[il-talk] Fwd: Press Release - May Be Forwarded

[Denise Avant]

Denise R. Avant
President, National Federation Of The Blind Of Illinois
Live the life you want



> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: Amy Peterson <Amy at equipforequality.org>
> Subject: FW: Press Release - May Be Forwarded
> Date: October 19, 2015 at 8:45:00 AM CDT
> To: Albert Anderson <wsvhgrad at sbcglobal.net>, "Alexander Brown (alexander at friedmanplace.org)" <alexander at friedmanplace.org>, "Amy Serpe (aserpe at transitchicago.com)" <aserpe at transitchicago.com>, "Andrew Webb (awebb2168 at gmail.com)" <awebb2168 at gmail.com>, "Andy Roy (andyr4350 at gmail.com)" <andyr4350 at gmail.com>, "Angela Geis (angelageis21 at gmail.com)" <angelageis21 at gmail.com>, Ann Brash <a5633brash at mindspring.com>, "Arthur and Lois Krause (scoreone8 at aol.com)" <scoreone8 at aol.com>, "bev51tbird at sbcglobal.net" <bev51tbird at sbcglobal.net>, "Bill Jurek (bill.jurek at att.net)" <bill.jurek at att.net>, "Bonnie Barnes (bbarnes at blindserviceassociation.org)" <bbarnes at blindserviceassociation.org>, "Brad Shorser (bshorser at comcast.net)" <bshorser at comcast.net>, Brett Shishkoff <b.shishkoff at gmail.com>, "Brian Johnson (johnsonvoices at sbcglobal.net)" <johnsonvoices at sbcglobal.net>, Brittany Stern <bstern at atg.state.il.us>, "Bryen Yunashko (hello at bryen.com)" <hello at bryen.com>, "Byron Lee (blee at horizons-blind.org)" <blee at horizons-blind.org>, "Camille Caffarelli (camille at horizons-blind.org)" <camille at horizons-blind.org>, "Carol Anderson [carol.anderson at chicagolighthouse.org]" <carol.anderson at chicagolighthouse.org>, "Cecilia Miranda (ceci60660 at gmail.com)" <ceci60660 at gmail.com>, Cecille Escartin <cecille at equipforequality.org>, "Chris Middleton (cnachristopherj at gmail.com)" <cnachristopherj at gmail.com>, "Christina Mullins (christina.mullins at cityofchicago.org)" <christina.mullins at cityofchicago.org>, "Dave Porter (info at comp-unique.com)" <info at comp-unique.com>, "David Meyer (datemeyer at sbcglobal.net)" <datemeyer at sbcglobal.net>, "Debra Scott (debra.scott at illinois.gov)" <debra.scott at illinois.gov>, "Delores Christ (Dee) (cchristdee at sbcglobal.net)" <cchristdee at sbcglobal.net>, "Denise Avant (davant1958 at gmail.com)" <davant1958 at gmail.com>, "Diane Costas (Dmcostas at cps.edu)" <Dmcostas at cps.edu>, "Doreen Bogus (dbogus at cityofchicago.org)" <dbogus at cityofchicago.org>, "Garland Clay Lonzo (garlandclaylonzo1000 at gmail.com)" <garlandclaylonzo1000 at gmail.com>, "Jae Pak (jaejin.pak at gmail.com)" <jaejin.pak at gmail.com>, Jake Mattinson <jmattinson at mwe.com>, "Jemal Powell (derek2872 at yahoo.com)" <derek2872 at yahoo.com>, "Jim Dickson (james.charles.dickson at gmail.com)" <james.charles.dickson at gmail.com>, "jnonato85 at yahoo.com" <jnonato85 at yahoo.com>, "Joan (davej652 at sbcglobal.net)" <davej652 at sbcglobal.net>, "Joe Albritton (jalbritton at cityofchicago.org)" <jalbritton at cityofchicago.org>, "Karyn Campbell (karyn1421 at gmail.com)" <karyn1421 at gmail.com>, "Kelly Pierce (kkellyp at gmail.com)" <kkellyp at gmail.com>, "Kerry Obrist (kerry_obrist at yahoo.com)" <kerry_obrist at yahoo.com>, "Luis Garcia (luisgee21 at gmail.com)" <luisgee21 at gmail.com>, "Marcia Trawinski (marfred106 at gmail.com)" <marfred106 at gmail.com>, "Maureen Heneghan (maureenheneghan at att.net)" <maureenheneghan at att.net>, "Maureen Reid [maureen.reid at chicagolighthouse.org]" <maureen.reid at chicagolighthouse.org>, "Melissa W (melissa.wittenberg at chicagolighthouse.org)" <melissa.wittenberg at chicagolighthouse.org>, "mmwhite8776 at comcast.net" <mmwhite8776 at comcast.net>, "Nicole Gleason (nicolekgleason at hotmail.com)" <nicolekgleason at hotmail.com>, "Pamela Berman (pamelacberman at gmail.com)" <pamelacberman at gmail.com>, "Patricia Rodriguez (patricia.rodriguez at chicagolighthouse.org)" <patricia.rodriguez at chicagolighthouse.org>, Patrick Keenan-Devlin <keenan.devlin at gmail.com>, "Patti S. Gregory-Chang (pattischang at gmail.com)" <pattischang at gmail.com>, "Paul Rink (rinkmaster at sbcglobal.net)" <rinkmaster at sbcglobal.net>, "Paul Scher (plscher at ameritech.net)" <plscher at ameritech.net>, "Peter Berg (pberg at uic.edu)" <pberg at uic.edu>, "ponytail2255 at aol.com" <ponytail2255 at aol.com>, "Ray Campbell (ray153056 at gmail.com)" <ray153056 at gmail.com>, "Robert Harris (harris.robert at epa.gov)" <harris.robert at epa.gov>, "Robert Kingett (kingettspeaks at gmail.com)" <kingettspeaks at gmail.com>, "Sharon Howerton (shrnhow at att.net)" <shrnhow at att.net>, "Shirley Eilken (shirleeilken at aol.com)" <shirleeilken at aol.com>, "Sid Firstman (sidfirstman at comcast.net)" <sidfirstman at comcast.net>, "Stephen Handschu (stephenhandschu at gmail.com)" <stephenhandschu at gmail.com>, "Sue Lamm (suzj1013 at sbcglobal.net)" <suzj1013 at sbcglobal.net>, "Terry Gorman (t.gorman at sbcglobal.net)" <t.gorman at sbcglobal.net>, "Tim Paul (tjpaul80 at hotmail.com)" <tjpaul80 at hotmail.com>, Vanessa Thomas <vthomas3159 at gmail.com>, "Vanessa Thomas (vanessathomas3159 at gmail.com)" <vanessathomas3159 at gmail.com>, "Victoria Ferrarini (victoriaferrarini at comcast.net)" <victoriaferrarini at comcast.net>
> 
> FYI – re CTA press release on 4G wireless coverage
>  
> Amy
>  
> From: Serpe, Amy [mailto:aserpe at transitchicago.com <mailto:aserpe at transitchicago.com>] 
> Sent: Friday, October 16, 2015 10:33 AM
> To: Amy Peterson
> Subject: Press Release - May Be Forwarded
>  
> MAYOR EMANUEL ANNOUNCES FIRST CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY SUBWAY SECTION NOW OFFERS CHICAGOANS 4G WIRELESS SERVICE
> CTA will be the Largest Public Transit System in the U.S. with 4G Coverage in all Subway Stations and Tunnels; Targeted to be Completed by the End of 2015 
>  
> Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced the completion of the first phase of a project to bring 4G wireless coverage to the Chicago Transit Authority subway system.  Upon completion of the network upgrade, which is expected by the end of 2015, the City of Chicago will be the largest city in North America to have a subway system with full 4G wireless coverage across its entire system of subway stations and tunnels.
>  
> Starting this week, CTA Blue Line O’Hare Branch riders have full 4G wireless coverage in the Kimball Subway, a 1.2-mile section serving the Logan Square and Belmont stations. Activation of 4G coverage in the remaining portions of the Blue and Red Line subways will occur in phases, with the entire subway network completed by year’s end.
>  
> “The addition of 4G coverage will ensure that CTA passengers can benefit from dependable data service while riding the subway,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Importantly, it will also improve communications for first-responders working inside the tunnel system. This is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to invest in 21st century technology for Chicago’s world-class transit system, and expand economic opportunity for more Chicagoans throughout the city.” 
>  
> The 4G wireless project is a $32.5 million deal, brokered by the Chicago Infrastructure Trust, with America’s four major wireless providers – T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint – to finance the network modernization.  In January 2015, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint collectively agreed to fund the design and construction of a next-generation Distributed Antenna System (DAS) capable of supporting the latest 4G wireless networks and mobile devices. 
>  
> The project will provide continuous 4G coverage in 22 miles of subway, from O’Hare airport and through the underground tunnels and platforms of the Red and Blue Lines, the CTA’s two busiest rail lines. 
>  
> The network upgrade, which began earlier this year, will give millions of Chicago subway riders a faster mobile experience throughout their commutes. The design and installation of the system will create approximately 50 jobs.
>  
> “We’ve finished phase one of the project and by the end of 2015, the new network will be ready to provide an incredible 4G wireless experience to T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and Sprint customers that ride the Chicago subway enabling them to talk, chat, tweet, surf, or send and receive video calls while using the nation’s second largest public transportation system,” said Neville Ray, Chief Technology Officer, T-Mobile, the project’s lead wireless provider. 
>  
> “4G wireless will not only improve customer experience by offering faster and more robust wireless services that supports today’s tablets and smartphones, but it also increases system safety measures by providing more reliable communication between CTA personnel and emergency responders,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter.
>  
> This initiative is one of several efforts by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CTA President Carter to modernize the City’s infrastructure and further improve Chicago’s world-class transit system. Over the past four years, several technology improvements have been implemented across Chicago’s transit system, including expansion of CTA Train Tracker and Bus Tracker functionality, digital displays with service information at bus shelters and rail stations throughout the service region, and a dramatically expanded security camera network.
>  
>  
> About the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
> The CTA operates the nation's second largest public transportation system and covers the City of Chicago and 35 surrounding suburbs. On an average weekday, approximately 1.7 million rides are taken on CTA buses and trains.
>  
> About the Chicago Infrastructure Trust
> The Chicago Infrastructure Trust was created in April 2012 by executive order of Mayor Emanuel and City Council resolution.  The Trust’s purpose is to assist the people of the City of Chicago, the City government and its sister agencies in providing alternative financing and project delivery options for transformative infrastructure projects. Visit the Trust's website at www.shapechicago.org <http://www.shapechicago.org/>. 
> 
> # # #
> CTA Media Relations
> 312-681-3090
>  
>  
> Access Benefits Everyone!
>  
> Amy J. Serpe
> Manager, ADA Compliance Programs
> Chicago Transit Authority
> 567 W. Lake Street, 10th Fl., SW
> Chicago, IL  60661
> 312.681-2608 Desk
> 312.350.2301 Cell/Text
> This email and the attachments hereto contain confidential preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, memoranda and other records in which opinions are expressed, or policies or actions are formulated and is intended for internal use only.  The contents of this email and its attachments should not be disseminated without prior approval from the Chicago Transit Authority.