Page 320 - CityofArlingtonFY26AdoptedBudget

Enhance Regional Mobility

Goal 1: Explore Creative Alternative Transportation Opportunities
Objective 1: Promote Regional Connectivity
Project Performance Measure(s) Department(s)
ERM Arlington On-Demand Ridership, rider satisfaction, service Transportation
1.1.2 Dynamic Direct Route efficiency & utilization
Pilot
Summary:
Estimated Actual
Milestone
This item supports the Council's "Enhancing Regional Completion Completion
Mobility" priority by improving access within Arlington Execution of COG Fall 2024 Dec. 2024
and to regional destinations while complementing the Funding
Arlington On-Demand Rideshare service. Implementation of Spring 2025 Mar. 2025
Dynamic Direct Route
Based on observed mobility patterns and higher- Pilot
density corridors, the City of Arlington proposes Pilot Completion Spring 2028
piloting a "dynamic direct route" model to improve the Evaluation and Reporting Winter 2028
existing Arlington On-Demand rideshare service. This Completion
innovative approach combines the predictability of
direct routes with the flexibility and affordability of on- Update:
demand ridesharing. During peak demand periods, a The Arlington Express pilot has continued operations since
certain number of vehicles would operate on a launch on March 31, 2025. Ridership has been generally
predictable schedule and route, based on demand. steady, although it has decreased somewhat since the end of
However, during off-peak times, these vehicles could the spring school semester at UTA. Operational data analysis
be redeployed to optimize network efficiency. and rider survey data is being used to evaluate any potential
changes that should be made before the fall school semester
The goal of this project is to pilot this dynamic direct starts at UTA in August. Data is also being analyzed to
route concept in Arlington and, if successful, the North understand the impact on the broader On-Demand service
Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) may efficiency.
explore expanding it regionally. Data from Arlington's
existing transit service and rider feedback will be used The service has three stops, at the CentrePort TRE Station,
to inform the design and implementation of the pilot, Arlington City Hall, and UTA’s University Center, and currently
ensuring it effectively meets the needs of riders. operates Monday through Friday at peak commute times,
from 6-8am and from 3:30-7pm. The service is using a fleet of
The City of Arlington will fund this service through the three Ford Transit vans, which can carry 6 ambulatory
NCTCOG Transit Strategic Partnerships. The City passengers and 1 wheelchair passenger. The vans are white
received $1,126,873 in funding from NCTCOG and will and wrapped to match the On-Demand service fleet.
contribute $281,718 in local share for a total project
amount of $1,408,591.

26