Buried at the bottom of yesterday’s WaPo story about the $1.5 billion funding package for Metro passed by the Senate is this juicy tidbit:

The bill also includes a provision to improve cellphone coverage in the subway system. Within one year, the 20 busiest underground Metro stations would be required to have cellphone access for all carriers. Currently, only Verizon or Sprint roaming customers can receive signals.

The last we heard about plans to build an expanded cell phone service network in Metro stations and tunnels was in April, when WMATA announced it would put out an official request for proposals from companies interested in building an expanded network — which at the time was estimated to take 18 months to get up and running in the busiest stations and closer to four years to complete in the entire system. So assuming President Bush signs this bill into law, which by all accounts he intends to do, will Metro be able to meet the 1-year deadline?

Metro spokesperson Steven Taubenkibel confirmed that the request for proposals went out in June, and that Metro began officially reviewing them August, but a contract has yet to be awarded. It isn’t totally clear whether the 1-year deadline will apply from the date the bill becomes law or from when a contract is awarded, but when asked about the previous estimate of 18 months to get the job done, Taubenkibel basically said that Metro and whichever company is chosen will just have to find a way to meet the earlier deadline.

“That’s the provision,” he said.

Also, Sprint customers: do you actually get decent service in Metro? We hear mixed reviews.