DES MOINES, Iowa — DART is working to purchase 38 acres of land to expand their central facility, which currently sits on just 11 acres of land.
The business is finding it difficult to function in the current space due to factors such as flooding risks, lack of space and the growing residential area surrounding them.
The current facility located at 1100 Dart Way was built in 1978 and is in need of repair.
"When we look at the physical constraints here, we're on 11 acres," said Luis Montoya, the DART Chief Operating and Planning Officer. "We barely have enough space to house the vehicles that we have today let alone make room to meet the needs of a growing region."
According to DART, the buildings are undersized for modern buses, and they have outgrown the current facility.
Having a properly working central location is vital to DART's business and services.
"This is the facility where all our busses are maintained, where they're stored and where our bus operators and staff report to each day," Montoya said.
The current facility needs major electrical and mechanical systems replaced and has experienced multiple flood events. However, these improvements would cost $63 million taxpayer dollars, which is why DART opted to build brand new.
"Doing so though [renovating current location] would mean we wouldn't be eligible for federal grants because of those size constraints that I mentioned before and because of the potential for flooding," Montoya said.
Building a brand new facility will allow DART to use federal grant money and reduce the need for taxpayer dollars.
Phase one of the project would cost $35 million, with 75 percent coming from federal funding.
"Phase one is the maintenance building and the parts room that would go along with that," Montoya said. "Phase two would include bus storage as well as administration, and phase three is just building more bus storage for what would be needed into the future."
The Des Moines City Council is scheduled to discuss the Land Purchase Agreement regarding the property DART wants to purchase on April 1.
Construction is expected to begin in summer or fall of 2024.