Chicago's commuter rail may fold the cost of Wi-Fi access into monthly rail fare packages

(Sun-Times) Metra staff agreed Thursday to investigate the cost of folding Internet air cards into monthly rail fare packages after board committee members were taken aback by the projected tab of offering Wi-Fi on moving trains.

A consultant estimated that launching Wi-Fi that tapped Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-mobile to provide maximum reception on all 11 Metra rail lines would cost $33.5 million a year and $71.7 million over five years.

Left out of the equation was how much revenue Metra could reap from advertising and marketing because all of the bidders wanted to leave that up to Metra rather than assume responsibility for it and reflect that revenue stream in their bid.

“I’m taken aback by this,” said Metra board member Mike McCoy during a meeting of the Metra Capital Oversight Committee he chairs. “My impression was this was a cost neutral proposition.” .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.suntimes.com/news/19857010-761/metra-considers-combining-internet-air-cards-and-rail-fare-packages.html