WMATA nears new tunnel cell service agreement
The project was supposed to have been completed three years ago, under a 2008 contract between WMATA and a consortium of Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile, however, officials said several obstacles prevented the companies from wiring the tunnels.
Ben Schumin
Ben Schumin
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority reached a new agreement with four major cellular carriers on a plan that would make it possible for riders to talk on their phones, send and receive e-mails and texts, and surf the Web throughout the transit system’s 101 miles of tunnels by the end of the decade, The Washington Post reported.
The project was supposed to have been completed three years ago, under a 2008 contract between WMATA and a consortium of Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile, however, officials said several obstacles prevented the companies from wiring the tunnels, including unforeseen logistical hurdles, a bankruptcy and a 2009 train crash, which forced WMATA to give higher priority to safety-related infrastructure work in the system. For the full story, click here.
More Rail
Chicago Leaders Unveil Plans for O’Hare Airport Express Train
The privately developed project would offer a 15-minute trip between downtown and O’Hare’s Terminal 2, with trains operating every 15 minutes on a dedicated track. The service would use battery-electric trains and three existing freight rail rights-of-way.
Read More →
OCTA Maps Out 30-Year Strategy to Protect Coastal Rail Corridor
The draft feasibility report identifies strategies to protect the coastal rail line for decades as the agency continues near-term stabilization and sand placement efforts.
Read More →
The Business Voice Behind Public Transportation
As chair of APTA’s Business Members Board of Governors, Ray Melleady explains how more than 850 business members are partnering with transit agencies to advance funding, innovation, and industry-wide collaboration.
Read More →
FRA Announces $5.3B in Rail Investments, Including $2B for Amtrak
Funding will support grade-crossing improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and new Amtrak equipment in 23 states.
Read More →
Finding the ‘Happy Medium’: Optimizing Maintenance Without Sacrificing Reliability
The key to maintenance optimization isn’t doing less work—it’s doing the right work at the right time on the right assets.
Read More →
OKC Streetcar Makes Zero-Fare Service Permanent
Ridership increased an average of 71% compared with the same period a year earlier during the fare-free pilot.
Read More →
DART Customer Satisfaction Reaches Six-Year High
Overall satisfaction rose to 74.9%, while the agency’s Net Promoter Score reached a record 33.7.
Read More →
How DART's GoPass Is Redefining Regional Mobility
Serving 14 transit agencies, GoPass simplifies multimodal travel by allowing riders to plan, pay for, and manage an entire trip through one app.
Read More →
Amtrak Board Advances Plan to Restructure Organization, Seeks Public Input
The proposal, developed by Amtrak management and approved by the board for further consideration, is intended to modernize the organization's structure while improving accountability, operational efficiency, and customer service.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: STV teams with Amtrak, Motorcoach Operators Boost Fleet and Land Contracts, and More
From manufacturers and suppliers to transit agencies and motorcoach operators, these updates offer a snapshot of the projects, partnerships and business moves driving the industry forward.
Read More →