Cell Service Coming to Underground Speedline Tunnels?
DVARP wants to know: do commuters want cell phone reception in tunnels in Camden City and Philadelphia? Vote in our poll.
In the past year, Patch readers have helped the Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers (DVARP) improve conditions on the PATCO Hi-Speedline by blogging their feedback to the rider advocacy group.
Now DVARP is asking Patch readers to weigh in on its latest issue: creating cell phone service in the tunnels along the railway.
"We heard from some of our PATCO rider volunteers that providing cell phone reception in the Center City and Camden tunnels is important," Andy Sharpe, Communications Director at DVARP, wrote in an e-mail to Patch.
Sharpe pointed to an existing partnership with SEPTA and AT&T that he said supports most underground cell phone use for customers on that carrier network. DVARP would work to broker a similar deal with AT&T or Verizon and PATCO if there is demand for such from riders.
"Before we do anything, we want to make sure there is indeed enough interest among PATCO riders to pursue this," Sharpe wrote. "While our volunteers seem interested, they're only a small segment of the High-Speed Line's total ridership."
What do you think? Is cell phone service a priority for you as a PATCO rider? Tell us in the comments and vote in our poll.
Albert Losito Jr
11:40 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Yes cell phone service is a priority for me as a patco rider.
Andy Sharpe
3:59 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Thanks, Albert. We're getting the same feedback from Collingswood Patch PATCO riders.
Looks like this will be DVARP's New Year's resolution for South Jersey.
Andy Sharpe
Communications Director
Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers
1601 Walnut St., Suite 1129
Philadelphia, PA 19102-2913
Phone: 215-RAILWAY (215-724-5929)
E-mail: sharpe@dvarp.org
@PhillyDVARP on Twitter and Facebook
Val
5:02 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Great news. So often I am an underground and the train is late but I can't call to let anyone know that I am running late. Cell phone service is needed. Also wish they would do a better job of keeping the underground stations in Phila clean.
JustALocalGuy
7:51 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013
Is this even a real question? Who *wouldn't* want continuous cell service while on the train? Even if not used for phone calls, the ability to maintain a data connection would be great. I would say this is even more important in the Philly tunnels, as you are underground for a much longer time there.