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    1. Technology
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    St. Louis Metro's MetroLink and MetroBus launch free Wi-Fi for riders

    Aug. 20, 2021
    This launch follows a successful pilot program and delivers on one of the top customer amenity requests by riders: Wi-Fi service.
    Related To: Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District (St. Louis Metro)
    St. Louis Metro
    St Louis 611fc41f10a8d

    St. Louis Metro Transit is now offering free Wi-Fi on all MetroBus and MetroLink vehicles. 

    This launch follows a successful pilot program and delivers on one of the top customer amenity requests by riders: Wi-Fi service.

    Riders can conveniently connect to the internet to access email, study, watch videos or stream music, read the latest news or a book, listen to podcasts, visit and post on social media sites and more, all from their personal mobile devices on nearly 400 clean-burning diesel and battery-electric buses and 83 light-rail vehicles.

    St. Louis Metro has partnered with T-Mobile to provide this free service.

    To access the free Wi-Fi service on MetroBus and MetroLink, open the Wi-Fi option on a mobile device so it can scan for available networks, then connect to “Metro Public Wi-Fi” and a login screen will appear. Once riders agree to Metro’s Terms of Use policy, they will be connected to the network during their trip.

    “More than 92 percent of our transit riders have a smartphone, and they rely on connectivity to harness the full power of their technology, especially when they are on the move,” said Taulby Roach, president and CEO of Bi-State Development. “We’re happy to provide this added convenience through T-Mobile for our customers, whether they are using the internet for work, school or entertainment. We know that having reliable internet access can be a bridge to brighter futures and we’re excited to offer yet another mobile customer amenity.”

    St. Louis Metro’s Wi-Fi service makes purchasing daily and monthly transit even easier through the Transit app. The Transit app can also be used for trip planning, including trips that combine Metro Transit with ridesharing.

    St. Louis Metro Transit secured more than $1.3 million for the Wi-Fi project through two grants from the Federal Transit Administration, matching funds from St. Clair County ($63,464) and funds from Proposition M ($253,855). The next phase of the project includes plans to install Wi-Fi service on Metro Call-A-Ride vehicles and also calls for nine Metro Transit centers to be added as Wi-Fi connection hubs for customer convenience between their trips.