According to a Metro Transit Authority press release, the MTA is currently developing proposals to network providers in order to bring Wi-Fi service to the Metro-North trains and Long Island Railroad (LIRR).

The press release states that the MTA “has requested proposals on how the service would be designed, installed, managed and financed.” The Internet service would allow riders to access various websites while riding the trains without paying any of the costs.

The MTA has also asked proposers to say whether the LIRR and Metro-North could use the wireless access for “operational purposes and for other technological-driven initiatives such as digital advertising.” MTA CEO and Chairman Jay H. Walder said that these efforts are meant to make the riders’ experience on the railroads more pleasant and “to enhance their commute.”

According to a Newsday article, the MTA has been attempting to install Wi-Fi in the Railroads since June 2009. The article states that Senator Charles Schumer said “The Long Island Rail Road has fallen drastically behind the times by not offering free wireless Internet service on trains.”

“Other major mass transit systems across the United States already have on-board major wireless Internet service,” which puts New York “behind railroads in Texas, California and Utah,” said Schumer in a Long Island Business News story.

According to Muniwireless, the MTA prepared an RFEI (Request For Expressions of Interest) and responses to this RFEI were due on September 1,  2009 (the actual document is also available on the website). Technofile reported in September that Cablevision was interested in providing Internet access to the Long Island Railroad, but no follow-up has been written in reference to the two parties coming to any agreement.

Many Long Island Railroad customers believe that providing Wi-Fi service on the trains would be beneficial. Mike Santo, 53, Bellmore, said that the service would help in “keeping in constant contact with the world” and would make things more flexible for commuters. Other riders say that the service is a good idea because they could get their work done and check emails while on the train.

Since the MTA has issued a RFP (Request for Proposal) to any willing network providers along with the announcement of the Wi-Fi service, it might be closer to achieving its goal of Wi-Fi implementation. The due date for the proposal is May 2010.