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December 1, 2004

Urban Planner Argues for MTA-Fi

By Glenn Fleishman

Sarah Myland Kaufman laments New York’s lack of commuter Internet access: This graduate student in urban planning at NYC argues cogently that particularly the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) that among other duties operates the Long Island Railroad and Metro-North lines into Connecticut and upstate New York needs to talk about offering commuter Wi-Fi.

Her argument has a few parts: first, it’s a bonus for commuters who can suddenly see an increase in productivity during idle hours. Some people may like to read, sleep, or sit quietly; for others, it’s time they’re not at home and not at work, and that’s probably a large pool. Secondly, the MTA could use the Wi-Fi infrastructure for improving their own information gathering and logistics. The fees from commuters could pay for the expense of the logistics management.

It does struck me as somewhat amusing that remote communities on islands in Washington State will have Wi-Fi on their ferry docks and ferries by next year, while the densest commuting environment in the U.S. will have no access at all.

Posted by Glennf at December 1, 2004 9:59 AM

Categories: Culture, Transportation and Lodging

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