What if there was a way to instantly check traffic reports before leaving the office that would shave valuable minutes off travel time? Dialing 5-1-1 now directs instant traffic reports and other transit information services right to commuters.
In February, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), in collaboration with local and state transit agencies, launched a transit information system designed to ease traffic congestion by putting more information in the hands of commuters, said SANDAG communications manager Anne Steinberger.
Now, dialing 5-1-1 or logging onto www.511sd.com will connect a traveler with up-to-the-minute traffic information, including traffic congestion, transit routes and other public transportation information.
The new service also allows users to connect directly with the roadside Mobile Call Box program, among other information services, 24 hours a day.
“People drive a lot of miles in this region. So the goal is the more information they have, the less crowded it will be on the road,” Steinberger said.
Dialing 5-1-1 connects the user with a voice-activated system where menu choices are organized categorically. Although Steinberger advocates driving safely, she said the system can be accessed in realtime through a hands-free headset while on the road.
Since the system is voice activated, simply say the name of the city, highway or point of interest, such as “SeaWorld.”
The system springs into action and tells users the time, number of incidents, driving times and even the speed at which the traffic is flowing. The 5-1-1 information service is also available in Spanish.
Should a driver need to connect to the roadside assistance Mobile Call Box program, they would say “roadside assistance” at the prompt. The command would transfer them directly to the San Diego County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) call center, said SAFE executive director Eddie Castoria.
The Mobile Call Box program uses the same system as the SAFE call boxes installed at every half-mile along each side of the freeways throughout the county, Castoria said.
The SAFE Call Box program, which has existed in San Diego County since 1989, has handled approximately 2 million calls from call boxes along the county’s highway system as of 2004, Castoria said. Being connected to the 5-1-1 system allows users to call the SAFE system from a mobile phone as if they were calling directly from a fixed box, Castoria said.
“It’s really like having your own personal call box in your pocket or purse. Your phone becomes your call box,” Castoria said.
The existing call boxes along the highways will still stay up, Castoria said. However, now people can access the system from the safety of their vehicles when pulled over into a safe spot, he said.
Although many of the calls received from the SAFE call boxes are to report emergencies, Castoria said the best number to call for emergency assistance is still 9-1-1. The main function of the call box program is still to connect commuters to the various service providers or other assistance programs, Castoria said.
The 5-1-1 system also takes advantage of the internet by providing realtime traffic reports and other information services for commuters to use before traveling. Users can access a realtime, color-coded traffic map that tracks traffic data from sensors along the highway. The interactive map allows users to click on points to get information on that area, including drive times and traffic speeds. Bus schedules, trolley schedules and day-trip planning are also available. Commuters can also check border-crossing information for San Ysidro and Otay Mesa.
The system is interlinked with the Metropolitan Transit System. All of the information available through MTS is now also available through the 5-1-1 system. SANDAG has also collaborated with CalTrans, North County Transit District and the CHP.
San Diego is the 33rd region in the nation to implement 5-1-1 and the first in Southern California, Steinberger said.
In the first week, the program has received more than 18,500 calls. The Web site has received approximately 17,500 hits, with the traffic page totaling approximately 230,000 views, Steinberger said.