There's a new perk to commuting by transit back and forth over the Pitt River Bridge.
Today (July 12), TransLink announced free wireless internet access is now available on its fleet of RapidBuses across Metro Vancouver.
This includes the R3 Lougheed Highway bus that transports thousands of passengers weekly between Coquitlam and Maple Ridge.
"Not only is RapidBus faster with fewer stops, now all customers can ride our premium bus service without having to spend money on data fees," said TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn in a news release.
"These upgrades are yet another way we are elevating customer experiences by making it easier for customers to use their transit time for leisure, work or to connect with family and friends."
TransLink partnered with Rogers Communications to deliver the WiFi, which was included in the transit authority's customer experience action plan that began installing hot spots across its network in 2021.
The service will be accessible to Tri-Cities commuters with a smart phone or another mobile device.
And TransLink said, on average, daily commuters from Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody with mobile devices are among 24,000 unique technologies used to access its WiFi.
"This initiative is an important part of our commitment to keep Canadians connected where and when they want," added Rogers spokesperson Ron McKenzie in the same statement.
The R3 RapidBus, launched in January 2020, travels along Lougheed Highway and averaged 6,000 riders per week in 2022, according to TransLink's latest performance review.
The first bus leaves Coquitlam Central Station just after 5 a.m. daily, with the last one arriving before 12:30 a.m. the next day.
There are four stops in the Tri-Cities:
- Coquitlam Central Station
- Westwood Street (Coquitlam)
- Shaughnessy Street (Port Coquitlam)
- Ottawa Street (Port Coquitlam)
For more information and a full schedule, you can visit TransLink's website.
