Demand Response Service

Niles Dial-A-Ride Transportation (DART) is a shared-ride, curb-to-curb, public transit service.  Riders may call DART dispatch at 269-684-5150 or 269-697-0600 in advance to schedule a pick-up or drop-off anywhere within the Cities of Niles and Buchanan, Niles Charter Township, much of Buchanan Township, and portions of other bordering townships.  Riders may also schedule rides in person at the DART office at 623 North Second Street in Niles.  

In order to ensure a ride at a particular time, riders are encouraged to call at least 24 hours in advance to schedule a trip.  Riders will be encouraged to schedule their return-trip time at the time of the original call.  Riders can refine the estimated return-trip pick-up on the day of the trip.  Riders who will be traveling to the same place, at the same time, on the same days (i.e., trips to and from work or dialysis) can set up a recurring/subscription trip.  

Same-day requests are accommodated if space is available.  Last minute or same-day reservations are most likely to be accommodated during the last two weeks of the month when demand for service is less. 

Service Priorities

  • Priority 1 - Recurring/Subscription Trips: Rides reserved for the same passenger, same time, and same origin.
  • Priority 2 - 24 Hour Calls: Rides reserved 24 hours in advance.
  • Priority 3 - 1 Hour Calls: Rides reserved at least one hour in advance.
  • Priority 4 - On Demand: Rides reserved less than one hour in advance.
It is the policy of Niles DART to make sure that the needs of Priority 1 and 2 (recurring/subscription trips and 24 hour calls) are fully administered before addressing the needs of the Priority 3 or 4 passenger calls.

Note: Due to safety and other operational considerations (e.g., narrow streets, crowded parking lots, cul-de-sacs, etc.), in some cases, passengers may need to board or exit as much as a block away from the location requested.   


DART Bus

Hours of Operation
Demand response service operates Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Fares
Demand Response rides within the Niles City limits are $3.00 ($1.50 reduced fare*).  Demand Response rides to, from, or within the area townships, including to/from Buchanan are $4.00 ($2.00 reduced fare*).  Fares within Buchanan City limits are $1.50 ($.75 reduced fare*).  Children ages 3 to 18 (with valid student ID where applicable) may ride for half fare.  Children 2 and under ride for free.

Payments must be made in exact change at the time of the ride using cash, a DART punch ticket, or a DART token.

*Reduced fare applies to those enrolled in the Regional Reduced Fare Card Program.

To Schedule a Ride
Call Dispatch at 269-684-5150 or 269-697-0600 in advance of your requested pick-up time.  24-hour advance scheduling is preferred. Same day Demand Response rides may not be available.  You may also schedule rides in person at the DART office at 623 N. Second Street in Niles.  Reservations can be made for 30 days at a time, up to 30 days in advance.

Pick-Up Window
DART is a shared-ride public transit service.  In order to ensure riders are on time to their destinations, we ask for a 30-45 minute pick-up window.  For example, if you have an appointment at 10 am, you will need to be watching for the bus any time after 9:30 am, unless the dispatcher specifies otherwise.  DART drivers will wait 3 minutes for passengers to board the bus at the pick-up location before moving on.  

Cancelling DART Reservations / No-Show Policy
If you no longer need a scheduled ride, please be courteous and cancel your reservation by calling DART Dispatch at 269-684-5150 or 269-697-0600.  Rides not taken that were not cancelled before the bus was dispatched are considered no-shows.  

Niles DART drivers will wait 3 minutes for a passenger at a pickup location.  After the three minutes, if the rider has not boarded the bus, the trip is marked as a no-show and the driver will move on to the next call.  Riders who do not board the bus for a scheduled trip will be assessed a no-show fee in accordance with the no-show policy.  

A total of 10 no-shows in 60 days will result in suspension of service of up to 30 days for that individual rider.  Any fare owed due to no-show trips must be paid prior to resuming transportation.  For additional no-show Information, please read the No-Show Policy.

userway