The Johnston Brief
Johnston is a car-oriented suburb, but it does have public transit through DART, running right up the Merle Hay Road corridor. The catch: DART rebuilt its entire bus network in 2026. Here's the current picture: what DART runs in Johnston, what the redesign changed, and the realistic car-free ways to get around town and into Des Moines.
Johnston is served by DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit) with fixed-route bus service along Merle Hay Road, historically Route 5, which linked DART Central Station downtown to the Johnston Public Library and Johnston City Hall. DART launched a redesigned network on June 14, 2026 that replaced all local routes, so the exact current route and stops may differ. Johnston is not one of DART's new On Demand microtransit zones (those are Altoona, Ankeny, and Clive/Urbandale). Confirm the current route, stops, and fare at ridedart.com or call 515-283-8100.
Johnston's public transit is DART fixed-route bus service along the Merle Hay Road corridor. For years this has been carried by DART Route 5, which ran between DART Central Station in downtown Des Moines and its northern end at the Johnston Public Library on Northglenn Drive, passing Johnston City Hall along the way. Weekend service on the Merle Hay corridor was added in recent years, extending coverage beyond weekdays. Because DART just redrew its whole network, the route number and stops serving Johnston may have changed, so confirm the current service at ridedart.com or by calling 515-283-8100 before you plan a trip.
On June 14, 2026, DART launched a redesigned bus network under its "Reimagine DART" plan, replacing all local routes at once. It was the agency's first major network overhaul in more than a decade, aimed at faster, more frequent service on high-demand corridors while trimming overall service by about 10 percent. DART also rolled out new microtransit (DART On Demand) zones in fall 2026 in suburban areas. The three named zones are Altoona, Ankeny, and Clive/Urbandale. Johnston is not among them, so Johnston's transit stays anchored to fixed-route service on the Merle Hay corridor rather than an on-demand zone.
The DART Merle Hay Road service connects Johnston directly to DART Central Station in downtown Des Moines, which is the main car-free link into the city. From there you can transfer to the wider DART network. For the fit and weather-willing, Johnston's paved trails tie into the metro trail system for an off-road option. For the driving picture, times, and routes, see our Johnston to Des Moines commute guide. For the current transit schedule, use the trip planner at ridedart.com.
Honestly, Johnston is built around the car. The most connected pocket is the emerging Johnston Town Center at Merle Hay Road and NW 62nd Avenue, a public-private redevelopment meant to give the city a walkable dining and shopping core. Johnston's paved trail system is genuinely good for getting between neighborhoods, parks, and the library on foot or by bike. Elsewhere, most errands assume a vehicle, with DART filling the downtown commute rather than replacing a car.
The Johnston Brief is a free weekly email on the town: what's changing, what's new, and the local news you can use. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Yes, through DART, with fixed-route bus service along the Merle Hay Road corridor (historically Route 5). DART redrew its network on June 14, 2026, so check ridedart.com or call 515-283-8100 for the current route and schedule.
The Merle Hay Road corridor has been served by DART Route 5, running from DART Central Station downtown to the Johnston Public Library and past Johnston City Hall. After the June 2026 redesign, confirm the current route at ridedart.com.
Yes. DART's Merle Hay service connects Johnston to DART Central Station downtown. Use the ridedart.com trip planner for the current route, stops, and times.
Not as of the 2026 rollout. DART's three new On Demand zones are Altoona, Ankeny, and Clive/Urbandale. Johnston is not one of them, so fixed-route service is the main option here.
Mostly it's car-oriented. The Johnston Town Center area and the paved trail system are the walkable, connected parts; elsewhere you'll want a car.