News

Georgia 511 Reaches 1 Million Call Milestone 6/25/2008 - The Georgia 511 system reached one million calls well within its first year of operation.

New Jersey Re-launches Improved 511 Travel Hotline 6/24/2008 - Just about a year after launching its beta version of a 511 travel information system, the New Jersey DOT launched a new and improved version.

Mobile Web Traffic Information Portal 3/24/2008 - Have a mobile device that can access the Internet? Then enter www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/511/mobile for a list of mobile-device-friendly Web sites with real-time traveler information. The sites are suitable for any device capable of accessing the Web.

Wyoming 511 Service Increases Customer satisfaction 2/11/2008 - An effort undertaken in summer of 2007 to improve the Wyoming Department of Transportation's 511 Travel Information telephone service is paying benefits this winter, based on recent customer feedback.

South Dakota 511 road reports log over one million requests in 2007 1/9/2008 - More and more South Dakota travelers are checking road and weather conditions before deciding to drive; the South Dakota DOT's 511 Traveler Information System logged over one million requests in 2007, the most ever for the five-year old system.

Nova Scotia Launches First Canadian 511 System 1/7/2008 - Drivers in Nova Scotia now have a quick, simple way to get information on highway conditions thanks to the new 511 highway information system.

511 Launches in Eastern Massachusetts 10/15/2007 - The Massachusetts Highway Department announced that commuters will now be able to access up-to-the-minute, route-specific traffic, transit, weather, construction and event information by dialing 511 on their wireless telephones. The new MassHighway 511 service will replace the existing SmarTraveler service, which has been is use since 1993.

Real-time Traveler Information Services Business Models: State of the Practice Review October 3, 2007 - This State of the Practice Review documents a range of business models for real-time traveler information services, and provides 'real world' examples of how States and regions are developing partnerships and business plans within the business model frameworks.

Georgia Launches 511 8/15/2007 - Georgia 511 provides one-touch access to airports, Amtrak, Greyhound, transit, tourism and other state 511 systems.

Communicating With the Public Using ATIS During Disasters: A Guide for Practitioners August 6, 2007 - This document provides advice on use of Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) during disasters and is intended not only for state and local transportation agencies but for their partners in public safety and emergency management agencies. It offers practical guidance to managers of transportation management centers and emergency operations and to public information officers who may be called on to staff joint information centers during disasters.

Missouri DOT Launches 511 Travel Information Service 5/11/2007 - Travelers in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area can get around-the-clock real-time traffic information on traffic or incidents on interstates or major state highways from their phones.

San Diego Dials 511 for Traffic Information 2/21/2007 - The San Diego region has reached a transportation milestone with the public launch of the 511 telephone service and companion Web site, www.511sd.com.

Congestion Initiative Leaflet on Traveler Information Now Available 2/12/07 - As part of a series published online in January 2007, this leaflet discusses how ITS technologies can be used in traveler information to curb congestion and smooth traffic flow.

Louisiana Launches 511 Traveler Information System 12/27/06 - Travelers in Louisiana are now able to access around-the-clock, real-time traffic and road condition updates by dialing 511 or visiting WWW.511LA.ORG.

Nevada Launches 511 Travel Information System 11/16/06 - The new system posts current traffic, weather, construction and road closure reports to a new 511 phone number and www.nevadadot.com Web site.

Wyoming Announces 511 9/29/2006 - Obtaining travel information in Wyoming is now as easy as dialing 5-1-1.

Tennessee Launches 511 8/15/2006 - Governor Bredsen helps kick-off the 511 system in Tennessee.

Notice published in the Federal Register seeks comments and information for the Real-Time System Management Information Program under Section 1201 of the SAFETEA-LU. (TEXT, PDF 65KB) - 5/4/2006

ITS Benefit of the Month: Route-Specific Travel Time Information March 2006 - More Traveler Information Benefits-of-the-Month are available under Best Practices.

Montana Upgrades Its 511 Traveler Information System - 3/9/2006

Central Florida 511 Callers Continue to Connect March 2006 - Florida DOT 511 Newsletter

Connecticut Governor Rell Says Traffic "E-Alert" System Has 8,588 Subscribers in First Year - 2/27/2006

Idaho Begins 511 Service - The new Idaho 511 statewide travel information service gives updates on winter road and weather conditions, emergency closures and access to tourist information 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. - 11/22/2005

Dial-511 traffic alerts go statewide in Florida - The Florida DOT expands its 511 traveler information telephone services to Statewide operation as part of the iFlorida Model Deployment project. - 11/17/2005

Four case studies on the posting of travel time on dynamic message signs. Read about how Chicago, Houston, Nashville and Portland developed travel time messaging. - 9/26/2005

DOT News Digest: Federal Highway Administration Recognizes Innovative Traveler Information Websites 9/23/2005 - FHWA recognized California, Connecticut and Missouri for their innovative and helpful on-line tools. More details and links are available in this document.

Heloise advocates "511" and the National Traffic and Road Closure Information Web site. - 8/30/2005

Report on the State Barriers to Adopting and Implementing Programs Using Roadside Communications Systems for Alerts Regarding Recovery of Abducted Children - A report to Congress that was requested under section 303(i) of the "Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003" or "PROTECT Act" (Public Law 108-21).

Virginia Launches Statewide 511 Service 2/15/2005 - Virginia expanded its 511 travel information telephone service beyond the I-81 corridor to Statewide. In addition to road and traffic reports 511 also provides information on gas, food, lodging and transit connections.

Putting Travelers in the Know 1/28/2005 - Providing motorists with real-time traveler information is a key way that road managers can help motorists deal with the growing traffic congestion on the Nation's highways. Link to article in the November/December 2004 FHWA Public Roads.

Utah's 511 Travel Information Line Receives Millionth Call 12/20/2004 - This milestone comes just before the holiday season, when travelers are especially eager to find quick, accurate travel information.

Federal Transit Administration Recognizes Top Transit Websites 12/4/2004 - The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) presents its fourth annual Transit Website Awards to four west coast transit agencies. The winners were selected after a national review of 1,455 active transit information web sites. Evaluation criteria included the posting of information, such as route and system maps, schedules, trip planner services, fares and other useful information and links.

Federal Highway Administration Names Top Traffic Information Web Sites for 2004 10/08/2004 - Sites were selected for recognition based upon criteria that were ranked related to importance of conveying real-time traveler information. (Previous web site recognitions from 2003, 2002 and from 2001)

Minnesota DOT To Test Travel Time System 9/21/2004 - The Minnesota DOT will begin testing a new system the week of September 27, 2004, that shows travel times on freeway changeable message signs (CMS) during the rush hour.

New 511 Services Launched 9/02/2004 - On September 1, the Northern California and Sacramento area began offering travel information via 511 telephone services. More information is available at http://www.sacregion511.org and on September 2, 511 services started in the Tampa Bay area. More information is available at http://www.511tampabay.com.

North Carolina Launches 511 Travel Information Service 8/25/2004 - A FHWA news release announces that North Carolina drivers now will be able to get up-to-the minute information about local road and traffic conditions by calling 511.

AMBER Plan Implementation Assistance Program; Request for Applications 6/15/2004 - Notice published in the Federal Register announcing the availability to States of funding to implement motorist information services related to issuing child abduction, or AMBER, alerts.

511 Traffic Information Moves Into Fast Lane 3/24/2004 - San Francisco Bay Area is the first to offer point-to-point, real-time driving times over 511.

Iowa's 511 Travel Information Service Sets More New Records In February 3/15/2004 - Following two months of record level call volumes, Iowa's 511 travel information service set more new records in February.

Kansas Launches 511 Travel Information Service 01/22/2004 - A news release from the Kansas Department of Transportation announces the launch of the country's 21st 511 system.

Oregon DOT Travel Information Services Break Usage Records 01/05/2004 - The Oregon Department of Transportation's travel information Web site and new 511 service surpassed all previous usage numbers accumulated over any monthly period.

Technology Keeps Montana Roads Ice-Free and Drivers Informed 01/01/2004 - Link to an article in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle discussing usage of Montana's 511 system.

Oregon Launches Its 511 Traveler Information Telephone Service 12/10/2003 - With the beginning of 511 services in Oregon, there are now 20 operational systems in the country providing access to 511 for almost 18% of the population.

New York State Thruway Adds Incident Information To Web Site 12/05/2003

Drivers Let Their Fingers Do The Parking (12/04/2003 article in the Greenwich (CT) Time) - Pilot program lets drivers pay for their parking via text messaging feature on their cell phones.

Internet and Telephone Traveler Information Services Influence Commuter Behavior More Effectively than Radio/TV Broadcasts 12/02/2003 - Link to the summary of a report on "User Response to the Telephone Assisted Traveler Information System in the San Francisco Bay Area (TATS)."

South Dakota 511 Marks Anniversary 11/21/2003 - The State's free 511 road reporting system passes its 1-year milestone today, just in time for another blast of wintry weather.

Providing a Highway System with Reliable Travel Times 11/14/2003 - TRB's Future Strategic Highway Research Program (F-SHRP) Web Document 3: Providing a Highway System with Reliable Travel Times details the research necessary to relieve highway congestion and improve the ability of commuters, shippers, and travelers to predict their trip time and reduce the amount of variation in their expected travel time.

Virginia DOT Unveils New 511 Web Site 11/13/2003 - A Web site for any season, but especially in winter, 511Virginia.org has been redesigned to provide enhanced real time travel information and traveler services.

The Roadway INFOstructure: What? Why? How? 11/07/2003 - This TRB Transportation Research Circular (EC057) summarizes an August 21-23, 2002, workshop in Irvine, California, which examined the Federal Highway Administration's vision for a Roadway INFOstructure.