The idea will be discussed with Michael Morris, transportation director for the council of governments, and the Regional Transportation Council at a Feb. 12 meeting, according to its agenda.<\/p>\n
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By signing up, you agree to our\u00a0Terms of Service<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI think the days of fixed-route bussing is limited, and it\u2019s not for every single community that\u2019s out there. But that doesn\u2019t mean we can\u2019t be on the cutting edge of what\u2019s available to people,\u201d said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. <\/p>\n \u201cThe purpose of this is to continue to explore a variety of different transportation options in the future,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cIs there going to be a Jetsons era where we\u2019re going to have air taxis flying around out there, and if that happens, how does that look? Where does the North Texas region fit in something like that? Those types of things, I think, warrant an exploration of this technology-based authority.\u201d<\/p>\n Arlington is one of several Metroplex cities not already part of a transit authority \u2014 DART, Trinity Metro and Denton County Transit Authority \u2014 having voted down public transportation three times<\/a> between 1980 and 2002. <\/p>\n Cities are allowed to levy a 2% local sales tax, 1% of which typically goes toward a city\u2019s general fund to pay for public safety and other programs. Member cities of DART pay in with the remaining 1%, while member cities of Trinity Metro and Denton County Transit Authority pay 0.5%. <\/p>\n Arlington, meanwhile, has used a portion of its local sales tax\u2014 in addition to hotel and rental car taxes \u2014 to fund its stadiums, AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field and the former Globe Life Park. <\/p>\n While Globe Life Park and, as of last summer<\/a>, AT&T Stadium are paid off, the sales tax will remain to pay off Globe Life Field, which opened in 2020. This means Arlington likely couldn\u2019t join one of the existing transit authorities as a full member, even if it wanted to. <\/p>\n However, Arlington does want to become a stop on a high-speed rail line connecting Dallas and Fort Worth, which would require membership in a transit authority. Ross said that the city has made a commitment to \u201cbecome involved\u201d with a transit authority \u201cif and when\u201d high-speed rail becomes reality in North Texas.<\/p>\n \u201cWe remain committed to working with regional partners to bring this project to fruition,\u201d the letter echoed. <\/p>\n \u201cTo that end, the City of Arlington reaffirms its intent to participate financially in this project once state and federal clearances are secured and a viable, approved business plan is in place,\u201d the document read. <\/p>\n \u201cA technology-based governance mechanism could facilitate Arlington\u2019s financial participation while supporting the broader advancement of next-generation mobility solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018More than one way to skin a cat\u2019 Arlington mayor Jim Ross reassures residents after the anti-discrimination ordinance failed to be re-instated during a City Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Arlington. The vote failed 5-4. <\/p>\n Christine Vo \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n Ross said it\u2019s still too early to think about a funding mechanism, sales tax or otherwise, for the proposed technology-based transit agency. Rather, the city was inviting discussion with other North Texas communities on how to bring next-generation transit solutions to the region. <\/p>\n Still, he said Arlington is likely to be restricted financially on what it can do for the time being. Though Globe Life Field is on track to be paid off 15 years early relative to its initial 30-year period, legal obligations and the voter-approved and -extended sales tax still remain. <\/p>\n \u201cHowever, there\u2019s more than one way to skin the cat, as the old saying goes, and given the right program at the right time, we can find ways to fund good ways of getting involved,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n Arlington has already pioneered public rideshare through a $22 million contract with Via, and previously announced plans for flying taxis that use electronic vertical take-off and landing, though those have not received Federal Aviation Administration approval yet. <\/p>\n Meanwhile, a high-speed rail proposal between Dallas and Fort Worth is stuck in limbo, stemming from objections to where a route would connect in Dallas, per KERA<\/a>. <\/p>\n![\"Arlington](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/K33GIO7EVVC2RPUAJJX2ER2MMI.jpg\")
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