| Abstract |
Smart-Traveler is Caltrans transportation portal to help the traveler find all of the information they need to make the best trip possible, whether that trip be by auto, bus, train, or bicycle; whether it be for commuting, shopping, or other purpose; at any time of day. The Smart-Traveler portal via Internet (www.smart-traveler.com) and telephone 1-800-COMMUTE (1-800-266-6883 many regions of California) are two early Smart-Traveler products that have been deemed "operational" and are staffed by Caltrans Traffic Operations Program. State and local governments are working together to better pool present real-time local road, highway, transit and train information. The California Smart-Traveler is led by Caltrans Operations Program. Major governmental participants include the Southern California Association of Governments, the Orange County Transportation Authority, the San Francisco Bay Area's Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the San Diego Association of Governments, and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. Private sector firms include MetroTraffic, SmartRoutes and, ShadowTraffic (three firms who retail traffic information via radio and television broadcasts), MetroDynamics (a consulting services firm specializing in Transportation Demand Management, ridesharing, and helping employers help employees to commute via alternative forms of transportation) and consumer electronic firms like etak, Sony, Motorola, and Seiko. The ".com" domain is used to denote the ultimate commercialization of traveler information combining interactive scheduling and real-time data from many transportation providers. The ultimate Smart-Traveler will give routes, schedules and fare information, reservations where offered, and even ticketing/toll services even if the trip may require a transfer between bus lines, or from a bus to rail, or link a bicycle route to a park'n'ride lot served by an express bus. Detailed information can be found by clicking on the Frequently Asked Questions and following the internal links. This includes information about participants, travel demand management, current research projects, and projected shape of the ultimate Smart-Traveler. Clicking on a section of the map on the homepage will take the user to the Smart-Traveler participant for that area which may be a local government site not specifically noted as a component of Smart-Traveler, such as Goventura.com. |
TRT
