METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Hillary Clinton tours DART's Platinum-certified Central Station

Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority's facility achieved this certification through sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

July 30, 2015
Hillary Clinton tours DART's Platinum-certified Central Station

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (shown R to L) with DART General Manager Elizabeth Presutti and Building Supervisor Keith Welch on the tour of Central Station. Photo: DART

2 min to read


Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (shown R to L) with DART General Manager Elizabeth Presutti and Building Supervisor Keith Welch on the tour of Central Station. Photo: DART

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton toured Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority's (DART) Central Station on Monday, July 27, 2015. DART General Manager Elizabeth Presutti led the tour, which highlighted the building’s environmentally sustainable construction and operations.

“It was very exciting. It`s definitely an opportunity to showcase DART and all of the great things we’ve been doing particularly with the construction of DART Central Station and all the environmental sustainability components of the building,” said Presutti as reported by WHOTV.

Ad Loading...

Central Station has been certified LEED Platinum, the highest certification of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council.

  • By the Numbers

  • There were 4.7 million rides on DART vehicles in Fiscal Year 2014

  • DART has 14 local routes, 8 express routes, 94 rideshare vanpools, 5 on-call service vehicles, 2 crosstown routes, 2 flex routes, 2 shuttles, county contracted Paratransit service and ADA-complementary Paratransit Service

  • DART has just over 270 employees, including nearly 190 operators, 50 maintenance staff and 40 administrative staff

The building achieved this certification through sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

DART Central Station has been certified LEED Platinum, the highest certification of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council. DART Central Station achieved this certification through sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Highlights include:

  • 24% of construction materials were recycled;

Ad Loading...
  • 28% of the materials were manufactured regionally;

  • 70 geothermal wells help with heating and cooling;

  • 86,498 kilowatt hours of energy have been generated since opening by rooftop photovoltaic panels, a savings of 515,840 pounds of carbon dioxide;

  • 2.8 million gallons of rainwater have been captured, cleaned and reused in place of potable water since opening for tasks such as washing bus platforms — nearly 50% of total water used.

 The station, which opened in November 2012, features many amenities including climate-controlled waiting areas, covered loading platforms, a bicycle storage room and a local coffee purveyor, Java Joe’s CoffeeHouse.

Ad Loading...
Photo: DART

DART Central Station is the work of many people and firms. Substance Architecture led the design team and The Weitz Co. led the construction team, with contributions from numerous local companies.  

More Technology

Cummins Charts Its Next Move
Technologyby Staff and News ReportsJuly 24, 2026

Cummins Introduces Phased Model Year 2027 Launch Strategy

According to officials, the approach is designed to maintain regulatory compliance, support customer production schedules, and provide additional time to ramp production in a disciplined manner that helps ensure a successful transition for the industry.

Read More →
A photo of an Amtrak train with a logo
Managementby Alex RomanJuly 24, 2026

Biz Briefs: STV teams with Amtrak, Motorcoach Operators Boost Fleet and Land Contracts, and More

From manufacturers and suppliers to transit agencies and motorcoach operators, these updates offer a snapshot of the projects, partnerships and business moves driving the industry forward.

Read More →
Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., named President/CEO at DART
Managementby Alex RomanJuly 22, 2026

DART Taps Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. as Next President/CEO

Since 2012, Ford has served as the CEO of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Maintenance Leadership for a Changing Industry
Managementby Alex RomanJuly 22, 2026

AC Transit’s Cecil Blandon on Building the Next Generation of Transit Maintenance Leaders

The agency’s maintenance chief discusses leadership, workforce development, zero-emission technology, and preparing technicians for the future of public transportation.

Read More →
California High Speed Rail in High Desert Corridor
Railby Alex RomanJuly 21, 2026

California High-Speed Rail Authority Signs MOU to Advance High Desert Corridor

The agreement deepens collaboration between the California High-Speed Rail Authority and the High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Agency, supporting design integration, cost savings, and faster delivery of a key Southern California rail link.

Read More →
TechnologyJuly 20, 2026

Building the Next Generation of Transit Technology

In this edition of METROspectives, Luminator CEO Magnus Friberg discusses the company's transformation, the growing role of AI and software, and what's next for transit technology.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
What Transit Agencies Get Wrong About Data METROspectives episode with strada360's Steve Lassey
Sponsoredby Alex RomanJuly 20, 2026

How Data, Strategy, and Community Engagement Are Reshaping Transit

In this edition of METROspectives, strada360 CEO Steve Lassey discusses how transit agencies can better align planning with operations, leverage data to improve decision-making, and build public trust as they prepare for the future of mobility.

Read More →
A rider validating a tap payment on a Masabi validator.
Technologyby Staff and News ReportsJuly 17, 2026

Biz Briefs: Masabi Teams with St. Louis Metro and More

In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Transdev, Hitachi, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.

Read More →
Two Metra locomotives on rail tracks.
Railby StaffJuly 16, 2026

Metra Begins Drone Pilot Project to Boost Safety and Security

The project is funded through a $620,000 grant from FEMA’s Transit Security Grant Program, which provides transit agencies with funding for projects intended to protect critical transportation infrastructure and the traveling public.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A rendering of ATP's light rail system in Pleasant Valley
Railby StaffJuly 16, 2026

Austin Transit Partnership Selects Stadler to Manufacture Light Rail Vehicles

The award marks the conclusion of a series of major procurements over 18 months, as outlined in ATP’s delivery plan, and keeps Austin Light Rail on track.

Read More →