<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Hi All,<div><br></div><div>First, thanks Mary for sending out the update. This is great news, and gives us additional time to keep advocating for quality public transit.</div><div><br></div><div>Second: For some reason, many of us have an issue where emails to the DSM chapter and tall corn lists all look like they are coming from the same person. I think it has to do with our email apps connecting the list email with one specific person’s contact card. While it is possible to look more closely to figure out who sent each email, I think it will make life easier for many of us if we just take a moment to sign all our emails so people don’t have to take the time to figure it out. Just my thoughts.</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks,</div><div>Helen </div><div><div><br><div>On Apr 24, 2024, at 1:08 PM, emejia083--- via DSM-Iowa <dsm-iowa@nfbnet.org> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div><meta charset="UTF-8"><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Hello.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Actually I think that the email header had the email address of the person who sent it. When I navigated to the email using JAWS it read to me who sent the email. However, that might just be me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div><div style="border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(225, 225, 225) currentcolor currentcolor; border-image: none; padding: 3pt 0in 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">From:</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>DSM-Iowa <<a href="mailto:dsm-iowa-bounces@nfbnet.org" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;">dsm-iowa-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>On Behalf Of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>Cindy Ray via DSM-Iowa<br><b>Sent:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Wednesday, April 24, 2024 11:20 AM<br><b>To:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Des Moines Chapter List, NFB of Iowa <<a href="mailto:dsm-iowa@nfbnet.org" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;">dsm-iowa@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Cindy Ray <<a href="mailto:cindyray@gmail.com" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;">cindyray@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Re: [DSM-Iowa] FW: DART Funding Update<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">I wish people would sign these messages. Even if they say who it has been sent on behalf of, they really should be signed as a courtesy to readers.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Cindy Lou Ray<o:p></o:p></div><div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></div></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><br><br><o:p></o:p></div><blockquote style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt;" type="cite"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">On Apr 24, 2024, at 10:56<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span>AM, Mary McGee via DSM-Iowa <<a href="mailto:dsm-iowa@nfbnet.org" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;">dsm-iowa@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt;" type="cite"><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">I received this from Catlin today. Please read it. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div><div style="border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(225, 225, 225) currentcolor currentcolor; border-image: none; padding: 3pt 0in 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">From:</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Curry, Catlin [<a href="mailto:CCurry@ridedart.com" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;">mailto:CCurry@ridedart.com</a>]<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><b>Sent:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Tuesday, April 23, 2024 6:23 PM<br><b>To:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Curry, Catlin <<a href="mailto:CCurry@ridedart.com" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;">CCurry@ridedart.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>DART Funding Update</span><o:p></o:p></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif;">Good evening,</span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; 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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; 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. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; 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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; 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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; 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.</span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; 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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif;">Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you have.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif;">Talk soon,</span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif;">Catlin</span><o:p></o:p></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120);"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120);">Catlin Curry<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120);">[he/him]</span></i><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(250, 163, 0);"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(250, 163, 0); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">|<b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120);">Community Mobility Coordinator</span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120);">DART, Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority</span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120);">620 Cherry Street, Des Moines, IA 50309</span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120);">Direct: 515-246-2526<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(250, 163, 0); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">|</span><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120);">Cell: 515-204-7419<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(250, 163, 0); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">|</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120);"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:ccurry@ridedart.com" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: rgb(80, 7, 120);">ccurry@ridedart.com</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120);"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120);">Enriching Lives, Connecting Communities, Expanding Opportunities</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120);"> </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 15.4px;"><span style="color: rgb(80, 7, 120);"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ridedart/" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">Facebook</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(250, 163, 0); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">|</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(80, 7, 120);"><a href="https://twitter.com/ridedart" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">Twitter</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(250, 163, 0); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">|</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(80, 7, 120);"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ridedart/?hl=en" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">Instagram</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(250, 163, 0); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">|</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(80, 7, 120);"><a href="x-msg://22/linkedin.com/company/des-moines-area-regional-transit" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">LinkedIn</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(250, 163, 0); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">|<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; color: rgb(80, 7, 120); letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><a href="https://www.ridedart.com/" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: rgb(80, 7, 120);">ridedart.com</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></div></div></blockquote></div></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">_______________________________________________</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">DSM-Iowa mailing list</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="mailto:DSM-Iowa@nfbnet.org" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">DSM-Iowa@nfbnet.org</a><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dsm-iowa_nfbnet.org" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dsm-iowa_nfbnet.org</a><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for DSM-Iowa:</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dsm-iowa_nfbnet.org/hmejianfb%40gmail.com" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dsm-iowa_nfbnet.org/hmejianfb%40gmail.com</a></div></div><br></div></body></html>