The Sound Transit board is set to approve a contract on Thursday to add cell phone service inside its light rail tunnels and stations. The bad news: no more phone silence when your train goes underground.
Last year, the company Mobilitie was selected to build out the neutral host 4G LTE cell network (i.e., a multi-carrier network with data) to service all underground light rail stations and tunnels. Installation is expect to start in the coming months, but service won’t be available until mid-2016.
Under the proposed contract (PDF), Mobilitie would be responsible for funding, installing, and maintaining the cellular system. The company will also pay Sound Transit $7,500 a month and a one-time $250,000 payment when the University Link tunnel comes online. The company will profit by selling network access to cellular providers.
University Link light rail trains remain on track to start rolling through Capitol Hill Station by early next year. The University Link line will extend underground from downtown to connect with Capitol Hill and University District stations. Sound Transit began boring for the Northgate Link tunnel in November, which will add three more stations north of the University Station: U District, Roosevelt, and Northgate. As of last month, construction on the Capitol Hill Station was around 78% complete.
In addition to enhancing rider experience, Sound Transit anticipates cell service could be used for direct communication with passengers:
Installing wireless communications coverage will improve safety, security, and information opportunities for transit passengers travelling in the underground facilities. It will also create opportunities for additional communications methods and media for transit operations.
Meanwhile, the Sound Transit board is still evaluating proposals to develop the housing and retail properties surrounding the Broadway light rail station. The board is expected to announce the winning contractor(s) in early March.
It would be nice if at least a few public areas were smartphone-free….does someone have to be connected ALL the time? And, yes, I am an older fogey.
Then don’t use one?
It’s not just about personal use. It’s about people who are so self-obsorbed into their screens that they are completely oblivious to things around them; running into other people, walking into oncomming car/bike traffic, etc. (P.S. I’m not an older-fogey, I’m just an annoyed late 20-something.)
It’s nice to have a distraction on a long commute. And, people will be able to get updates on delays and reroutes. There’s no effecient way to do that in the tunnel now.
Exactly. It’s annoying not being able to make use of the time your commuting to read emails, news etc. and when your train or bus gets delayed in the tunnel it’s even worse.
Or…..you could actually TALK to your seatmate. What a concept!
This is also good for safety in the tunnel stations because it will make getting ahold of police or medical help faster by just calling 911. Right now you have to find a cop or security guard or use one of those red call buttons to reach someone so they can call 911.
[…] 3 minutes from the Hill to the Montlake station adjacent Husky Stadium. CHS reported that, yes, you’ll be able to use your mobile phone thanks to a new contract Sound Transit has pounded out with a service provider for the twin tunnels […]
[…] 2021, Sound Transit expects the the trip to UW to drop to around 6 minutes. CHS reported that, yes, you’ll be able to use your mobile phone thanks to a new contract Sound Transit has pounded out with a service provider for the twin tunnels […]
[…] 2021, Sound Transit expects the the trip to UW to drop to around 6 minutes. CHS reported that, yes, you’ll be able to use your mobile phone thanks to a new contract Sound Transit has pounded out with a service provider for the twin […]