MARTA Launching Free Wi-Fi, Uber Partnership

August 3,2015

Leaders of Atlanta's public transit authority say they're launching a partnership with Uber and offering free Wi-Fi to improve service.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority announced recently that the agency is launching wireless Internet on 50 buses on several routes, and the agency is partnering with Uber to offer passengers opportunities to transfer to private vehicles in areas without train or bus service.

MARTA Chief Information Officer Ming Hsi tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Wi-Fi is being offered at no cost to customers or the agency because they're able to power it with unused bandwidth from 4G surveillance camera systems aboard MARTA buses.

MARTA CEO Keith Parker acknowledges buses and trains can't get passengers everywhere they need to go, and Uber can help fulfill passengers' needs.