It brings a new amenity and convenience to the system, but the project was mandated for safety reasons.

The new service, which includes several downtown stations, extends cellphone coverage along a segment of the Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines to 3.7 miles.

The stretch of Metro tunnels between Potomac Avenue and the Stadium Armory stations will now get cell reception.

Metro is reportedly close to finalizing an agreement to wire its tunnels for cell service by 2020.

We’re getting reports into our tipline and via Twitter that AT&T has been having some cell tower issues in Southwest and near Capitol South for the last couple of hours. One reader notes that no one in his office is getting any iPhone or iPad service whatsoever. My Blackberry AT&T service up here in Northwest seems to be working just fine, however. Is your AT&T service working? If anyone around you has started to seize…