars Once again a terrible customer service experience with Dart. Call to say 'Hey, your bus is early, its -2 degrees out here', was told I was in the wrong. Where do they get their training? What the hell happened to the customer is always right? Did they get sued one too many times? read more

Worst service if there is a DART problem! Have ridden before and the 52 bus is usually late and I arrived at the time the bus was supposed to be here and chose to leave early and DART did nothing when I called to complain!!!! Worst customer service! When I asked what they could do because DART made me miss my transfer which delayed me an hour to a family event DART offered to submit a complaint which "is the best we can do"!!!!! Crap service crap customer service crap crap read more

Well the last review was about the route 8 bus well they have a great 60 route gets me to work early and I like that usually the same driver nice guy so I thought it would be fare to give a good review since I seem to be happier with better service and better arrival times read more

Seriously f dart. I give them two stars because some of their bus drivers have been or were nice like a few in a long time and thats it but still want to reconigize them. But most arent most are really unprofessional and rude. Plus the new bus system is waaay complicated. Its possible to use dart for recreational use but using it for something like a way to go to work or anything else important is useless. Alot of people riding the bus are complete morons too,some actually insane as if that makes things better. Its the most stressful thing in the world literally the bus drivers nit pick at every little possible thing they can and are constantly telling you what to do as if you are now under their comand on the bus. I mean they have told me where to put my stuff and sit before and when im allowed to stand up sit down or not. Its ridiculous. Also if your bus pass gets bent (which they are really easy to bend because they are so flimsy) they refuse to give you new one until you have complained more than ten times and practically beg. It means your pass wont swipe and you risk not even being able to get on the bus to go home or have to deal with the hassle of holding up the line and swiping over and over and bus drivers snarky remarks of how you need to take better care of it. All i did was have it in the pocket of my black slacks nothing else and not my fault its flimsy. Also they cannot legally hold you hostage on the bus for any reason unless commiting a crime but they do that too. And kick you off for any reason they feel like without you doing something wrong. Seriously f dart this is the most complicated unproffesional system i have ever came across. Ames bus system is MUCH BETTER and way cheaper too read more