(Des Moines, IA) -- Des Moines, Polk County, and eight suburbs (Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Clive, Johnston, Urbandale, Windsor Heights, and West Des Moines) have agreed to remain in the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART), and work over the next 18 months to redesign the system.
"The suburban members of DART will continue to work with the City of Des Moines, DART staff and consultants to make our public transit the best that it can be," says West Des Moines Mayor Russ Trimble. "Not only is public transit critical to workforce and economic development, but it is literally a lifeline to the central Iowans who rely on it. We owe it to our riders, our staff, our businesses, and our taxpayers to provide the most effici8ent, effective transit system possible."
"We also are committed to the formula and governance previously agreed on as essential components to retaining suburban value in DART and look forward to continuing to work with Des Moines to movie our region forward," Trimble said.
The Suburbs have recently complained about a perceived financial inequity, Grimes and Pleasant Hill will be leaving the system. Trimble says it is hoped the two communities will return once their concerns have been addressed.