FY 2018 Popular Annual Financial Report FY 2018 Popular Annual Financial Report | Page 17

Repor t
Put Technology to Work
T
echnology touches all parts of the city life – our organization, residents and businesses. It is also integral
in achieving the City’s other four priorities including investing in our economy, supporting quality
education, enhancing regional mobility and championing great neighborhoods. The Arlington City Council
Priority of “Putting Technology to Work” includes enhancing current and embracing new technologies,
will improve access, convenience and timeliness of information for our community, creating greater
transparency. Additionally, the organization will benefit from increased efficiency and security leading to
greater responsiveness. This will lead to economic growth and will position Arlington to provide better
services and experiences to all who we serve – residents, businesses, schools and visitors alike.
Financial
Water Utilities Enhances
Customer Communication
Through Email Alerts

Starting in January, Arlington
Water Utilities began automatically
sending emails to account holders
with email addresses on file to alert
them when their water service was
interrupted by emergency or planned
repairs. Additionally, the City added a
new webpage, www.arlingtontx.gov/
wateroutages, that provides up-to-date
water outage information at a glance.
City Approves On-Street Autonomous Shuttle Service

Arlington moved a step closer to
becoming the first Texas city to offer
on-street autonomous transportation
service to both residents and visitors
when the City Council approved a
contract with Drive.ai in August 2018
for a one-year pilot program. These
self-driving vans, which began operating
in the city in October, travel alongside
other vehicles in a predetermined, geo-
fenced area at speeds up to 35 miles
per hour. This innovative pilot program
aims to meet day-to-day mobility needs
for residents as well as help Arlington’s
visitors get to and from AT&T Stadium,
Globe Life Park, Texas Live! and other
nearby destinations.
In Other Technology News
• The Ask Arlington app continually grew in popularity, with
more than 22,000 reports being made during FY18.
• The Arlington City Council approved a resolution to show
support and encouragement for private companies in the
growing autonomous technology industry to test and
deploy electric robotic delivery devices on city sidewalks to
deliver packages.
• The Milo autonomous shuttle pilot project wrapped up in
August 2018 after operating safely for more than 100 special
events over a one-year study period.
Arlington Expands Available
Open Data

After formally
adopting an Open
Data Policy in
October 2018, Arlington increased
the types of searchable data available
to the public through the Open
Arlington portal. This includes data
sets about the city’s libraries, hospitals,
lake and municipal court records after
receiving public input through an online
Open Data survey conducted in August.
• The City’s annual
pavement survey
program was
conducted for south
Arlington, including
all city street
between Green Oaks
Boulevard and Bardin
Road to the southern
city limits.
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