Benefits · Transportation

How to apply for DeSoto-Arcadia Regional Transit (DART) — Deviated Fixed-Route + Door-to-Door Paratransit

DeSoto-Arcadia Regional Transit (DART) — operated by the DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners; deviated fixed-route flag-system transit serving the City of Arcadia and surrounding DeSoto County, plus door-to-door Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) paratransit; coordinated regionally under the Heartland Rides framework

Who it's for

DART (DeSoto-Arcadia Regional Transit) is the public transit system serving DeSoto County, operated directly by the DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners. DART runs a single deviated fixed-route in and around the City of Arcadia, Monday through Saturday, beginning at 8:00 a.m. The standard fare is $0.50 per trip — the CHEAPEST fixed-route fare modeled in the Florida catalog. The deviated-fixed-route flag system means DART can make pick-ups and drop-offs at any point along its route, not just at fixed stops — a hybrid model useful for rural mobility. For DeSoto residents who cannot board the fixed-route bus due to mobility limitations, DART also provides door-to-door Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) paratransit. The Florida TD framework applies for TD paratransit eligibility: age 60+ OR documented disability OR low-income transportation-disadvantaged status. Apply via the DeSoto County BoCC at 800-694-6566. DeSoto seniors typically use DART for routine medical care at DeSoto Memorial Hospital in Arcadia and for trips within the City of Arcadia core.

DeSoto County is rural with limited fixed-route coverage — DART's single route is concentrated in and around the City of Arcadia. Rural-DeSoto residents outside the Arcadia route service area depend on TD paratransit. The deviated-fixed-route flag system makes DART more flexible than a strict fixed-stop system, but boundaries are still limited to the route's general corridor. For complex tertiary medical referrals (such as Lee Health Fort Myers or Sarasota Memorial), DART or TD paratransit can coordinate with regional Heartland Rides connectivity, but advance reservation and longer travel times apply. The $0.50 fare is the cheapest fixed-route fare in the FL catalog — DeSoto's TD program funding model effectively subsidizes a near-free transit option for the small rural population.

What you'll need

For $0.50 fixed-route fare: no documentation required — pay on board
For door-to-door TD paratransit eligibility: proof of age 60+ OR documented disability OR low-income TD eligibility (Medicare card, Florida ID, physician note, income documentation)
Proof of DeSoto County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
Completed DART paratransit eligibility application (call 800-694-6566 to enroll)
Advance reservation for paratransit

Where to apply

Apply online: official application

By phone: 800-694-6566

Renewals

periodic re-registration for paratransit; fare structure is ongoing

Official source →Last verified · June 5, 2026

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