ARLINGTON -- Arlington could soon shed its image as the largest city in the United States without mass transit.
Instead, the city may become the centerpiece of the North Texas region's long-term plan to connect with high-speed rail.City officials are working with the University of Texas at Arlington to take a relatively small step in that direction by next fall. They hope to hire an outside contractor to open a bus service connecting the university to the Trinity Railway Express, at the CentrePort station just south of Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. In what's being described as a two-year, pilot project, the buses also could stop at a handful of other Arlington job areas but would not widely circulate throughout the city."This is not about a citywide service or building a transit system in Arlington," said Jim Parajon, Arlington interim deputy city manager. "This is simply to provide a connection to the region for our residents, our businesses and our university."Even so, supporters hope the bus service -- which they've dubbed "regional connectivity" -- will show there's high demand for transit in Arlington, which could give the city a prominent role in the long-term effort to bring high-speed rail to the area.While the bus service gets up and running, the North Central Texas Council of Governments is working on a conceptual plan to build a north-south passenger rail line connecting UT Arlington to CentrePort/DFW Airport. The precise type of rail system isn't yet known, but one option would be to build a modern streetcar system similar to what Fort Worth rejected in 2010.That north-south Arlington rail line could eventually connect to a proposed high-speed rail line running along Interstate 30, from Dallas to Fort Worth.The timing of Arlington's latest attempt at transit is critical, as multiple private companies are working behind the scenes to build high-speed rail lines connecting Dallas-Fort Worth to Houston, San Antonio and Oklahoma City. One Japanese company says it wants to build a Houston-to-Dallas connection by 2020 -- using trains that travel 200 mph -- with no federal funding.Regional planners have said they would welcome a privately funded bullet train, as long as it makes at least three stops in the Metroplex -- one in Dallas, one in Fort Worth and one somewhere in the region's center. If Arlington plays its cards right, it could become the host of that stop in the region's midsection.Business owners in Arlington, where voters have rejected sales tax increases for mass transit three times since 1980, are being asked to drum up support for the project, and back it with financial contributions."Other cities around here are knocking at our door, wondering if Arlington is going to get in the game of connectivity," Jeff Williams, president of the Arlington engineering firm Graham Associates Inc., told members of the Arlington Chamber Foundation during a mobility forum Thursday at UT Arlington. "We need you to show your support."Pilot project costsVoters will not be asked to raise sales taxes for the pilot project, which is expected to cost $700,000 per year, city officials said.For the first year of the project, Arlington's City Council approved $350,000 from the general fund of its 2013 budget to cover half the cost of running the buses.UT Arlington is contributing about $230,000, and Arlington businesses are being asked to raise the remaining $120,000. City officials haven't yet identified any businesses that may be willing to contribute to the project but said they are actively seeking partners.Long-term, an investment in a passenger rail system likely would require voter approval, although city officials said they don't want to elaborate on that possibility until the pilot project has had time to work.Arlington voters most recently rejected a mass transit sales tax in 2002. A handful of residents opposed the city's investment in the pilot project during City Council meetings held to discuss the city budget.This time, the idea is to use the pilot project to get residents used to the concept of public transportation so that if there's a transit election in the future they'll feel more comfortable with how the vehicles move about the city, one official said."Whether it's a streetcar or light rail or a people mover, that remains to be determined," said Tom Shelton, council of governments senior program manager. "What's exciting is the private sector is really becoming engaged this go-around, as well as Six Flags and the entertainment district."City officials later this year hope to put the project up for bid and have a bus provider under contract by early next year so that service can begin by the fall.During the two-year pilot project, about three buses, each with a capacity of 20 to 30 passengers, would be used. The buses would make approximately 12 to 22 trips per day (comparable to the TRE's schedule). Riders would not be charged fares during the pilot period.The service is expected to attract about 950 riders a day, the council of governments estimates, although it could take months for the ridership to build to that level.Stops haven't yet been determined, but likely would include CentrePort, the entertainment district, Lamar Boulevard near Interstate 30, downtown Arlington, UT Arlington's College Park and possibly The Parks and/or Highlands shopping areas.University missionFor UT Arlington, making public transportation available to students and employees fits in with the university's goals of reducing carbon monoxide emissions 20 percent by 2020, an official said. The school now has a total enrollment of 33,267 students and is seeking to become a Tier 1 research facility.About 17,000 students and 2,800 employees have on-campus parking decals. But UT Arlington is making progress in creating a more walkable campus, and is urging people to seek alternative ways to move about, spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said."There's a hub of activity that's driven at least in part by our enrollment growth and the development of the College Park district and the opening of the College Park Center," Sullivan said. "It's more fun. There's just a lot more to do now."Gordon Dickson, 817-390-7796Twitter: @gdicksonHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
