DART sees ridership increase-West Des Moines routes perform strongly

The ridership on the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority has increased by over seven percent during the first six months of the 2014 fiscal year, according to a news release from the authority office released on January 28.

                Ridership in December, 2013, was 347,213—a 15 percent over December of 2012. This is significant, according to DART officials because December is the first reporting period for which year-over-year comparisons can be made on DART’s individual routes after the network was redesigned in the fall of 2012 and the DART Central Station in downtown was opened.

                In West Des Moines, the E. P. True express route, which was extended to Jordan Creek Mall, saw its ridership increase from 1,862 in December, 2012 to 2,634—an increase of 41 percent. The crosstown route, which connects the downtown area with the Valley West Mall area and the Jordan Creek Mall using freeways, noted an increase from 8,270 in December, 2012 to 11,228 in December, 2013. The flexible route which connects the Valley Junction area of West Des Moines with Valley West Mall and the Jordan Creek area along a route which can deviate from its usual route when calls are made, saw its ridership increase from 2,553 in December, 2012 to 3,451 in December, 2013.

                The routes were part of a redesign and expansion of bus routes which was implemented throughout 2012. Service improvements were made in August, 2013. The MyDART TripPlanner in BETA format was launched last October. With this service, available at www.ridedart.com, people can plan their trips.

                Planned improvements include real-time bus location being added to the MyDART Trip Planner later this year and a new fare collection system using smart carts which is slated to be implemented in late 2015.

                The new service was promoted in October during Try Transit Week, which resulted in 108,000 rides—a 20 percent increase over the previous week’s increase of 90,000 rides. This February 14, DART will host “DART Date Night”, offering free rides for Valentine’s Day.