Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 13, 2011

Metro to maintain pay phones with TTY capabilities at station entrances

For safety and customer convenience until system cell coverage is complete

While cell phone technology has rendered pay phones almost obsolete, Metro is proposing to maintain one pay phone with TTY capabilities at each Metrorail station entrance for the safety and convenience of its customers.

The Metro Board Customer Service and Operations Committee gave preliminary approval today, Jan. 13, to initiate and award a contract to provide a pay phone with TTY capabilities at each station entrance. The proposed contract would be for a one-year base with three one-year options. The full Board is expected to vote on the item at its Jan. 27 meeting.

Metro management has recommended providing this pay phone service as a transition until cellular services are fully-installed throughout Metro’s stations and tunnels. Wireless service throughout the entire Metrorail system is expected to be in place by October 2012.

Offering pay phone service in 86 Metrorail stations previously generated revenue for Metro. Under a Verizon contract that expires in March, Metro earned a total of $10 million over a 10-year period.

With the contract set to expire and with cell phone usage now commonplace, Metro issued a request for proposals in September 2010 for follow-on pay phone services, however, no revenue-generating proposals were received.

Given the upcoming pay phone contract expiration, Metro staff recommended maintaining one TTY pay phone at all 108 Metrorail station entrances, which will cost Metro approximately $110,000 annually.

News release issued at 1:49 pm, January 13, 2011.