Arlington's Via Rideshare Service, Which Has Provided More Than 267,000 Rides, Will Expand South Starting in January
By Susan Schrock, Office of Communication
Posted on October 30, 2019, October 30, 2019

Connect Arlington is the City’s multimodal transportation plan for the future. It was developed by a 31-member citizen advisory committee in 2017 and is used to guide Council decisions related to alternative modes of travel in Arlington. A comprehensive on-demand rideshare system was recommended as part of a larger, transportation system to move residents and visitors through the City.

As a result, Arlington partnered with Via Transportation, Inc., to launch an on-demand rideshare service on Dec. 11, 2017, to offer an additional mobility option for residents, employees and visitors. 

The City’s innovative Via Rideshare service, which has provided more than 267,000 rides to the public, continues to receive positive community feedback and requests for service area expansion. With the City Council’s recent approval of the FY2020 operating budget, the Via service area is expected to expand into southeast Arlington, down to the southern city limits, in January 2020.

For just $3 per person per trip, riders can access any destination within the service area from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays. Riders can also purchase a ViaPass for a current cost of $15 per week and ride up to four times per day all week long. Over 26,000 people have set up a Via account.

A contract with Via to provide a second year of service was approved by the City Council on Dec. 4, 2018. The app-based rideshare service currently uses a fleet of 15 six-passenger vehicles, a smart phone application and dynamic routing to provide efficient on-demand trips and access to a wide range of destinations. Personal vehicles are added to the fleet at times of high demand to meet the needs of riders and keep wait times within the goal of 12 minutes, on average.

Pick-ups and drop-offs take place within a one to two block walk. Via does not have fixed routes or fixed schedules, allowing riders to experience a personalized transportation solution that fits their needs.
The current service area is bounded by Lamar Boulevard on the north, Fielder Road on the west, Interstate 20 on the south, and State Highway 360 and the City Limits on the east.

Effective June 3, 2019, the Via service area expanded to include neighborhoods and employment centers east of State Highway 360 between Abram Street to the north and Arkansas Lane to the south.

The service area includes major destinations such as Downtown, UT Arlington, the hospital district, the entertainment venues, the CentrePort TRE Station, the Parks Mall, and the Arlington Highlands shopping center.

The highest weekday ridership to date was 980 rides recorded on Sept. 27, 2019, followed by the highest weekend ridership of 599 rides on Sept. 28, 2019.

Booking options are available for riders that do not have a smartphone or need a cash option.

More information on the service and how to book a ride is available at www.arlingtontx.gov/via. Click here to download the Via app.

Via Rideshare Service Data in Action

Enhance Regional Mobility, Data in Action
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