Arlington (WBAP/KLIF News) – Arlington has started testing autonomous buses that will run from parking lots to Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys games. Mayor Jeff Williams joined Texas Rangers Manager Jeff Bannister and city council members for the initial ride Friday morning.
“Arlington is a can-do city,” Williams says. “We have an opportunity here to pull together with our partners.”
Arlington is the first city in the country to test driver-less buses. The buses will have a trained operator on board in case of emergency and will not use city streets. The buses will stay on trails in parks between Globe Life Park and AT&T Stadium.
Rangers Manager Jeff Banister says air conditioning and speed could make the buses attractive. He joked the Rangers could use the buses to take pitchers from the mound to the bullpen.
“It kind of reminds me of the old days, the golf cart with the baseball helmet,” he said after the first ride. “We might be able to dress one of them up, bring it from the bullpen.”
Arlington is leasing two buses for a year. They can carry up to 12 people and will have designated stops.
“We don’t know what transportation is going to look like in five or ten years, but we know it’s improving,” Williams says. “Much like computers in the ’80s, how far they’ve come.”
Arlington will start running the buses in time for the Dallas Cowboys’ exhibition game August 26.
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