Wireless service in tunnels

So it looks like they're finally gonna check this one off the list.
http://wamu.org/news/15/10/22/improved_ ... take_years
I just don't get how this could take 5 years... Though knowing Metro, maybe they're just being realistic?

I was at the WMATA meetings yesterday. Nobody likes the 5-year current timeline at all from WMATA to the police & fire officials that were there. At the same time, nobody at all is willing to commit to a deadline sooner than that.

srepetsk wrote:I was at the WMATA meetings yesterday. Nobody likes the 5-year current timeline at all from WMATA to the police & fire officials that were there. At the same time, nobody at all is willing to commit to a deadline sooner than that.

I think the issue is the length of time needed to work in the tunnels, which disrupts service on nights/weekends and competes with safety-related work that likely takes priority. Plus, it isn't Metro's workers doing this work, but those of a contractor (I believe) so there is even more scheduling to work around.

From what I read, it seems Metro is either providing the parts OR the labor. But what I simply don't understand is how Metro can't complete its maintenance with all the time it has. Isn't that the entire reason Metro closes at night? Plus now there's track work on weekends, evenings, and mid-day on the Red Line. I just don't get how Chicago's CTA has managed to stay open 24/7 (on its two most popular lines), has had cell coverage in its tunnels for over a decade, and still only costs $2.50 flat! Granted, Chicago has fewer tunnels, but nonetheless it's absurd

WMATA has five times the track mileage in tunnels that CTA has.

ref: http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/Tunnel ... cklist.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Metro, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon announce wireless service in rail tunnels systemwide
WMATA Media Release
01 27 2021

Actually it is more then 100 miles of tunnels. WMATA advertises 50.5 miles in subway, 50.5 X 2 tunnels equals 101 miles. Add the 3 pocket tracks in tunnels WMATA sometimes runs revenue trains through and you get just over 101.4 miles. WMATA also had cell service installed in the tunnels that are not used by revenue trains (A&C, B&E connectors, tail track south of Huntington, the 3 Fall Church Yard and 2 Glenmont Yard leads) pushing that figure past 105 miles.

I'm frustated that WMATA still hasn't released a Smartrip add for Android or supporting Google Pay. It's been 5 months since they replaced the iOS app. What is taking so long to develop the Android app?

Yeah honestly. Google also doesn't charge a wild amount or take forever to have an app approved so idk what's going on.