Bus riders on all Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority routes can now access free Wi-Fi to check email, read the news or browse social media while they ride around Greater Des Moines. DART’s bus Wi-Fi can be accessed through a device’s Wi-Fi settings and by accepting the terms of use.
Over the past year, DART piloted free Wi-Fi on Route 52 between Des Moines and West Des Moines as well as Route 98 between Des Moines and Ankeny. The pilot garnered more than 54,000 connections, which equates to about 1,300 connections each week.
“We heard from many riders who enjoy the free Wi-Fi access and wanted to see it expanded to every bus,” said Amanda Wanke, DART’s chief external affairs officer. “We hope the addition of free Wi-Fi will not only improve the riding experience for current riders, but also attract new riders who want to be more productive with their commute.”
Wi-Fi access possible by new fareboxes, coming summer 2018
A major reason for the implementation of free Wi-Fi on all routes is the new fareboxes coming to all DART buses in summer 2018. The new fareboxes require an internet connection to be installed on every bus, which opens the ability for DART to provide access to riders.
