Photo by Liliang

Metrorail riders will soon be able to satisfy their need for underground wi-fi service—on a small portion of the system. This month, Metro is rolling out a pilot program to bring “lite” wi-fi service to six downtown stations—Metro Center, Gallery Place, L’Enfant Plaza, Union Station, Judiciary Square, and Archives, according to WTOP.

Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld announced in February that the transit agency began installing radio cable along 100 miles of tunnel walls throughout the rail system. But the start of this major capital improvement dates back to 2008, when Metro signed a contract for Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile to wire the tunnels. However, the contract was delayed due to a myriad of problems—mostly safety concerns and logistical issues—so now Metro is doing the wiring itself.

The push to get the project completed comes after the fatal January 12, 2015 smoke incident, during which many passengers were stranded in smoke-filled trains with no cell reception to call for help, and the subsequent pressure from Congress and the Federal Transit Administration to enhance its safety measures.

The agency said in February that the installation will not only result in improved wireless technology coverage for passengers, it will vastly improve radio coverage for Metro and the region’s first responders.

WMATA told WTOP that the pilot program will begin this month “once a new website is launched.”