The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public
Facilities and partner agencies introduces 511 Travel in the Know
by phone or web, a service to help travelers access continually
updated travel information. 511 services are already operating in
23 states.
| Where to Get the Information |
| • |
Dial 5-1-1or (866) 282-7577
from any phone |
| • |
Visit the Web site:  |
| |
|
| Travel Information Made Easier |
| • |
• Both
telephone & web access |
| • |
Easy-to-remember "5-1-1" |
| • |
Up-to-date information |
| • |
Voice and key pad recognition |
| • |
High calling capacity |
| • |
Easy to navigate map-based web page |
| • |
More informed travelers |
| |
| Types of Information Available |
| 511
will provide: |
| • |
Weather-related road conditions |
| • |
Traffic incidents |
| • |
Highway construction and maintenance |
| • |
Highway closures |
| • |
Natural disasters affecting highway travel,
e.g. earthquakes, avalanches, etc. |
| • |
Near Real-Time Ferry Arrival/Departure Information
|
| • |
Overweight/Oversize Permit Information for Commercial
Vehicles |
| • |
Route specific road conditions i.e. Anchorage
to Fairbanks |
| |
|
| As the system evolves, we will provide
additional information, such as: |
| • |
Congestion Information |
| • |
Public transportation |
| • |
Images of road conditions |
| |
| Partner Effort |
| The
Condition Acquisition and Reporting System (CARS) is the primary
source of data for 511 services and related web pages produced
by several state transportation agencies. CARS is a web-based
database that reports, monitors, addresses and updates real-time
travel information situations. The Alaska
CARS is a partner effort to update and maintain real-time
travel information statewide: |
| • |
Alaska Department of Transportation & Public
Facilities – Maintenance & Operations, Construction,
Right of Way, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, Alaska Marine
Highways |
| • |
Alaska State Troopers |
| • |
Municipality of Anchorage – Anchorage Police
Department, Construction, Water & Wastewater Utility |
| • |
Palmer Police Department |
| • |
National Weather Service |
| • |
National Park Service - Denali National Park |
| • |
US Customs & Border Protection |
| • |
Yukon Roads Department |
| Statewide, transportation related
agencies can add local information which is quickly converted
to both web pages and the 511 voice telephone system. |
| |
|
| Part of a National Effort |
| • |
In July 2000, the FCC designated “511” as the national
traveler information phone number. |
| • |
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT),
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO), Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS
America) and American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
are leading deployment efforts and the development of guidelines
for a seamless and comprehensive service nationwide. |
| • |
Alaska DOT&PF is one of 23 states to implement
511. |
| |
| Costs |
| The CARS-511 Project is
part of a multi-state initiative consisting of 15 states:
Alaska, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New
Mexico, Vermont, Florida, New York, Louisiana, Missouri, Rhode
Island, Washington and Idaho. Also, two Canadian provinces
have shown interest. The CARS-511 consortium has received
$950,000 from Federal Highway Administration to help initiate
511. The federal funds will pay for the system, design, software
development and initial launch of the 511.
The service is provided free of charge
to the public. Cell phone users will pay for normal airtime
and roaming charges according to their wireless service contracts.
|
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| Related Information |
| • |
The Intelligent Transportation Society of America
(ITS America): www.itsa.org/511.html |
| • |
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT): www.its.dot.gov/511/511.htm |
| • |
American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials (AASHTO): www.deploy511.org/ |
| |
|
| Feedback on 511 |
| CARS/511 evolves continually. We’d
like to hear your comments and feedback on how the system is
working and how we can make improvements. Please send email
to: CARS@dot.state.ak.us |
