511 (Traveler Information Number)
General Description:
A public telephone hotline with route-specific travel information. Roadway information may come from sources such as Environmental Sensing Stations (ESS), Roadside Detection (RS-D), Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS), and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV). National Parks and other Federal lands would likely work with the Department of Transportation in the state where the Federal land is located to put specific information on the 511 system.
Effects of Solution:
¨ Increase Passenger Throughput
¨ Increase Roadway Capacity
þ Manage System Efficiency (Informs travelers of conditions)
þ Reduce Local Demand (Alternate routes can be advised)
511 service can notify motorists of information that allows them to make educated decisions about their travel plans including route selection, weather conditions, incidents, and time of day. This allows agencies to have some demand management as well as managing the system efficiently. 511 is most effective when roadway information is available from a variety of reliable sources.
Examples of Implementation:
511 is currently being implemented across the country and is operational in many states.
The United States Department of Transportation 511 information page:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/511.htm
Virginia’s 511 web page:
Alaska’s 511 web page:
Cost/Financial Information:
Source: United States Department of Transportation Intelligent Transportation Systems ITS Benefits, Costs and Lessons Learned Databases. Available at http://www.benefitcost.its.dot.gov (Cost/financial information is estimated, and will vary based on size and scope of project, number of units, etc.)
The costs for implementing the 511 system in Arizona were approximately $355,000. The annual operating costs are estimated to be $137,000. A Federal land would likely integrate its information onto an existing state system. The cost information, therefore, is strictly for informational purposes only.
Additional Resources:
ITS America web page: http://www.itsa.org/511.html