News

New Traffic and Transit Technology Unveiled in Connecticut 10/27/2014 - The Connecticut Department of Transportation announces the deployment of travel times statewide on the Interstate system and the availability of train arrival and departure times and track information at Union Station for Metro North, Shore Line East, and Amtrak riders to assist highway and train travelers in making smart travel decisions by keeping them informed of current traffic and travel conditions.

Effectiveness of Safety and Public Service Announcement Messages on Dynamic Message Signs 9/4/2014

Hawaii DOT launches 511 GoAkamai by Phone, and upgrades its web site and mobile apps 11/5/2013

Massachusetts Providing Real-Time Information on Signs along the Massachusetts Turnpike 5/24/2013

Travel Times To Be Displayed Along I-95 Starting Monday 5/1/2013

New Jersey Department of Transportation announced a new initiative to provide motorists with travel time information on DMS along Interstate Highways. 1/18/13

West Virginia launches 511 services 12/12/2012 - West Virginia 511 provides real-time traffic information, including congestion, crashes, construction, lane closures, road conditions and severe weather information on all of West Virginia's interstates and other major highways.

Real-Time Travel Signs are a Hit with New York MTA Bridges and Tunnels Customers 6/15/2012

Travel Times Posted in Indianapolis 2/8/2012 - On February 4, 2012 Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) turned on four dedicated travel time signs in the Indianapolis area. The Travel Time Signs are traditional panel signs with two downstream destinations shown and electronic inserts indicating the minutes of travel to those destinations. Ten additional travel time signs will be operational within 6 months. An additional sixteen are planned for deployment by the end of 2016. Motorists can use this travel time information, along with any reported downstream lane-restricting incident information which would be displayed on Dynamic Message Signs (DMSs), to make an informed decision about their trip ahead. The initial Indianapolis Travel Time Signs are utilizing 100% federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds ($1.9 million).

Iowa's 511 communications network expands to Twitter 1/19/2012 - The latest development from the Iowa DOT pushes road information directly to the public via Twitter or text message.

Maryland Launches 511 Traffic Tip Service 8/11/2011 - If you have traffic questions, get answers with Maryland 511; the Maryland State Highway Administration urges drivers to "Get ready, Set, KNOW."

PennDOT to Start Posting Travel Times for Parkway East 5/6/2011 - Motorists on the Parkway East (I-376) in Allegheny County will have a new feature available to help them plan their daily commutes.

Alaska Revamps Traveler Information System 5/17/2011 - The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities has expanded its 511 web and telephone traveler information system to include smart phone access and an RSS feed.

California to Tweet Highway Closure Information in San Diego 5/10/2011 - The California Department of Transportation in San Diego is joining the age of social media by offering transportation information for people who use Twitter.

Travel Times Posted on Parkway East in Pittsburgh 5/6/2011 - Motorists on the Parkway East (I-376) in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania have a new feature from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to help them plan their daily commutes.

South Carolina 511 Reaches 100,000 Calls 4/5/2011 - The South Carolina Department of Transportation announces that its 511 Traveler Information System has received more than 100,000 calls since the system was activated in the fall of 2010.

Connected Vehicle Technology Challenge 1/24/2011 - New wireless technology enables connectivity for vehicles of all kinds—cars, trains and even bicycles. Vehicles can "talk" to each other, traffic signals, and mobile devices. What should they say? Submission period ends May 1, 2011.

Federal Register Notice August 9, 2010 - Connected Vehicle Performance Measurement and Performance- Based Management Demonstrations; Request for Information 8/9/2010 - ACTION: Notice. The U.S. DOT has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to help refine the plans for one or more demonstrations focused on the use of Connected Vehicle data sources for performance measurement and performance-based management. The U.S. DOT seeks comments, responses and innovative ideas from the public sector, private sector, and academic communities concerning the demonstration program described in this RFI.

New Publication: iFlorida Model Deployment Final Evaluation Report 3/17/2009 - This document is the final report for the evaluation of the USDOT-sponsored Surface Transportation Security and Reliability Information System Model Deployment, or iFlorida Model Deployment.

Notice of proposed rulemaking for the Real-Time System Management Information Program 1/14/2009 - Published in the Federal Register January 14, 2009.

Georgia 511 Reaches 1 Million Call Milestone (PDF 26KB) 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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