Arlington, Long Without Transit, Rolls Out Buses

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — A North Texas community has shed its reputation as the largest city in America not to offer public transportation.

A new bus service called Metro Arlington Xpress, or MAX, began limited service Monday in the city of about 374,000 people. The service is a partnership involving Arlington, the University of Texas at Arlington, Fort Worth Transportation Authority and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports (http://bit.ly/14W2nXO ) the city, university and various businesses are splitting the $700,000 cost.

The future of the two-year pilot program remains in question. Arlington officials may later seek a 1-cent sales tax to permanently fund the transit, and decisions must be made whether to partner with DART, the authority or other entities as planners consider the region's long-term public transportation needs.

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Information from: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, http://www.star-telegram.com