BUSINESS PLAN HIGHLIGHTS
ARLINGTON ’ S ON-DEMAND PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM WITH AV INTEGRATION RECOGNIZED AS SMART 50 AWARDS RECIPIENT✅ ( Continued from Page 1 )
As a result of the positive impact on the community , Arlington ’ s Via Rideshare service expanded in January 2021 to serve the entire 99 square miles of the City . The service expanded again in March 2021 to include Arlington RAPID , an autonomous vehicle rideshare option for passengers traveling around Downtown or on the University of Texas at Arlington campus . With grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration and by partnering with Via Transportation , May Mobility , and UTA , the City is offering one the country ’ s first on-demand AV services linked with an existing transportation service .
Via ridership has steadily grown since the service began and community feedback continues to support the on-demand system ’ s ability to offer an efficient and affordable form of public transit . As of late August , 2021 , over 722,000 trips have been taken on the Via system and more than 82,800 Via accounts have been created . Customer satisfaction ratings have remained around 96 % throughout the life of the service .
The Via Rideshare service was recognized as influential for using innovative technologies and collaborative data sharing to provide a new transportation option for underserved populations in low-density environments . The flexibility , scalability , and cost-effectiveness of the Via system make it easy to replicate in other cities seeking to provide more and better transportation options to their residents .
Arlington has developed a reputation around the country as one of the most innovative cities exploring technology-based mobility solutions and the testing of autonomous vehicles .
Arlington will receive the award at the Smart Cities Connect Fall Conference and Expo in October .
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