Riders on Port Authority of Allegheny County buses now have access to free WiFi, the agency announced on Monday. About half of Port Authority’s 700-bus fleet is connected, and a spokesperson said they expect all buses and light rail vehicles to offer WiFi within the next two months.
The service was included in a necessary upgrade Port Authority made to its modems, after Verizon alerted customers it would sunset its 3G system. Beyond offering people mobile connectivity, the change is expected to improve the reliability of real-time updates for Port Authority vehicles.
The agency is excited to make investments that improve customer comfort and experience, CEO Katharine Kelleman said in a statement.
“Free Wi-Fi will better connect passengers who are on-the-go and start to bring our system into the future."
Next year, the agency plans to roll out its own mobile payment app.
In its announcement, Port Authority reminded people that WiFi depends on cellular networks, which means service may still drop in some areas. In addition, they noted that WiFi is shared, and asked riders not to download large files.
PAAC WiFi is not password-protected and has no limits on use; riders will have to accept terms and conditions when they connect.
