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Since 1986, Corpus Christi has trusted us to get our riders to work, school...
and everywhere in between. We've kept them safe with training programs for our drivers,
with an experienced and professional maintenance staff to keep their vehicles
running smoothly
we continue to grow our products and services with a paratransit B-line service
The Harbor Ferry, and routes designed specifically for university students
we've promoted community causes we've protected the environment with green
technologies like your new compressed natural gas buses.
Today we live in a world where distances are almost meaningless.
Through smart phones and laptops
our loved ones business associates and our friends are just a text away.
In a world so connected by technology staying in touch is no longer a luxury
but a necessity. At theCCRTA we understand the
importance of staying in touch with the rest of the world, even while riding to and
from work school or even a trip to the supermarket, which is why we devoted more
than three hundred fifty thousand dollars to keeping our riders in touch
with the rest world.
Jorge: There's many opportunities
with what WiFi can provide
that's in essence your path
to technology that you can access.
Since 2011 we've been providing free wireless
service
for all our riders.
But this service goes well beyond convenience. Our service helps strengthen
the citywide wi-fi network already in place
During natural disasters, it will help emergency personnel and city employees
communicate
when other communication networks have failed. Jorge: "The RTA Wifi began with the
city, really."
In 2003 the city of Corpus Christi became building an intricate
wireless network
covering a 147 square miles area throughout the city.
Originally designed is an automatic meter reading system, the network grew into a
powerful communication tool
for our city employees. In early december of 2006 after eighteen months of
planning and construction, The network was finally up and running. Already having
paid for itself
the network is expected to continue to save millions of dollars for the extent
of its life
with this phenomenal infrastructure already place
the CCRTA partnered with the city and
linking our buses to this elaborate wi-fi network.
Jorge: "One day we decided 'well you have this huge backbone
that we could use for wifi
and then the project really began to
roll down the path of success we've had.
It took about 18 months from start to finish
uh... each unit was a little less than three thousand dollars.
It's a little bit higher grade equipment
than we would have gotten if it'd been just our decision
but since it was a decision in partnership with the city
We went with a top tier based on the recommendation that the city had for us.
We did our installations ourselves, we did the testing ourselves."
The city provided oversight and technical assistance
The project went well.
In the end it was about 350,000 to
equip our entire fleet of
72 fixed routes buses
and a paratransit fleet of about 34 buses.
In this way, the CCRTA could avoid the billions of dollars it would cost
to build it from scratch.
Riders can now enjoy free WiFi hotspots on all of our
vehicles including the harbor ferry.
but this convenience for our riders is not the only benefit of this collaboration
Jorge: "By having our fleet equipped
we basically support
the city's WiFi by creating
hot spots wherever our fleet goes
and we go all over the community.
As our buses move throughout the city
Our WiFi hubs help build bridges between the city's hotspots
creating an even stronger wireless network with stronger reception and fewer dead zones.
We ate the CCRTA have partnered
with the city on numerous
areas reciprocating refueling agreements, technology agreements,
some street improvement agreements where we funds certain streets for the city."
And in the case of natural disasters like hurricanes
the CCRTA is ready to provide emergency response
right along side of the city of Corpus Christi
in addition to evacuation services we will also be here for the city after the
storm has passed
offering a reliable communication network utilizing the wifi routers on our
buses and turning them into mobile hot spots for emergency personnel and city
repair crews.
As advances in technology create new ways to communicate, keep us safe and
help the environment, the CCRTA will continue to take strides towards a
brighter tomorrow
Jorge: "We're not a large system
I would consider us to be a
medium to small
system
But if you're going to provide public transportation
do it the best that you can."
Our partnership with the city of Corpus Christi is just one way of keeping our
riders safe, informed,
and connected. The CCRTA will continue to provide an inexpensive, reliable and
productive experience for our riders and the rest of our community.
Jorge: " The riders enjoy it, the city enjoys it, we are providing
a service and we're commited
to insuring that our quality
and services continue to improve."
The Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority
Be Connected.