Mobile Signal in New York City Subway: Current Status and Group Proposal

This proposal project is a collaborative effort of Shiho Kawashima, Melissa Mendoza, and Lyneve Quiles.


It is no secret that the success of an organization lies in how well its members can communicate with each other. That is why mobile technology is so convenient. A mobile phone has the ability to replace two forms of communication tools- the telephone (land-line) and computers (internet). Unlike land-lines, a person can use his or her cell phone from different locations. And unlike heavy and bulky computers, a cell phone is much easier to carry around. In simple terms, cell phones, as Gage writes, are very accessible considering that everyone has a mobile with them at all times.

However, just like the beauty of telephones and computers, a person can use his or her cell phone to share information with others in just a matter of moments. While the information being shared can range from daily gossips, to office-related topics, or from details about last night's date to serious information about an accident that just happened, what matters is that the ability to share information with others- quickly I might add- which is the most appealing feature that cell phones offer. In fact, the appeal of cell phones are so great that Courtney, Suzanne, and Rosalyn suggest offering cell phones to Universal employees in order to improve the company's communication capabilities.

One place that information transfer via cell phones is virtually impossible is in New York City's underground subway system. In 2000, New York was ranked 16th (last amongst the nation's major cities) in terms of mobile convenience. Basically, once a person enters the subway station, cell phone signals disappear, thus cutting connection. Reasons for the lack of mobile connection in the subway are plenty: cell phones are annoying, signals costs too much (try $300 million) to install and overall New York City is just a very difficult place for signals to reach (too much steel, concrete, mortar, bricks).

As a result, the four to five million people that ride the subway each day are being deprived of tremendous benefits. The inability to communicate underground poses many different problems that could easily be solved by just a mere push of a few buttons. In this first installment, we aim to present current difficulties that the MTA and its customers experience and how mobile signals can overcome these difficulties. Through our ideas to further improve the transfer of communication, our propsal states a basic plan of action that could work with the cities transportation system. Our following installment will then discuss further details that support our plan.

The New York City subway system has some problems now. There are public pay phones, but most do not work at all. If there is an emergency, you really need to contact someone as soon as possible. When I (Shiho) once took a Greyhound bus, one girl had a parnoxysm. The driver was able to make an emergency phone call from his cell phone. However, subway tunnels have no signal. That means people are not able to make urgent phone calls when there is an emergency.

This situation is a big problem, considering that many people own cell phones specifically just in case there is an emergency. We never know when someone can have a heart attack or convulsion. In times when we are constantly reminded about the threat of terrorism, we never know when another terrorist attack can happen. Someone could shoot a gun or molest people in a crowded train. Mobiles can be used as a tool for stopping these crimes. That is why we need to have a technology communication system in the subway.

Other problems that commuters face are incoherent subway announcements. People are not able to listen and understand what is said because of noise (static, people chatter, trains rushing through). Having text messaging capabilities where a person is able to get a text message with train related announcements should erase a lot of these noises. NYC train stations are fast paced, ever changing environments and getting up-to-date information is very important, especially since many people depend on the subway to get from one place to another. Commuters need to get accurate information in order to have a problem-free commute.

This plan will also benefit many people who are tourists that do not have a clue on how to ride the trains. Since train announcements are inaudible and in English, foreign tourists who may not understand English will be completely helpless in the subway. Can you imagine? If you go to another country (e,g Spain, Greece, France, China .. etc), an American will never understand their subway announcement. As a tourist, it is a very scary and terrifying thought. In Japan, there are two kinds of announcements for a passenger in the subway- one in Japanese (which is helpful for a blind person) and another in English (for tourists). (These intercom announcements are effective in Japan because Japanese commuters and transportation systems are not as loud).

Therefore, the MTA can take Japan's bilingual announcement idea and use text messages to customize their messages for each tourists. The MTA should develop a website where foreign tourists can visit, register their cell phone numbers, and retrieve information via text messages in their national language. That way, if a tourist was in Grand Central Station and needed to know where the 6 train stopped, he would just have text the proper MTA department/agency and then the info he would receive would be in French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, etc.

We urge that the NYC subway system should replace or renew its communication system by improving mobile capabilities (via text messages) in order to improve the commute. The ability to make emergency calls/notification and the ability to receive important information about the trains, as well as stay connected to the above world is imperative in todays technological society.


Our Proposal:

• We propose that the MTA make it possible for cell phones to receive information via text messages. SMS is a more favorable option over giving commuters the ability to chat while commuting because SMS messages are generally silent (thus avoiding the risk of aggravating ones fellow commuter, as Imbar writes).
• We propose that the MTA establish code numbers to which commuters can send text messages about possible train delays or schedule disruptions. There would be different code numbers for each train line.
• We propose that a number (or code) be established specifically for security/safety reason. If a commuter witnesses a crime, suspects devious behavior, or is involved in an accident, he or she has the capability of contacting the police immediately.
• We propose that MTA develop a system in which commuters can go on line, register their phone number, and determine what information they would like to have sent to them via text messages. The plan calls for giving the commuter the ability to customize the information they receive, as to making sure that messages sent to them are specifically about the trains they take.
• We also propose that MTA develop a website where customers can go and retrieve/post information regarding: train delays/problems, neighborhood events specific to the subway stops (for example: "Happenings on 6-77st," "Happenings on C,E-Spring St."), commuter observations (about booth operators, street performers, subway station art like mosaic tiles). Each train line would have its own directory and each directory will list different subway stops. These pages should enable commuters to update information to keep what's listed as current as possible. For this, wikis are favored. If not, perhaps the MTA can take Eric's idea of an "Instant Blogger," which is basically a chat room with a modern twist (and accessible through mobile devices).
• We propose that MTA create a system in which foreign tourists can register their number online so that the text messages they receive are customized into their national language.

Further details and considerations will be presented next week.