Verizon brings wireless coverage to 35 NYC subway stations

If you’re stuck in train traffic on Manhattan’s west side, you can now let your friends know you’ll be late to their shindig — assuming you’re a Verizon Wireless customer (and that you have friends).

Transit Wireless, which works with New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) to bring wireless infrastructure to the city’s transit system, on Tuesday announced the availability of Verizon Wireless’ voice and data services in 35 subway stations.

The stations are mostly on Manhattan’s west side, from as far south as 18th St. up to 96th St. They include major transit hubs like Times Square and Columbus Circle, though Grand Central Station and Penn Station aren’t yet supported. Those stations will get service in phase two of the project, which will add more carriers to the network and bring 40 additional locations online. (A full list of presently connected stations appears below.)

Transit Wireless partners with all the major carriers: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile, as well as Boingo Wireless (Wi-Fi). The end goal is to bring full wireless coverage to every New York City subway station by 2017. (The MTA’s contract says 2018, but it’s hoping to roll out coverage a year ahead of schedule.)

Building a shared wireless infrastructure in a heavily trafficked, 110-year old transit system is no easy task. It requires custom equipment that can withstand extreme heat, cold, and moisture. The total cost of the project is expected to be between $200 million and $250 million, though Transit Wireless and the carriers will foot the entire bill.

“Our network not only provides an important security improvement to riders, but also serves as the backbone for future innovations throughout the subway system,” said William Bayne, CEO of Transit Wireless, in a statement.

The following stations now support voice, 3G, and 4G LTE data services for Verizon Wireless customers:

– 5th Ave N·R
– 57th St N·R·Q
– 49th St N·R
– Times Square N·R·Q
– 28th St R
– 23rd St R
– 96th St B·C
– 86th St B·C
– 81st St B·C
– 72nd St B·C
– 59th St Columbus Circle A·B·C·D
– 50th St C·E
– 42nd St Times Square A·C·E
– 57th St F
– 50th St Rockefeller Center B·D·F
– 5th Ave E
– 7th Ave B·D·E
– 96th St 1·2·3
– 86th St 1
– 79th St 1
– 72nd St 1·2·3
– 66th St Lincoln Center 1
– 59th St Columbus Circle 1
– 50th St 1
– Times Square 1·2·3
– 28th St 1
– 23rd St 1
– 18th St 1
– Times Square 7
– Times Square SHUTTLE
– 34th St Herald Square M·N·R·Q
– 42nd St Bryant Park B·D·F·M
– 34th St Herald Square B·D·F·M·N·Q·R
– 28th St 6
– 5th Ave Bryant Park 7