Cell Service Coming to Underground Speedline Tunnels?

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.