City of Des Moines staff, in partnership with Polk County and Operation Downtown, an initiative of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, have announced the approval of a rideshare hub to improve public safety and mobility in the Court Avenue district. The hub aims to better accommodate individuals using rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft, during peak times like weekend regional events and weekly late-night hours. The changes come after a 2023 report from the Responsible Hospitality Institute identified the need for a centralized rideshare pickup hub to improve the late-night dispersal of visitors in the area. The rideshare zone will be located on the west side of Third Street, just south of Court Avenue, and operate from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. During these hours, rideshare companies will geofence the area, directing riders to this specific location for pickup. In addition to the rideshare hub, several changes to parking and loading zones have been made to improve public safety:

• Removal of outdated parking restrictions: The 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. parking restriction on Fridays and Saturdays on the west side of Third Street between Vine Street and Court Avenue will be eliminated, opening eight additional overnight parking spaces.
• New dual-purpose loading zone/rideshare area: Create a 60-foot standard loading zone beginning 115 feet south of Court Avenue on the west side of Third Street. This space, signed for rideshare pickup, will support business deliveries during the day and rideshare use at night.
• Corner clearance improvements: Parking restrictions will be added near the intersection of Third and Vine streets to improve visibility and pedestrian safety.