CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION PARTNERS WITH CABLEVISION TO OFFER WI-FI ACCESS FOR NJ TRANSIT CUSTOMERS
Board authorized public-private partnership for first wireless internet connection of its kind in the nation
June 12, 2013
NEWARK, NJ — As part of an ongoing effort to enhance the overall customer experience, the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors today authorized the agency to enter into a public-private partnership with Cablevision to offer one of the top requested amenities to NJ TRANSIT customers: high-speed wireless internet access at stations and onboard trains. The Wi-Fi access will be provided to NJ TRANSIT customers via a dedicated, trackside Wi-Fi network —–the first of its kind in the nation—at no cost to the agency.
“Through customer forums and surveys conducted as part of NJ TRANSIT’s Scorecard initiative, we know that wireless internet service will be a welcome amenity for NJ TRANSIT customers, enabling those who wish to remain connected during their commute to do so continuously,” said Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman James Simpson.
“This public-private partnership will enable NJ TRANSIT to deliver on one of the top requests from our customers—wireless internet access at stations and onboard trains,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director James Weinstein. “We are thrilled to work with Cablevision to further enhance the overall customer experience on our system by offering a dedicated Wi-Fi connection—which as designed will be the first of its kind here in the United States.”
“Providing NJ TRANSIT customers with access to an unparalleled Wi-Fi network is one of Cablevision’s strategic objectives,” said Cablevision President and CEO James L. Dolan. “We have already built the largest Wi-Fi network in the country to meet the surging demand from our own subscribers and now we look forward to working with NJ TRANSIT to deliver an exceptional Wi-Fi experience to its riders.”
Wi-Fi on the NJ TRANSIT system will be implemented in phases. The initial phase will focus on outfitting major stations like Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal—which together serve more than 100,000 customers on a typical weekday on all transit modes—as well as Secaucus Junction, by the end of this year. Subsequent phases will include equipping additional train stations and ultimately rail cars by line. The project is expected to be substantially complete by yearend 2016.
