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City plans Arlington Express peak shuttle pilot — $1.2M COG funding, $3 fares and app booking
Summary
Council heard details of a three‑year Arlington Express pilot funded by the North Central Texas Council of Governments; service will provide guaranteed weekday peak trips to Centerport TRE station, start with a soft launch March 31 and operate 6–8 a.m. and 3–7 p.m.; fares set at $3 per trip and booking will be via app or phone.
Anne Foss, the city’s planning and programming manager for transportation, briefed the council on a new Arlington Express service: a peak‑period, higher‑capacity ride intended to provide more direct service to the Centerport TRE station and to free on‑demand vehicles for other trips.
Foss said the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) provided roughly $1.2 million for three years of operations and the city’s share is about $281,000 over the same period. The pilot will use larger white vans that are due to arrive shortly for testing and a soft launch is planned for March 31 with general public service opening in mid‑April.
Why it matters: The pilot aims to improve transit connectivity to a commuter rail station, increase rider reliability on key corridors and improve efficiency across the city’s on‑demand fleet.
Key details from the briefing: - Operating hours (initially): weekday peaks, about 6 a.m.–8 a.m. and 3 p.m.–7 p.m.; the vans will be used elsewhere in the on‑demand fleet during off‑peak hours. - Fare: initial fare set at $3 per person per trip, the same as the existing on‑demand service to Centerport. - Booking: riders must reserve and pay through the Arlington transportation app (Via partnership) or by calling a local number; walk‑up hails are not supported. - Evaluation: the pilot will run up to three years under NCTCOG funding and will be evaluated on metrics such as ridership, seat utilization, on‑time performance and effects on the broader on‑demand service.
Council members asked about fare flexibility, compliance with Federal Transit Administration funding rules and whether the COG funding restricts future fare adjustments. Foss said fare changes are possible with council direction and that FTA rules (including public notice and hearings for service changes) would apply.
No formal council action occurred; staff will proceed with the pilot launch and return with performance data during the pilot period.
