Press Releases
For Immediate Release
Bay Area Travelers Dial 511 in Record Numbers
Strong Demand Prompts MTC to Explore Adding Capacity
CONTACT:
Randy Rentschler
510.817.5780
John Goodwin
510.817.5862
OAKLAND, Calif., April 6, 2004...Enhanced traffic features introduced last month on
the Bay Area’s 511 traveler information service have been a hit with local travelers, with new
records for daily call volume being set three times since March 24. The most recent record-breaking
performance came Friday, April 2, when a man threatened to jump from the Bay Bridge — leading to
a 13-hour standoff with authorities, monumental traffic jams throughout much of the East Bay freeway
system, and 30,241 calls to the 511 phone system.
Last Friday’s 511 call volume shattered the previous record of 17,010 calls received Thursday,
March 25, which in turn broke the record of 13,753 calls set just one day earlier, when the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and its partners in the regional 511 initiative added
on-demand driving times and other Enhanced Traffic Features to the 511 system. Weekday call volume
averaged 7,700 during February 2004.
"The 511 computer system is handling the increased call volumes very well," commented Michael
Berman, MTC’s 511 Traffic Project Manager. "We’re constantly refining the system to meet
growing demand." Among the technical adjustments made to date was an urgent server reconfiguration
performed March 25 after the 511 phone service experienced some technical difficulties because it was
swamped by calls during an afternoon rainstorm that led to a spate of traffic incidents around the Bay
Area. No stability problems have been reported since the server reconfiguration was completed March 26.
Referring to callers’ inability to consistently connect with 511 during the Bay Bridge drama
last Friday, Berman acknowledged, "Callers did at times get busy signals, but that was due to capacity
limitations on incoming calls, not any kind of system error. Most people who got busy signals were able
to get through after trying again. We are investigating the most efficient way to increase they
system’s capacity so it can deal with extraordinary events like Friday’s."
MTC is the transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency for the nine-county Bay Area.
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