The University of Texas at Arlington is beckoning residents to offer their perspectives on the automation wave transforming public transit. A fresh online survey seeks to penetrate the communal pulse regarding autonomous rideshare services in Arlington, where nearly 100,000 trips have been clocked since the inception of the Arlington RAPID program back in March 2021. Arlington’s denizens aged 18 or over can voice their views confidentially, contributing to pivotal research that strives to navigate the route of autonomous public transportation. Individuals are encouraged to allot roughly 10 minutes and visit the survey site to partake.
As per the city’s collective work with Via and May Mobility, backed by federal and regional grants, the RAPID initiative — an acronym for “Rideshare, Automation, and Payment Integration Demonstration” — aims to shift to full automation ultimately. Surveys such as these will crucially aid RAPID partners in sifting through public sentiment and adjusting future services accordingly. According to a statement by the City of Arlington, “The City is always looking far out into the future to anticipate community needs and solutions,” professed Ann Foss, an expert in Arlington’s Transportation Department planning and programming. She conveys expectations that fully autonomous services could soon cut costs and enhance commuter safety.
With a fleet that includes an accessible vehicle with a wheelchair ramp, Arlington RAPID operates weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., covering Downtown Arlington and the university campus. Rides can be conveniently booked via the Arlington Transportation app or by contacting Arlington On-Demand’s customer service. The service, reaffirming the city’s dedication to innovation in public transit, is funded through mid-2025.
