The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority commission on Tuesday approved an application for a $20 million federal grant that would help pay for the planned train-like bus rapid transit service between downtown and the Ingersoll/University corridors.

Dissension evident despite decision to pursue bus rapid transit grant      The debate over the application drew strong comments for and against the service, widely viewed as the next big thing in Greater Des Moines mass transit. Senior Staff Writer Perry Beeman attended the meeting and provides a look inside the politics. Read more>>>

The 6-3 vote exposed some dissension in the ranks over whether DART can afford the service. Chairman Steve Van Oort and commissioners Skip Conkling and Tom Gayman voted against submitting the application.

 Why the dissent? >>>

The bus line would feature special branding, new “stations,” or shelters, with real-time arrival information, and buses with equipment that would allow them to extend green traffic signals to make trips faster.

The local match would be $5 million, which would come primarily from property taxes and support from local businesses. The U.S. Department of Transportation grants are intended to promote economic development.

More about bus rapid transit:

To read a 2012 Business Record story about the hopes that bus rapid transit will spur economic development, click here.