FY 2017 Popular Annual Financial Report FY 2017 Popular Annual Financial Report | Page 17

Put Technology to Work F rom improving the speed and efficiency of city service delivery today to better preparing our community for the transportation, public safety, infrastructure and digital communication advancements of HOME is committed to Put Technology to Work for its citizens. tomorrow, the City of Arlington PLATE Milo Autonomous Shuttle Service Rolls Out NEWS STORY In 2017, Arlington became the first city in the U.S. to offer ongoing autonomous vehicle service to the public. The Milo autonomous shuttle service was one of several innovative transportation technolog y programs that rolled out in The American Dream City. Arlington is offering the free shuttle service, which operates on select off-street trails in the Entertainment District, as part of a one-year pilot program to explore autonomous transportation in a real- world setting. New Ask Arlington App Makes It Easier to Report Problems In January, the City launched its Ask Arlington app, which allows users to easily report common complaints such as overgrown weeds and grass, barking dogs or vehicles parked in a yard. The app, free for Android and Apple devices, is a convenient alternative to the Action Center hotline, 817-459-6777, which receives more than 350,000 calls a year. HOME PLATE NEWS STORY HOME PLATE Arlington Adopts Open Data Policy NEWS STORY Last year, Arlington asked What Works Cities to help improve the City’s ability to treat data as a strategic asset that can be more effectively used to generate reliable insights and provide services efficiently to its more than 380,000 residents. What Works Cities experts at the Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University and the Sunlight Foundation worked with the City to make data more consumable, reliable and readily available for residents, departmental staff and leadership. The partnership also strengthened the City’s ability to use data as a strategic management tool to connect with residents and increase economic development opportunities. After gathering public input, Arlington HOME PLATE formally adopted its Open Data Policy in October. City Invests in Assistive Listening Technology HOME PLATE To better serve residents with hearing loss, the Arlington City Council approved funding for the addition of hearing NEWS loops at the new George W. Hawkes Downtown Library STORY and City Council Chamber. This assistive listening technology broadcasts sound directly into modern hearing aids, allowing patrons with hearing loss to wirelessly and automatically participate in programming. The Downtown Library and the new City HOME PLATE Council Chamber will feature microphones and hearing loops to provide hearing assistance during all public NEWS meetings, presentations, classes and other events. STORY NEWS Tesla Supercharger Station STORY Opens at the Convention Center Arlington’s world-class Entertainment District became even more electrifying in 2017. That’s when the City became home to Tesla’s first urban Supercharger station in the DFW area. The station, located at the Arlington Convention Center, has 10 Superchargers available to the public 24 hours a day. Popular Annual Financial Report | 17