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Work to improve 511 system results in three-year innovation streak

The ITD Innovation program highlights the cream of the crop. Efforts to enhance the 511 Traveler Services web page are always in the running for "mobility" enhancement, and this year is no exception.

511 Program Manager Tony Ernest oversaw a change to the web page recently that improved how roadway pictures are displayed.

“Camera images have always been the most popular with the public,” Ernest said. “People are visually oriented.”

When a motorist visits the 511 web page and chooses a highway route, the left side of the web page is populated with the cameras that are on that highway route, among other information.

Ernest said this allows an individual to focus on and view the most pertinent camera images.

“Now, they can access the cameras that are relevant to them,” Ernest said. “The innovation is that we now include all of the cameras on a defined route. You can click on the camera icon to make the camera image show up.”

A map on the right side of the web page also illustrates those cameras, along with cameras on other Idaho highways.

The 511 Traveler Services platform is a popular resource with travelers. During the Aug. 21 eclipse, there were 112,815 individual web visits on that Monday, and 47,985 app sessions.

Ernest has additional improvements planned. He is working to incorporate weather forecast information from the National Weather Service.

“An important aspect is the winter road reports,” Ernest said. “We will get information from the National Weather Service on an hourly basis, attach it to a section of highway, and include that in the winter road report.”

Ernest said this will give winter travelers an up-to-date forecast, as well as existing driving conditions.

“What’s about to happen is just as important as what is happening,” he said.