Press Releases

For Immediate Release

A NEW, EASIER ACCESS TO TRAVELER INFORMATION: #817

CONTACT:

Catalina Alvarado, MTC
510.817.5783

Emily Van Wagner, MTC
510.817.5782

Erin Eggleton, Cellular One
650/827-5702

OAKLAND, Calif., June 5, 1998...The Metropolitan Transportation Commission announced today that Cellular One subscribers in the greater San Francisco Bay Area now have a quick and easy way to access TravInfo--, the Bay Area's advanced traveler information system -- simply by dialing #817 (pound-8-1-7) on their cellular phone.

An agreement between MTC and Cellular One -- one of the Bay Area's major wireless communication providers -- enables Cellular One subscribers to reach TravInfo-- using only four keys on the phone pad while in any of the nine Bay Area counties. TravInfo-- provides up-to-the-minute traffic reports for all Bay Area highways; direct telephone connections to public transit and paratransit operators; carpooling information; construction updates on major Caltrans projects; as well as alerts on road closures due to flooding in rainy weather and other travel-related information. The information service is free; regular wireless air time charges apply.

"We are happy to give our customers a convenient way to access the information that will make their daily commutes a little less stressful," said Michael Attiyeh, product line manager for Cellular One. "In addition, because customers only need to punch in the pound sign plus three numbers, this also supports our efforts to help customers drive safely."

Commuters without Cellular One phone service can continue to reach TravInfo-- at 817-1717 from all locations in the Bay Area [817-1718 for TTY access].

The traffic information reported through TravInfo-- is derived from a number of sources, including Caltrans' Transportation Management Center, which monitors Bay Area highways through roadway sensors, closed circuit television and the like. The California Highway Patrol's computer-aided dispatch system and the Freeway Service Patrol roving tow truck fleet's automatic vehicle location system all provide further eyes and ears to report roadway problems.

TravInfo-- is part of a federally funded field operational test to make comprehensive, real-time information about current conditions in the region's complex surface transportation system available to the public, thereby allowing travelers to make more informed decisions about where, when and how to travel. TravInfo-- operates as a public/private partnership under MTC's management. MTC is the transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency for the Bay Area.

# # #

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