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FACT BRIEF

Is Arlington, Texas, the largest city in the US without mass public transit?

By Haley Samsel
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YES

With a population of 395,000, Arlington remains the largest U.S. city without a mass public transit system, including bus or rail. 

Voters have rejected proposals to create public transit three times since 1980, with many residents opposing a bus system. Between 2013 and 2017, the city funded a single bus route operated by Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

Citing low ridership, Arlington officials discontinued the route in December 2017 and replaced the program with a ride-sharing service. Residents can book rides through Arlington On-Demand until at least December 2024. 

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.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
City of Arlington New app available for citywide rideshare public transportation service, now known as Arlington On-Demand
Dallas Morning News Why is there no mass public transportation to get to the World Series in Arlington?
Ars Technica This city has a vision for mass transit that doesn’t involve city buses
KERA News Arlington's rideshare service Via hits milestones as commuters feel pain at the gas pump
KERA News Arlington, regional officials consider local funds to pay for World Cup improvements
City of Arlington Overair, City of Arlington to develop and launch eVTOL operations at Arlington Municipal Airport
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.