Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Bay Area's 511 Service Adds More New Features

511 Driving Times^SM Expands Coverage Area — Web Site Adds Live Video

Contact:

John Goodwin, MTC, 510.817.5862
Dara Tolk, Wolfe/Doyle, 415.775.0700, ext. 257

OAKLAND, Calif., August 2, 2005…The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) today added more new features to its popular 511 traveler information system. The 511 Driving Times^SM service, which delivers on-demand information — via phone or Web — about point-to-point travel times, will now provide expanded coverage of Interstate 580, Interstate 680 and U.S. 101 corridors; and the 511.org Web site now features live Bay Area traffic cameras. Simply by clicking on the interactive traffic map at www.traffic.511.org, computer users can now see Caltrans traffic video feeds, which can help travelers determine congestion levels along their driving routes and better plan their travel.

“The Bay Area 511 system harnesses the region’s technology know-how to help travelers get around,” said MTC vice-chair John McLemore, who represents the cities of Santa Clara County on the Commission and recently retired after a long career as a high-tech industry executive. “Whether you call 511 or click on www.511.org, you’re at the cutting edge of the intelligent transportation systems wave.”

511 Driving Times^SM coverage along Interstate 580 is being extended from Oakland to the Interstate 680 junction in Dublin and Pleasanton. Coverage along Interstate 680 in Alameda County is being extended from the Interstate 680 interchange south to the interchange with State Route 84 in Sunol, and coverage along U.S. 101 is being extended from Belmont south to the State Route 85 interchange in Mountain View.

With the additional coverage areas, 511 Driving Times^SM information for Interstate 580 is now available from Dublin/Pleasanton west all the way to San Rafael (including the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge). Coverage along Interstate 680 now extends from Sunol through Pleasanton, the San Ramon Valley and central Contra Costa County to the State Route 4 interchange in Pacheco. Along U.S. 101, point-to-point travel times are now available from Mountain View north to San Francisco and from the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza all the way to Santa Rosa (including the Golden Gate Bridge).

The 511 Driving Times^SM service debuted in March 2004. In addition to U.S. 101 and Interstates 580 and 680, the system also provides real-time information for the entire Interstate 80 corridor from San Francisco to Highway 12 east near Suisun City (including the Bay Bridge and Carquinez Bridge),

Interstate 880 from the MacArthur Maze in Oakland to Fremont, Interstate 280 between the San Francisco terminus and John Daly Boulevard in Daly City, and State Route 92 between Interstate 880 in Hayward and U.S. 101 in San Mateo (including the San Mateo Bridge).

511 Driving Times^SM taps data from FasTrak® toll transponders and constantly updated information from Caltrans to tell motorists the current travel time between cities or major landmarks in the Bay Area, and if there are any incidents on the route. More freeway segments will be added to the 511 Driving Times^SM coverage area in the months ahead. MTC expects to add coverage for State Route 84 between U.S. 101 and Interstate 880 (including the Dumbarton Bridge) by the end of August. Later expansions will include State Route 4 between Interstate 680 and Antioch, Interstate 580 through the Livermore Valley, State Route 37 in the North Bay, and several routes along the Peninsula and in the South Bay.

MTC expects the expanded 511 Driving Times^SM coverage and the new streaming video feature to make the 511 service even more popular with Bay Area travelers. Ninety-two percent of respondents to a 2004 satisfaction survey reported overall satisfaction with the 511 phone service, and a survey of 511.org Web site users found that 89 percent of respondents are satisfied overall with the online service, and 73 percent are extremely likely to continue visiting 511.org.

About 511

Part of a national rollout of 511 service, the Bay Area’s 511 phone and Web system was launched in December 2002 through a partnership between MTC, Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol and dozens of transit operators. The Bay Area is the largest metropolitan area in the country to activate a 511 system. The service currently averages about 80,000 calls per week.

511 is the Bay Area’s one-stop resource for free traffic, transit, ridesharing and bicycling information. Much like 411 or 911, the toll-free 511 phone service is an easy-to-remember number. Callers can get the most current reports on road conditions and traffic incidents, as well as fare and schedule information from over 40 public transportation providers and 20 paratransit operators, plus information about carpooling, vanpooling and bicycling.

MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

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