Who We Are

Boone County Public Transportation (BCT) is a private, non-profit, Iowa based organization incorporated in 1977 to provide transportation services for the Boone County community. BCT is the transportation contractor for Boone County with the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA). BCT has 24 employees and is governed by a local Board of Directors.
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What We Do

Public transportation for Boone County, Iowa. We provide a public, demand-response, door-to-door, transportation service for the residents of Boone County. Our services are available to the general public. Rides are arranged to and from the locations you specify when you call. And the driver can assist you to and from your door to the bus.
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Who We Transport

Anyone. All of our buses are available to the general public. And our buses are equipped to transport people who cannot climb steps or who use wheelchairs. Children under the age of three must be accompanied by an adult. We may require that an escort ride along in some cases.
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Where We Go

Anywhere within Boone County, Iowa. When you call to setup a trip, you specify where you want the bus to pick you up and drop you off. We also provide rides to Ames, Des Moines, and other locations in central Iowa. Call to check for availability for trips outside Boone County.
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When We Transport

6:30 AM to 5:30 PM Monday through Friday for rides within Boone County.

Trips outside Boone County are also available Monday through Friday. The available pickup times depend upon the distance of the pickup location from BCT. For rides outside Boone County, trip times must be scheduled so that the bus will leave BCT no earlier than 6:30 AM and return to BCT no later than 5:15 PM. For example, a pickup in Ames (45 minutes away from Boone) is available anytime between 7:15 AM and 4:30 PM.

BCT closes at 4 PM on December 24th and 31st and is closed on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. BCT may also close when it is unsafe to travel due to inclement weather. Check the Home page of our website, KWBG AM 1590 Local News Radio, and KCCI News Channel 8 for updates on BCT closings.
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How Much Does a Trip Cost

The fare prices vary depending upon the location, funding, and other factors. See the Fares page for the full list and breakdown of our fare prices.
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How to Get a Ride

We provide a demand response service which means that rides are arranged to your specifications when you call. Trips should be requested at least one business day prior to date of the trip. See the Getting a Ride page for more information on setting up rides.
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How Much the Driver Can Help

Because we provide a door-to-door service, the driver can help you from your door to the bus, and from the bus to your door. The driver cannot go into your residence to assist you in any way. The driver can help you with limited amounts of bags or groceries. See the Getting a Ride page for more information on our grocery policy.
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What We Don't Do

Personal taxi service: Since we are a public transportation service, we are unable to wait for you after we drop you off. If you are unsure when you will need a return ride, we can schedule your return trip as a "will call" ride. "Will call" trips are scheduled without a specific time so you can call when you are ready to go, and the first available bus will be dispatched to transport you to your next location. See the Getting a Ride page for more details on "will call" trips.

Charter service: On April 29, 2008, the FTA enacted legislation that prohibits us from providing charter services, such as specially arranged group trips. The only exception to this is for trips where 100% of the riders are elderly, low income, or disabled.
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Our Funding

We receive funding from federal, state, and local governments, as well as from grants and donations, which enable us to continue to provide safe and affordable transportation for Boone County. See the Supporters page for a list of organizations and agencies that support Boone County Transportation. Or see the Sponsoring page for information about donating to BCT or sponsoring a rider in your community.
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Our Drivers

Safety is a number one priority at BCT. All of our drivers must pass a criminal background-check, a motor vehicle record check, a drug test, and a DOT physical and must obtain a commercial driver's license with a passenger endorsement in the state of Iowa before they can drive for Boone County Transportation. And all of our employees who perform safety sensitive functions (drivers, dispatchers, and maintenance workers) are enrolled in a random drug and alcohol testing program.
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Our Buses

BCT currently operates seventeen buses. Our buses are equipped with lifts and four-point restraint systems for transporting people who use wheelchairs or who cannot climb the bus stairs. Each bus has safety equipment including first aid kits, bio-hazard kits, fire extinguishers, and warning triangles. Eleven of our buses are equipped with onboard cameras—four color cameras and two microphones—that record what happens on and around the bus for your security.
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More Information

If you have any questions or would like more information please call our office at 515-432-5038 between 7 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday or email us at bct@boonecountytransit.com.

Thank you for considering Boone County Public Transportation for your transportation needs. We look forward to serving you and your community.
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