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BART Commuters to Enjoy High-Speed Wi-Fi
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 5:34 PM  

Couple standing at BART stationImagine pulling out your laptop and writing e-mail or surfing the Web - all while you are commuting on a system of 104 miles of track.

San Francisco area commuters will be able to do just that in the near future, going on-line while riding the rail or waiting in one of the 43 stations of Bay Area Rapid Transit. (BART).  

The high-speed Wi-Fi project will expand from a pilot to the entire system by the end of 2011, said Cooper Lee, CEO of Wi-Fi Rail Inc., to MassTransit, an industry publication, last week.

But this cyberspace access will come with a price. During the pilot project, 16,000 commuters signed on - for free. Once the next phase of the project is completed, riders will be charged for Internet use at discounted prices until the system is fully up and running.

When the Wi-Fi is completely installed, subscribers will be charged about $30 a month, $9 a day, $6 for two hours - or $300 for a year's subscription.

Unlike other systems that rely on satellite or cellular service, BART's system uses fiber-optic equipment, which can handle heavier loads at faster speeds.

Would you be willing to pay these rates to write e-mail or conduct a  videoconference while commuting? Or would you prefer to use your computer for other functions that don't require Internet access?

 

 

 

 

Posted by Mary Sit
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    • Comments

    DominicMazoch said:

    Including the Trans-Bay Tube?

    # February 10, 2009 5:51 PM

    JamesL said:

    Yes, I read about it and it will even work in the tube. It uses high density fiberoptic cables or something like that.

    A couple of questions for people who have been here longer than I:

    What is "special" about the Allen Parkway Special?

    Where is the West BOF?

    Does "N" indicate a Northwest BOF bus, and where is Northwest?

    In other news, I saw an MCI hybrid on the 82 today. Interesting choice.

    # February 10, 2009 9:42 PM

    St Louis Rams said:

    Thank god for wifi!!

    # February 10, 2009 11:13 PM

    Clue said:

    Mary Sit asked: "Would you be willing to pay these rates to write e-mail or conduct a  videoconference while commuting? Or would you prefer to use your computer for other functions that don't require Internet access?"

    Not at the prices listed here! $300 a year happens to be the exact price I pay for full, 24/7 wi-fi access at home.  Why on Earth would anyone pay that much for a few short minutes day AND have to hope to heaven that they can find a seat on which to sit and work to even use the service?  

    Moreover, why would I schedule a video-conference for a time when I'd HOPE be on board a bus or train, knowing full well that the odds of that vehicle being on time or not leaving me stranded completely are slim to none?  Inconveniencing others with Metro's failure to perform is a sure ticket to career implosion.  It's bad enough being frequently late to work and/or meetings due to Metro's lack of service, much less having to miss online meetings for that same reason.

    # February 11, 2009 2:38 AM

    J Liggins said:

    I saw the same Hybrid MCI last night on the 82 just after 9pm. When Metro runs MCIs on local routes that usually means there is a serious maintenence issue at West.  

    # February 11, 2009 7:04 AM

    DominicMazoch said:

    West (BOF) is West of the West Belt on Westpark!  NO JOKE!

    Northwest:  Off West 34th just west of the Northwest Frewway; just west of (behind) the Adcadamy Sports story.  Again, NO JOKE.  This is the BOF run by First Transit.

    Allen Parkway Special:  the only bus route that has a 300 number?  (303 I think.)

    # February 11, 2009 6:36 PM

    DominicMazoch said:

    Mary:

    Questions like James L is the reaseon I think we need an ongoing thread in the following areas:

    1.  Equipment

    2.  Route and ops.

    Then the special threads/topics could be kept on topic!

    # February 11, 2009 6:42 PM

    JamesL said:

    Thanks, y'all!

    # February 11, 2009 11:04 PM

    Barretto24 said:

    Part 1:

    The Wi-Fi sounds great, but I don't think I would be willing to pay. It must be costly and hard to set up that system, but it should be free to the riders.

    Part 2:

    To JamesL, Dominic Mozoch, and others:

    The Allen Parkway Special is route 313. This was considered a "special" (To my understanding) because it links downtown with the American General Complex on weekdays only. Meaning, this route has a special purpose. This route is represented with a star at bus stops.

    313 is not the only 300 series route number. Joining it is public routes:

    320 TMC White Shuttle

    321 TMC Blue Shuttle

    322 TMC Red Shuttle

    And 326 TMC Campus Circulator (Better known as the TMC Trolley).

    I believe there are also test routes 300-312 which are only for testing and other METRO purposes only.

    # February 11, 2009 11:30 PM

    paul r. said:

    New Title:

    BART Commuters to also enjoy being shot dead in the back face-down by police officers...

    # February 13, 2009 12:05 AM
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