NYSDOT Reminds New Yorkers to Travel Safely During the Summer Season and to Call 5-1-1 for Latest Traffic Info

ALBANY, NY (05/28/2010)(readMedia)-- As the busy Memorial Day weekend begins, kicking off the annual summer travel season, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee today urged the public to travel safely, and reminded people that 5-1-1, New York's free, comprehensive system for real-time information about traffic and travel conditions is available 24x7x365. The phone (dial 5-1-1) and Web (www.511ny.org) service provides information about traffic conditions and can link commuters to train, bus, subway, air and weather service information.

"The 5-1-1 system developed by the State Department of Transportation is among the best traveler information systems in the country and strengthens our efforts to keep traffic flowing smoothly and people and goods moving efficiently throughout New York State," said Acting Commissioner Gee. "Travelers using any of our highways, buses, subways, commuter rails or airports will find 5-1-1 to be an indispensable service that uses state-of-the-art technology to help them avoid traffic congestion, alert motorists to emergency and weather-related road closures and facilitate trip planning for all types of transportation."

The federally-funded service was rolled out statewide a year ago, and has been available to New York City travelers since November 2008. Since its inception, the service has garnered:

• Almost 865,000 phone inquiries;

• More than one million visits to www.511ny.org;

• 4,653 followers on Twitter; and

• 730 Facebook users who "Like" 511NY.

The system has also generated more than 275,000 alert tweets.

The 5-1-1 New York phone system detects a caller's location based upon the land-line being used or communications tower to which his or her cellular phone is connected. Callers are then routed to relevant travel information for their travel area. They can also survey multiple regions for traveler updates, request information about specific highways or access information about transit, ridesharing opportunities, airports, bus, rail and other travel options. Users can access a transit trip-planning feature, which includes schedules, routes, fares and park-and-ride locations; carpool, vanpool and rideshare referrals; and bicycling information.

Callers who have hearing impairments can call 7-1-1, the national three-digit number for access to the Telecommunication Relay Services, to access the 5-1-1 system. Speech-impaired callers can use 7-1-1 or the touch-tone system offered by 5-1-1.

Users also can sign up for NYSDOT's TransAlert program to get information about major incidents affecting transportation sent directly to their cell phone in short e-mail or text messages. TransAlerts are issued only for the most serious and unexpected events that have a high degree of impact on travel. This can include incidents on highway, rail or aviation systems. Alerts can be customized for specific regions or routes. To subscribe, visit www.nyalert.gov.

To be safe, 5-1-1 trip information should not be accessed while driving, but should be monitored before leaving for a trip, during a stop or by a passenger.

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