The Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA) will implement targeted service adjustments on July 1, 2026, in response to the growing financial restraints facing public transit systems nationwide.

A National Crisis with Local Impact

Public transportation systems across the country are facing rising costs for fuel, vehicle repairs, insurance, and employee wages, while funding has not kept pace. These financial challenges are affecting HIRTA’s ability to maintain current service levels.

Specific Service Adjustments

After reviewing ridership data and service options, HIRTA determined targeted service reductions are necessary to keep the agency financially stable and continue serving the region long term.

Effective July 1, 2026, HIRTA will implement the following changes:

• Agency-wide service hours will be adjusted from 7:00 AM–5:00 PM to 7:00 AM–4:00 PM
• Due to no local funding, service in the cities of Knoxville, Indianola, and Perry will be reduced to Mondays and Fridays.

"We took a careful look at who's riding and what options we had before making these tough decisions," said Julia Castillo, CEO. "We know this affects our riders and communities, and that's not something we take lightly. Our goal is to keep HIRTA running strong for the long term, and we remain committed to working with local, regional, and state partners to identify long-term funding solutions”

Outreach & Advocacy

HIRTA will implement an outreach campaign in the coming weeks to make sure riders, community partners, and stakeholders are informed before the July 1 start date.

HIRTA is also encouraging community members to support public transportation funding by contacting local, state, and federal elected officials. More information about advocacy efforts can be found at www.ridehirta.com/advocacy.

For more information about HIRTA services and upcoming changes, please call 1 (877) 686-0029.