DC Metro Begins Major Installation of Cable in 100 Miles of Tunnel

Metro general manager and CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld has announced the start of a major capital improvement project to install radio cable along 100 miles of tunnel walls throughout the underground rail system that will result in vastly improved radio coverage for Metro and the region's first responders, as well as wireless technology coverage within Metro's tunnels.

Engineering and production tests are already underway in a 6,000 foot tunnel segment between Glenmont and Forest Glen in order to develop project design specifications. At Wiedefeld’s direction, an outside expert was engaged this week to review Metro’s design and implementation plan to maximize the delivery of benefits and to accelerate the project schedule.

“We are looking for every opportunity to move this project along efficiently and to deliver incremental benefits as we complete each segment and turn it over to the telecom providers,” said Wiedefeld.

Thanks to a new agreement with the major wireless carriers, the project will be advanced using Metro-managed workers thereby yielding cost and efficiency benefits. Specifically, Metro will install the necessary cable for both cellular and radio systems at the same time.

Metro will install dual radio and cellular cables—known as coaxial—on the walls in 100 miles of tunnel. The process involves carefully installing special trays into the tunnel walls to support the heavy cables, which are two-inches thick, and relocating thousands of reflective signs that are currently affixed to the tunnel walls.  The system will be easier to maintain than the current radio system as critical equipment is moved to where it can be accessed at all times without track outages.  

“Many partners are supporting Metro’s effort to deliver these improvements, and I want to thank Metro’s Congressional delegation, Congressman John Mica and the Council of Governments especially for their leadership,” said Wiedefeld.

To date, all Metrorail stations have been equipped with wireless technology infrastructure that is owned, operated and maintained by the wireless carriers.

Metro must design and test the engineering of the project to set a schedule for an unprecedented installation of 200 miles of cable, which breaks down to 100 miles of tunnel multiplied by two coaxial cables.  If stretched over highways, the approximate length of cable would extend from Washington, D.C. to New York City.

In order to minimize the impact to normal Metrorail operations, the installation work will be done in coordination with other capital projects at night and on the weekends.

At an estimated cost of $120 million, the underground portion of the work will be funded through Metro’s capital improvement program.