Last Wednesday, New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that the 42nd Street Shuttle is now connected to 5G. amNY reported that this is the first subway line fully connected to wireless cell service, including in the tunnels between stations.
The project is a $600 million effort paid for by the MTA’s infrastructure partner, Boldyn Networks. The “megaproject” will not use taxpayer money, and according to Boldyn, it seeks to make a return on its investment by leasing fiber cables to major telecom providers.
Based on the MTA news release, riders can now text, email, and access the internet for the duration of their underground experience. The first tunnel connected is between Grand Central and Times Square, but the MTA plans to equip all 418 miles of subway tracks with 5G. The transportation authority will also connect 191 above-ground stations and 21 Staten Island Railway stops with WiFi.
While full connectivity across the transit system may take several years, the MTA has ambitious plans for the future. With several projects in the pipeline, including the Joralemon Tunnel (carrying the 4 and 5 trains), the MTA said it is committed to enhancing riders’ experiences. In 2025, work will begin on five miles of the Lexington Avenue Line (with tracks running the 4, 5, and 6 trains), the USA’s most heavily used mass transit route, reported amNY.
One significant challenge the MTA faces is that most trains run 24/7, making infrastructure upgrades a complex task. Jamie Torres-Springer, the head of MTA Construction & Development, acknowledged this, saying, “We’ve got to get there for sustained periods of time to get the infrastructure in.”
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