KIRKLAND, WA — Sept. 23, 2013 — The Bay Area’s popular 511 service is set to expand its traffic speed network. Coverage, now mostly limited to state roadways and interstates, will grow to include additional state roadways, major arterials, expressways and connectors. Drivers consistently turn to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC’s) 511 Traffic page for the most accurate, latest-breaking traffic news, driving times, and emergency information to stay informed about major traffic impacts in the region. Building on this foundation, the integration of INRIX traffic speed data will provide a more comprehensive view of regional traffic conditions and additional alternative routes to help drivers avoid congestion and get to their destinations as quickly as possible.
“In the third most congested metropolitan area in America, drivers depend on real-time traffic information to plan their daily commute,” said Rick Schuman, INRIX Vice President and General Manager of Public Sector. “Through one of the most robust real-time traffic data and analytics platforms in the world, we will provide traffic speed data for 511, which when paired with 511’s extensive breaking traffic news and incident, construction, and event information, will give drivers the insight they need to avoid frustrating delays.”
The Bay Area’s 511 service provides up-to-the-minute traffic, transit, rideshare, bicycling, and parking information to travelers and is considered one of most advanced 511 systems available. The service is available by phone, online at 511.org, and on mobile at m.511.org. For its traffic features, MTC assembles data from a variety of sources – Caltrans, CHP, and other partners – to provide the most accurate and reliable information about incidents and traffic disruptions in the Bay Area. To further enhance 511’s traffic information, MTC’s contractor, Leidos (formerly SAIC), is procuring traffic speed data from INRIX, a leading international provider of traffic and driver services. INRIX provides traffic speed data using a single, consistent, reliable system with more coverage and the ability to expand in a smart and cost-effective way.
MTC, which serves as the transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, began integrating INRIX speed data into its existing 511 traffic service in mid-July. Expanding coverage to new roadways will occur gradually over the next several months. Notable additions include South Bay expressways, State Route 29 in Napa County, the Richmond Parkway and Vasco Road in Contra Costa County, State Route 84 in Alameda and San Mateo counties, and El Camino Real in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
“The addition of speed data and driving times to additional state roadways, major arterials and key interregional connectors to 511 will be great news for the travelling public,” said Melanie Crotty, Director of Operations at MTC. “We have provided traffic incidents and construction news, including lane closures, on several of these roadways for many years; the addition of speeds and driving times will complete the picture for motorists.”
MORE THAN JUST REAL-TIME DATA
The partnership also gives MTC access to one of the largest historic traffic analytics databases available.
“Not only will INRIX provide traffic speed data, the INRIX Analytics platform will allow traffic engineers to measure and track congestion and assess system performance,” said Schuman. “Given today’s limited tax dollars, this analytics platform gives transportation planners the data they need to make smart choices.”
On behalf of MTC, SAIC will be the first company to leverage the INRIX Quality Assurance Program included in the service, providing INRIX partners and customers with experienced independent validators to assure INRIX services meet 511 requirements for accuracy and real-time reliability.
The INRIX Traffic Intelligence Platform analyzes data from public and private sources, including government road sensors, official crash and incident reports and real-time traffic speeds crowd-sourced from a large community of local drivers. The company’s analysis of crowd-sourced data in combination with information from traditional sources provides drivers with insight that extends beyond highways to city streets and other heavily travelled local roads helping them choose the best way to go.
ABOUT 511
511 is a one-stop phone and web source for up-to-the-minute Bay Area traffic, transit, rideshare, bicycling, and parking information. It’s free of charge and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere in the nine-county Bay Area. 511 is managed by a partnership of public agencies led by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission , the California Highway Patrol , and the California Department of Transportation To learn more about MTC’s free 511 service, call 511, visit 511.org, go to m.511.org on a mobile device, or download the 511 SF Bay Transit app.
MEDIA CONTACT INFORMATION: Jamie Holter, INRIX Communications 206.719.7535
