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This week, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) board approved a $2.9 million, 10-year lease agreement with U.S. Cellular to provide wireless communication service in the authority’s 11.4-mile subway system.

Once activated in summer 2006, the service will enhance CTA’s two-way radio communications and improve subway communication operations for the authority and emergency response personnel. In addition, passengers will be able to use cell phones, wireless Internet, pagers, text messaging and email in the subway.

Initially, only U.S. Cellular customers will be able to use their wireless devices, but CTA plans to add other service providers to the system.

Earlier this year, the authority finished installing the infrastructure necessary to enhance communication capability in the Red and Blue subway lines. During the next several months, U.S. Cellular will install and test its base equipment on CTA’s infrastructure.