Breaking Down Transit Barriers in the Heart of HIRTA is embarking on several projects and programs to better meet the needs of its communities and provide a more equitable transit system. By Megan Perrero, associate editor S mall and rural towns have as diverse communities as their medium and urban counterparts-it just may not be immediately spotted. But for the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA), seeking out the diverse groups of people that make up the communities it serves (seven counties in total) and identifying their various needs is second nature. " As a smaller agency, we know that if we do not stay up on things like technology and additional options for people with services, we're going to be left behind and we're still going to be operating 20 | Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | APRIL/MAY 2022 like we were 30 years ago, which we know doesn't work for us anymore, " said HIRTA Executive Director Julia Castillo. To better understand what does work, HIRTA brought in the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) as a consultant to complete a serhttp://www.MassTransitmag.com