Arlington, Texas has the dubious distinction of being the largest city in the nation with no fixed-route public transit system.
In an article in Fort Worth Report whose headline asks “Is Arlington, Texas, the largest city in the US without mass public transit?” Haley Samsel doesn’t bury the lede: ‘Yes.’
Voters in the city of 395,000 have rejected public transit proposals three times, according to Samsel. A bus route created in 2013 was discontinued in 2017 due to low ridership. The city now just offers an on-demand ride service.
Now, “With Arlington slated to host 2026 World Cup matches and the 2024 MLB All-Star Game, officials are exploring new transit options to venues like AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field. The city has announced a partnership with an electric air taxi company and set aside $17.5 million for street, transit and traffic projects in the entertainment district.”
An article in The Dallas Morning News asks a similar question, adding a detailed explanation of how public transit is managed and funded in North Texas. The article notes that a high-speed rail project connecting Dallas and Fort Worth that is in the environmental study phase could have a midway stop in Arlington, but only if the city joins a transit authority.
FULL STORY: Is Arlington, Texas, the largest city in the US without mass public transit?
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