This story was updated at 5:30 p.m. to reflect updated information from the city of Arlington.

It’s difficult to commute between Arlington and other Dallas-Fort Worth cities unless you own a car or are willing to pay a hefty ride-hailing bill.

The suburb — home to Six Flags Over Texas, Hurricane Harbor, AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Park — is one of the largest U.S. cities without a public mass transit system.

Over the years, critics have said Arlington’s decision not to have a public transportation system is a burden to its nearly 400,000 residents.

Beto O'Rourke took a swing at the suburb during a stop on his U.S. Senate campaign last year, claiming the city's decision to function without a public transportation system is "not by accident ... it is by design."

Curious Texas is a special project from The Dallas Morning News. You ask questions, our journalists find answers.

A reader familiar with Arlington’s lack of public transit asked Curious Texas: What is preventing the city from having mass transit so Cowboys and Rangers fans can finally take the train?

The question is part of Curious Texas, an ongoing project from The Dallas Morning News that invites you to join in our reporting process. The idea is simple: You have questions, and our journalists are trained to track down answers.

You can submit your Curious Texas questions in the form below or send them by texting "DMN" to 214-817-3868. Follow the prompts and introduce yourself to us, share your story or questions, and we’ll text you with information as we report the story.

Arlington, a suburban city between Dallas and Fort Worth, has seen its population spike since the 1950s. The growth has made the city home to a more racially and economically diverse population.

In 1990, approximately 83 percent of its residents were white, 8 percent were black and 8 percent were Hispanic. Census data shows whites now make up 40 percent of the city’s population, blacks are now at nearly 22 percent and Hispanics are now at nearly 29 percent.

Critics may hate it, but it seems that Arlington has kept itself transit-free because that's what its residents want. Arlington residents have voted down mass transit options three times, in 1980, 1995 and 2002, according to The News' archives.

The city did open a bus line, but it was short-lived.

The Metro ArlingtonXpress bus pulls out from College Park Center in Arlington, Texas on Nov. 22, 2016. (File Photo / Rose Baca)

Its first and only bus route, the Metro ArlingtonXpress, operated for four years before the city decided against renewing the contract in December 2017.

The bus route — operated by Dallas Area Rapid Transit — cost $5 a day per rider. The fare included access to other regional mass transit systems, including the Trinity Railway Express and DART light rail and buses.

Arlington spokeswoman Susan Schrock said the city does not plan to add a mass transit line within the city limits, but it is exploring other options.

“We’re exploring this technology as it becomes available,” she said.

Arlington offers a few alternative transportation options in certain parts of the city for residents and visitors without personal vehicles.

Its Via ride-hailing service allows residents to book seats via a smartphone on six-passenger vehicles for $3 per trip. Riders can also call 817-784-7382 to book trips, Shrock said.

Schrock said the pilot ride-hailing service had served more than 100,000 riders since it began in December 2017.

The Via Van waits for a passenger to call in at The Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington on Dec. 27, 2017. (File Photo / Nathan Hunsinger)

The program is only available between Lamar Boulevard to the north, State Highway 360 to the east, Interstate 20 to the south and Fielder Road to the west, according to the city's website.

Via is also available to pick up riders arriving from Fort Worth and Dallas at the Trinity Railway Express' Centreport Station.

Arlington also has a free autonomous shuttle, Drive.ai in its entertainment district, which includes Texas Live!, Globe Life Park and the Arlington Convention Center. The shuttle runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. The shuttle is also available during Cowboys home games.

Riders can book seats on the shuttle via their smartphones.

A Drive.ai self-driving vehicle at the company's media showing in Arlington on Thursday, October 18, 2018. (File Photo / Daniel Carde)

There's also a privately owned trolley company that serves Six Flags Over Texas, Hurricane Harbor and other attractions within the Entertainment District.

The city also offers Handitran Self-Service for elderly residents and residents with disabilities. Anyone with a disability must apply for a certificate to use the service.

Applications take a week to process, according to the city's website. Residents who have been issued certificates can schedule rides up to 14 days in advance. The service costs $2 per one-way trip or $55 a month for unlimited service.

More from Curious Texas

Tell us!

What do you wonder about the culture, people and institutions of North Texas -- and the rest of our great state? Help us investigate stories that matter to you.

No question is too big or too small. Let's get started. Visit dallasnews.com/curious-texas to pose your question and vote on which questions we should answer.