Community Transportation Committee

The new 2026 Iowa property tax law restricts local revenue growth to 2%, placing significant budgetary pressure on public transit systems like Iowa City's. The fiscal constraint forces a reliance on alternative funding sources, such as local-option sales taxes, to avoid potential service reductions.

For Iowa property taxes, two sides of the same funding coin | Opinion Yesterday's funding models won't fully meet tomorrow's needs, and DART is striving to evolve for its community, write Erin Hockman and Amanda Wanke.

Dear CTC Members and Community Partners,

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Community Transportation Committee. We are writing today to share an important update in our commitment to transparency and community engagement.

In response to your feedback, we have published our Annual Financial Reports (2017–2025) along with detailed program information on our website. These reports reflect our dedication to accountability and illustrate how every dollar donated has directly supported the Give a Bus Ride Program—providing transit access to Johnson County residents in need.

From 2017–2025, with zero overhead and no paid staff, we have distributed over $9,000 in transit assistance.

None of this would have been possible without your partnership, advocacy, and generosity.

Real Impact, Real Stories
The difference these bus tickets make is profound and far-reaching:

Employment: One consumer used SEATS passes to get to his new job, while another was at risk of losing his SEATS account due to non-payment—the passes helped him maintain this vital transportation lifeline. A woman who lives in Coralville but works in Iowa City takes the bus every day, and access to free tickets has helped her immensely.

Healthcare: Consumers regularly use passes to attend health appointments, ensuring they don't have to choose between medical care and other necessities. One woman has used SEATS to take her dog to the vet and plans to continue, especially now that her pet has been diagnosed with cancer.

Education & Community: A group of students utilized free tickets to help them get to and from school, removing a barrier to their education and future opportunities. Recipients also use tickets to buy groceries, volunteer, meet with job development specialists, and access critical services like Johnson County Social Services and the Community Food Bank.

We invite you to explore our updated website and see the impact we've made together: www.ctcjc.org

Help Us Continue This Work

As we look ahead, we remain focused on our mission to eliminate transportation barriers in our community. While Iowa City Transit is currently free, Coralville Transit, the 380 Express, and Johnson County SEATS still charge fees that create barriers for many residents.

We hope to expand our assistance to better help workers gain and retain employment, and ensure no one has to choose between getting to work and putting food on the table.

Please consider making a donation to support our transportation assistance programs:

Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YXGNBXMVV7WKL

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Public Transit Snapshot: UI Campus Survey Report. The Community Transportation Committee surveyed 21 local residents about bus service in Johnson County. The biggest problem: Most Iowa City Transit routes stop running around 9:30-9:45 PM on weekdays. One respondent said: "I often work late hours and wish the bus went later." Despite the gaps, 83% of respondents would support a tax increase to improve service. Read the full report to see what needs to change. https://www.ctcjc.org/blog/public-transportation-survey-report