Riders on 102 Markham bus route will have access to Wi-Fi starting today
For the first time ever, riders travelling on the TTC’s 102 Markham Road bus route will now be able to use free onboard Wi-Fi.
The expansion of Wi-Fi on city buses is part of the TTC’s six-month pilot program to expand internet access on its vehicles. The first to be serviced was the 35 Jane bus route.
The transit agency has provided commuters with free internet access at all of its subway stations since 2018, but now it hopes to eventually roll out the service to its entire bus and streetcar network.
“I'm proud to see the free onboard public Wi-Fi rollout expand to the 102 Markham Road bus in Scarborough,” Toronto Mayor John Tory said in a news release on Monday.
“Just last month, we launched the Wi-Fi pilot on the 35 Jane bus and we are already seeing its popularity growing with riders … All of the results from this pilot will help as the TTC prepares to have a Wi-Fi Network on buses and streetcars across the city."
The TTC said that since the launch of Wi-Fi services on the 35 Jane bus route, which started on May 31, its staff have seen its popularity grow. In the first week, passengers on the route spent over 2,100 hours on the internet during their commutes, the transit agency said.
“The success of this program in just the last two weeks only emphasizes how much our customers want to see modernization on the system,” TTC CEO Rick Leary said in a statement.
“We know that especially now, connectivity is essential, even on-the-go, and we’re both proud and excited to be improving our customers’ commutes one route at a time.”
The transit agency says the information gathered during the pilot will help to inform a request for proposal for a “fully-managed customer Wi-Fi network on buses and streetcars to be issued later this year.”
“Providing Wi-Fi on our buses is one of many initiatives underway at the TTC to modernize our system and provide a better experience for transit riders,” TTC Chair Jaye Robinson said in the news release.
“I am looking forward to seeing more routes equipped with Wi-Fi moving forward.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Taylor Swift drops 15 new songs on double album, 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.