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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>I received this from Catlin today. Please read it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> Curry, Catlin [mailto:CCurry@ridedart.com] <br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, April 23, 2024 6:23 PM<br><b>To:</b> Curry, Catlin <CCurry@ridedart.com><br><b>Subject:</b> DART Funding Update<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'>Good evening,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'>I write to share a positive timely update on DART funding that impacts our budget and services for the next two years. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'>Last week, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) awarded DART $3.6 million in one-time funds. These one-time funds will go to DART’s capital budget, allowing us to purchase buses and providing flexibility to use more federal funds for operating expenses. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'>At today’s budget hearing, the DART Commission voted to use $3.6 million in federal funds to maintain DART’s services for two years. View an attached press release with more details. This funding will allow us to avoid significant cuts to services that many central Iowans depend on each day. We still expect to collect public input and consider eliminating the D-Line due to low ridership and some funding sources not continuing. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'>While we have some short-term stability, we still have significant work to do over the next 18 months. Like many organizations, including our member communities, DART is facing difficult budget decisions as costs continue to rise faster than revenues. A new funding formula that aligns costs with the level of services received is also leading to an increase in the City of Des Moines’ contribution to DART. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'>We are committed to working with all DART member communities to find a path forward that builds consensus on funding and services in a way that balances the needs of communities and riders and delivers a strong return on investment for taxpayers, and your involvement in that effort will be essential.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'>Thank you for all the ways you have engaged in funding and service planning conversations over the past several months. We look forward to sharing more details about how you can continue to engage in the process in the months ahead as we embark on a significant effort that will shape the future of public transit in our region. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'>Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you have. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'>Talk soon,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif'>Catlin<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778'>Catlin Curry </span></b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778'>[he/him]</span></i><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#FAA300'> </span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#FAA300;letter-spacing:.3pt'>|<b> </b></span><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778'>Community Mobility Coordinator</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778'>DART, Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778'>620 Cherry Street, Des Moines, IA 50309<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778'>Direct: 515-246-2526 </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#FAA300;letter-spacing:.3pt'>|</span><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778;letter-spacing:.3pt'> </span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778'>Cell: 515-204-7419<span style='letter-spacing:.3pt'> </span></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#FAA300;letter-spacing:.3pt'>|</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778'> <a href="mailto:ccurry@ridedart.com"><span style='color:#500778'>ccurry@ridedart.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778'>Enriching Lives, Connecting Communities, Expanding Opportunities</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778'> </span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='color:#500778'><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ridedart/"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778;letter-spacing:.3pt'>Facebook</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#500778;letter-spacing:.3pt'> </span><span 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