Cellphone Power

Dead zones to be removed from Houston tunnels: Underground becomes talk friendly

Good news for the more than 70,000 subterranean enthusiasts who traverse Houston's Downtown Tunnel System each day: Your cellular service is about to get stronger.

City officials are finishing up a deal with dozens of property owners to make reception in the oft-used pedestrian tunnels more reliable and consistent, with plans to vote on a new plan within the next 30 days (KHOU was first to report the deal).

Spotty underground signal has been the tunnels' bane for years, and a deal has long been discussed. The city is taking on the task of repairing those dead zones as part of a larger plan to patch gaps in the radio system used by police officers and firefighters.

"There will be boosters throughout the entire tunnel system," Chuck Jackson, the operations director for the Houston Downtown Management District, told KHOU. "Verizon is taking the lead in coordinating everyone else to be able to install this."

The installation of radio repeaters and cell phone antennae is expected to cost the city less than $300,00, with private carriers picking up the cost of the cellphone system.

Tunnel visitors should be able to text and talk to their hearts' content by this time next summer.

Watch KHOU's full report below:

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Editor's note:It's time to recap the top stories on CultureMap from this past week. The top Houston news includes a family-friendly Memorial City development, a Montrose pizzeria closure, and a stylish new lounge for Upper Kirby. Get the details below, and find fun stuff do in town this weekend here.

1. New development with 1-acre green space coming to Memorial City area. The rapidly growing area will soon be home to Greenside, boasting a mix of restaurant, retail, and other family-friendly businesses, designed by the Michael Hsu Office of Architecture.

2. Creative Montrose pizzeria will shutter after only a year-and-a-half. ElRo Pizza & Crudo will close at the end of the year, due to a steady decline in business.

3. Stylish new lounge shakes up Houston with art-inspired drinks and caviar. Cheers to this new nightlife spot, which is now open in Upper Kirby.

Sante cocktail lounge Sante's Garden Room is decorated with two olive trees. Photo by Chris Furia

4. These are the 6 most affordable ZIP codes for Houston renters. One of these ZIPs is also among the 10 most affordable in the U.S.

5. 15 Houston restaurants crafting nostalgic and decadent ice cream sundaes. The classic ice cream sundae is having a moment, and these restaurants are serving up decadent versions.