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Idaho Transportation
Department
Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
Email


511 Traveler Information Service at a glance

Safe travel on Idaho’s roadways means being prepared, especially during winter months, when weather is the primary force affecting driving conditions.

This winter season, motorists will have a new tool at their disposal for safe travels. Idaho’s 511 traveler information service will launch in November, using state-of-the-art technology to provide road and weather information by phone and Internet.

Travelers can connect to the service by calling three easy-to-remember digits (5-1-1) or logging on to 511.idaho.gov for continual updates about winter driving conditions, weather, emergency road closures, traffic delays, links to tourism information and more.

Here’s an at-a-glance primer of what 511 is and how it works.

Travel Smart. Travel Safe

  • 511 is a service to help travelers access information about road conditions, traffic incidents and weather via the phone or on the Web, 24 hours a day.

511 is 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 the effort for eventual nationwide service.
  • Idaho will be the 24th state to provide the 511 service.

Idaho’s 511 vision

In developing Idaho’s traveler information service, the system was designed to:

  • increase safety through more prepared and better-informed travelers
  • improve efficiency of maintenance and public safety providers
  • encourage economic growth through increased tourism
  • enhance the overall experience of travelers in Idaho

Type of information available

  • Weather-related road conditions
  • Traffic incidents and delays
  • Emergency road closures
  • Highway construction projects (coming in Spring 2006)
  • Travel planning links

Connecting to 511

  • Visit online at 511.idaho.gov
  • Call 5-1-1 from any phone, including wireless phones.

Motorists are encouraged to place safety first by asking a passenger to call 511, call or log on to 511.idaho.gov prior to departure, or place the call at an appropriate stopping point along the way.

Key improvements

  • 511 will expand and improve what was formerly the Idaho Road Report.
  • The new 511 service is designed to be updated when road conditions change, providing more timely and accurate information from the field to travelers.
  • Information provided will be more location-specific, providing a higher level of accuracy to travelers.
  • The telephone number is easy to remember and uses voice recognition technology. Idaho 511 will also share 776 phone ports with multiple states, significantly increasing calling capacity and minimizing the chance of callers getting a busy signal during heavy winter storms.
  • The service includes an easy-to-navigate, interactive map on the Web site, 511.idaho.gov
  • By knowing road conditions, travelers will be able to better plan for their trips and commutes.

Cost

The service is provided free of charge to the public. Calls to 511 are considered local when dialed from a pay phone or landline phone. Wireless phone users are responsible for normal airtime and roaming charges in accordance with their wireless service contracts. ITD encourages motorists to pull off the road and park in a safe area before using cell phones.
Idaho is part of a multi-state consortium that shares the cost of designing and developing the CARS (Condition Acquisition Reporting System)/511 system. Participating states include Alaska, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington.

Where the information originates

Idaho Transportation Department field staff and Idaho State Police officers provide information from around the state to continually update the system. Road and weather condition information is input into the Condition Acquisition and Reporting System (CARS), the primary data collection tool for 511.
Additional information comes from the National Weather Service, Ada County Highway District and the Road Weather Information System.
The system continues to evolve as a comprehensive and timely source of data.

Cooperating agencies

511 is made possible through the cooperation of the Idaho Transportation Department, Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor, Idaho State Police, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Emergency Medical Services Bureau, the Ada County Highway District and the Federal Highway Administration.