CITY OF ARLINGTON LAUNCHES FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND , ON-DEMAND SELF-DRIVING SHUTTLE SERVICE WITH RAPID PROGRAM
The Arlington RAPID pilot program , available to riders through the Via app , is the first in the United States to integrate on-demand autonomous vehicles into an existing public transportation service . A fleet of five self-driving vehicles , including a wheelchair-accessible vehicle , is available to book from 7 a . m . to 7 p . m . Monday through Friday for destinations within the RAPID service area , which includes the Downtown Library , City Hall , UTA and numerous restaurants , offices , and businesses . The City of Arlington is operating RAPID ( Rideshare , Automation , and Payment Integration Demonstration ) in partnership with Via , the leader in Transit Tech ; May Mobility , a leader in autonomous technology and fleet services ; and UT Arlington through a grant provided by the Federal Transit Administration ( FTA ).
The goal of the Arlington RAPID project is to provide a blueprint for combining on-demand rideshare and autonomous technologies to develop effective , efficient , safe , and accessible transportation for all riders . In addition to improving public transportation options in Arlington , lessons learned from Arlington RAPID will be shared widely to help other communities throughout the nation seeking to combine rideshare and autonomous technologies .
“ Arlington has developed a reputation around the country as one of the most innovative cities exploring technologybased mobility solutions and the testing of autonomous vehicles ,” said Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams . “ We ’ re excited to take the next step in this process with our partners May Mobility , Via and UT Arlington , as we explore the latest selfdriving vehicle technology on our roads in the Downtown area .”
Via ’ s technology will power booking , routing , passenger and vehicle assignment and identification , customer experience , and fleet management , in coordination with May Mobility ’ s expertise in autonomous vehicle technology . The result will be a highly integrated and autonomous shared-ride system . ( continued on page 2 )
Q3 UPDATE · FY 2021
• Pages 1-2 - City of Arlington Launches First On-Demand Self-Driving Shuttle Service with RAPID
• Pages 3-5 - Citywide Street Projects and Updates
• Page 6 - Arlington Public Works & Transportation Keeps the City Moving
• Page 7 - City of Arlington Once Again Recognized for Traffic Safety Initiatives | Residents with Confirmed Vaccine Appointments Ride Via & Handitran for Free During March and April
• Page 8 - By the Numbers
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