Rangers offer free parking for weekday commuters

ARLINGTON -- Elvis Andrus pulled up in a red convertible. Rougned Odor hopped in. Then, the Rangers middle infielders took off back to Globe Life Park, marking the grand opening of a park-and-ride lot, formed in a partnership between the Texas Rangers and North Central Texas Council of Governments.

The Rangers allocated 100 spaces from their G Lot on AT&T Way and Copeland for free commuter access from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. The lot is not available on weekends.

"Anything we can do to help people in their commute to work, back and forth, and to support carpooling is a positive to the Rangers," said Rob Matwick, the Rangers' executive vice president for business operations. "Certainly we hope that when people come back to the carpool at night, if there's a ballgame going on, we certainly encourage them to walk down the street and see the Rangers play."

Michael Morris, director of the North Texas council of governments transportation department, said the project took about $200,000 worth of capital costs to complete, but he said building a lot of that size from scratch would cost almost $1 million.

The lot provides easy access to Interstate 30 East and West, making for an easy way to get to significant employment and entertainment destinations in the area. Kathryn Wilemon, mayor pro tempore of the City of Arlington, also said she thinks the lot will be a step toward reducing traffic congestion and protecting air quality.

"It's a win-win for the citizens who come here," Wilemon said.

Carpoolers can leave cars parked for the day, and tryparkingit.com helps North Texans find carpools or vanpools for work.