ARLINGTON, Texas – This Texas city has ditched its bus service in favor of ride sharing.
Via, a startup with funding from Mercedes Benz, has an arrangement with Arlington to deploy 10 six-passenger Mercedes vans, primarily in the city’s downtown area.
Residents will be able to hail the vans using a smartphone app, just like in any other city where Via operates. But the fares will be subsidized, keeping them $3 per ride or $10 for a weekly pass.
“We are at the beginning of an exciting transportation technology revolution,” said Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams, adding that it is an example of the city’s “willingness to explore innovative transportation technology solutions for our residents, employees, students and visitors.”
Williams said that subsidizing Via was much cheaper than other potential public-transit projects, such as a light-rail line. Arlington is contributing $322,500, or about one-third of the project cost. The rest will come from the Federal Transit Administration.
Via, which was founded in September 2013, has a one-year contract with Arlington, with four one-year renewal options.
