A mass transit system may be coming to Arlington.
“I’m convinced we have to have some high-speed rail or something similar in [a] fashion that helps us with the ingress and egress of people coming in and out of Arlington,” said Mayor Jim Ross, according to WFAA.
Ross told WFAA that citizens need a system that can provide both speed and safety.
“It’s critically important that people are able to get in and out of our entertainment District in a rapid, safe manner,” said Ross, according to WFAA.
The mayor of Arlington’s desire to introduce a new transit system to the City of Arlington comes in the wake of a busy weekend in the city.
Arlington featured two large attractions over the weekend, the Taylor Swift Eras Tour at AT&T Stadium and the Texas Rangers game at Globe Life Field.
The City of Arlington also renamed Randol Mill Road to Taylor Swift Way briefly and lit up city hall in red in anticipation of the tour’s arrival. Arlington officials said this was done in competition with other cities to uphold its reputation as one of the artist’s biggest fans.
Each of these events resulted in large influxes of traffic in the city. Ross told WFAA that he and the city are exploring long-term and short-term solutions to ease traffic burdens as the city grows.
The city already started a RAPID service program that offers transportation services in 2021. This program offers autonomous vehicle rides in Downtown Arlington and on the University of Texas at Arlington campus.
Ross told WFAA that he was proud of how the city has responded to high-profile events and that a rapid bus system would be a short-term solution to aid in increasing efficacy.
“During big events we have a tremendous traffic control center,” said Ross, according to WFAA. “We have a lot of boots on the ground helping the intersections out there.”