From San Francisco Chronicle
Cell phone reception improved in some S.F. BART stations
By Rachel Gordon
Can you hear me now?
That ubiquitous phrase in the age of cell-phone service should be heard less frequently now in San Francisco BART stations, officials said today.
The cell phone carrier Sprint Nextel has installed equipment to boost reception at the Balboa Park, Glen Park, 16th and 24th BART stations at no cost the rail agency or its riders.
However, once people board the trains and get moving, the calls are likely to drop since there's still no service between those four stations. Plans are in the works to improve cellular service in the tunnels.
Customers for all Bay Area wireless carriers can tap into the new service.
Cell phone service has been available between the Embarcadero and Civic Center stations in downtown San Francisco since June 2005. The agency hopes cell phone service at the stations and on the trains eventually will be expanded systemwide, said BART spokesman Linton Johnson.
Next up for the upgrades are the East Bay and the Transbay Tube.
E-mail Rachel Gordon at rgordon@sfchronicle.com. |
