To all of our HIRTA communities,

On behalf of HIRTA, I would like to thank you for your support during the 2022 calendar year. We are very grateful to be able to provide our service to you, to your friends, to your loved ones, and to your community.

In thinking of how I wanted to start this message, two questions came to mind. Did we provide the best service possible to our communities? And did we continue to have a burning passion for helping one another? The answer to both, is an emphatic yes!

I am very proud of the entire HIRTA team for their dedication and passion making sure everyone has equal access to public transit. We know what we do allows people to live their best life and it is because of this knowledge and our determination and resiliency that HIRTA is able to continue our essential services within the region.

In 2022, we:

• Launched the HIRTA On-Demand smartphone app. The service is a step forward towards HIRTA’s vision of enhancing community livability and promoting independent lifestyles for central Iowa residents. You can download the app for free here:

o  Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ridewithvia.hirtaiowa

o  Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hirta-on-demand/id1632186376

• Hired a bilingual coordinator and furthered our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. Our job is to step in and break down transportation barriers for the betterment of the community as a whole. Our vision is to provide a service where all customers have quick and easy options to pay fares, board buses, and arrive safely and comfortably at their destination.

• Continued our great work with RSVP, our volunteer program in the counties of Madison and Marion. This has been an amazing opportunity for HIRTA to expand our services. Transportation can be a barrier to accessing services and needs – especially to the older population. The risk of social isolation, affordable transportation and food deserts are amplified in rural communities.

• Secured funding for a new inter-modal facility. This facility will allow us to better protect our vehicles, reduce our carbon footprint, and ensure a sustainable future for our region. We strive to be innovative and proactive in serving our communities and this grant gives that opportunity.

• Most importantly, we got people where they needed to go. We provided trips to the food pantry, to life-sustaining treatments, to church, to visit loved ones, to the pharmacy, to work, and so many other places and services. We’ve enjoyed every minute and every mile!

We are beyond grateful to every rider, driver, employee, community member, and all those that have played a role, no matter how small or big, in supporting HIRTA. We are working on some exciting innovations for the future, including electric vehicles, expanding volunteer transportation, and implementing technology to further eliminate language barriers. If you are interested in learning more about our goals for the future, please check out our  2022-2032 Strategic Plan.

HIRTA has an amazing Board, and I appreciate them being active and engaged. They are forward thinking, as is the leadership staff, and that is why we are resilient during the trying times, and also able to be innovative in our services to better serve our region. 

All of us at HIRTA want to thank YOU for trusting us to get you where you are going!

Best wishes for a safe, fulfilling and happy 2023.

Julia Castillo

Executive Director