Free Wi-fi to be offered on DART Route 98 for one year

Bus riders of two DART routes can now use free Wi-Fi to check email, read the news or browse social media while they ride to work. DART is testing Wi-Fi on Route 52 between Des Moines and West Des Moines as well as Route 98 between Des Moines and Ankeny. Free Wi-Fi will be available for one year, at which point DART will determine whether to keep Wi-Fi on buses and expand to all routes.

“Consumers today expect Wi-Fi just about everywhere,” says Amanda Wanke, DART’s chief engagement and communications officer. “With our free Wi-Fi, riders on Routes 52 and 98 can be more productive during their commute.”

DART’s Wi-Fi routes are ideal for commuters who want to use a Park & Ride to head downtown. These routes use the freeway and have limited stops for faster travel times.

• Route 52 runs from West Des Moines with Park & Ride locations at Lutheran Church of Hope and Valley West Mall.
• Route 98 runs from Ankeny with Park & Ride locations at Hawkeye Park, DMACC and Mercy North.

A full list of Park & Ride locations is available on DART’s website here: https://www.ridedart.com/how-to-ride/park-and-ride.

Twenty buses were equipped with free Wi-Fi and are identified on the exterior and interior of the bus. Riders can look for "Wi-Fi Onboard" signs near the bus entrance and signage on the inside of the bus. Once boarded, Wi-Fi can be accessed through a device’s Wi-Fi settings and by accepting terms of use.

The one-year pilot program allows DART to monitor Wi-Fi usage to determine whether access to Wi-Fi increases ridership and/or improves customer satisfaction. If the pilot is successful, DART will consider expanding Wi-Fi to all routes. While Routes 52 and 98 will always have Wi-Fi throughout the year, additional routes may have Wi-Fi access, depending on how the spare Wi-Fi buses are assigned to routes any particular day.

The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority is the public transportation provider that serves Polk County. DART operates a family of transportation services that makes getting around the Greater Des Moines area easier and more convenient. For more information about DART services, schedules, route changes, or directions to the nearest DART stop, visit the website at ridedart.com or call 515-283-8100. The MyDART Tools, Trip Planner and RideTime App are now available at ridedart.com.