Arlington is the largest city in the US without public transportation, having opted for the micro-transit rideshare service Via citywide in 2018. Is this adequate to meet public need? | Preview

This is a preview of the next story I'm working on. The full story will be published later this year.

Arlington, Texas is home to nearly 400,000 people, making it one of the largest cities in the state of Texas. It’s home to the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers, and since the 1990s, has seen three separate stadiums built to accommodate its professional teams. It’s built an extensive entertainment center—Texas Live!—filled with restaurants, bars, festivals, live music, and luxury accommodations to further the area’s vibrant event atmosphere. What the city lacks, however, is a public transportation system, though not for lack of trying.

Arlington taxpayers have rejected funding a public transportation system on three separate occasions over the years, including turning up their nose at a modest quarter-cent sales tax increase in 2017. As such, the city remains the largest in the United States without a public transportation system. That’s not to say city officials haven’t attempted to address the need for transportation, however.

In 2018, Arlington signed an agreement with the micro-transit rideshare service Via, which utilizes 70 “shuttles” throughout the city to help citizens get around town for as little as $3-5 per ride. But is the micro-transit system, which is also seeing trial runs in cities like New York City and Los Angeles, capable of meeting the public need?

I intend to find out. Updates to follow in the coming weeks and months.