Passengers on Gwinnett’s transit buses may be able to surf the web during their long commute beginning next year.
The head of the county’s transportation department is asking a budget review team for $471,000 to install Wi-Fi on all the transit system’s buses.
“Having Wi-Fi on board just gives them another way to spend their time while they’re in traffic getting to their jobs or their destinations,” says director Alan Chapman.
The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority’s Express Buses recently added free Wi-Fi as well.
“We all want to provide that good experience to our customers that keeps them coming back and using our service,” Chapman tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish.
Of the money, $250,000 would go towards upfront costs for equipment and installation.
Chapman is also asking for $40,000 for four portable speed trailers in an effort to slow down traffic. They would be placed across the county and utilized by police for traffic enforcement.
“Studies have shown that if people are shown how much they’re going over the speed limit, they may slow down,” he says.
Chapman is among department heads presenting their proposals this week to the six-member team of volunteers which will help Gwinnett Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash come up with her 2017 budget proposal. She will present the plan in November which must be approved by the commission in early January.