Pictured (LtoR): Pam Garza, Manager of Mobility Management Services, Rural Economic Assistance League (REAL), and Mobility Managers Savanna Molina and Melony Gomez. photo submitted

Ever think about using Wi-fi and your mobile devices on public transportation? Living in Duval and Jim Wells Counties there isn’t a lot of public transportation, but one business has been serving the two counties provides transportation at low costs.

Recently, REAL Transportation installed nine of their vehicles with Wi-fi hotspots. A change from your normal hotspot locations like coffeehouses, restaurants and shops.

The technology improvement was part of a $90,000 grant for the Rural Transit Assistance Program.

Having access to Wifi, the passengers are able to use the internet for work, communication, to grab the latest news headlines, check the weather, browse the internet, send emails and use social media on their commute.

Thus, making the time between the start of the journey and its end seem to be much shorter allowing them to make it more productive. Increasing their comfort creates better customer experience and encourages them to use REAL’s services again.

“We wanted to make the commute for our riders more relaxing, more convenient for them. They can get online and do work. We transport a lot of students,” said Pamela Garza, Manager of Mobility Management Services. “Students that are going to college. If we’re transporting a student to Corpus (Christi) that is 45 minutes that they can work on an assignment.”

They have a Color Express Program that allows REAL Transportation to pick up students, anywhere in their service area, and take them to school or any higher education facility at no cost. Students may need transportation because the family may have only one car, the student may not have a driver’s license.

“All they have to do is call us. We’ll set up a profile with their information and pick them up,” Garza said.

Students can be picked up at their home or near their home depending on the amount of students in that area.

The REAL vehicles are equipped to accommodate any disability a person may have.

REAL Transportation’s mission is to provide compassionate community-driven solutions by serving, so that everyone has a fulfilling-independent quality of life.

Pricing for non-student varies. For more information or to schedule a ride call 361-668-3158.