511 Notify lets travelers get road news electronically
by Wyoming Department of Transportation
October 5, 2009
WYDOT has made another addition to its popular 511 Travel Information Service. The new feature is called "511 Notify," and it allows travelers to receive notifications of road closures and openings as well as certain other travel alerts via email and text messages.
Previously, motorists wanting to check for alerts had to call the 511 system or access the 511 Travel Information Web site (www.wyoroad.info) . Now, they can let the system contact them, reducing the number of times they need to check the 511 system.
Subscribers to 511 Notify will be contacted only with what WYDOT considers critical alerts. Notifications will NOT be made when road or weather conditions change, for example, from dry to slick pavement or when rain or snow begins or ends.
Updates provided by 511 Notify include:
- temporary and seasonal road closures and openings.
- travel alerts such as when the chain law is in effect or no unnecessary travel is recommended.
- Other types of alerts and advisories including reduced visibility, black ice, falling rock, high winds, or no light trailers due to windy conditions.
Subscribers to 511 Notify can customize the alerts they receive by route. For example, someone who drives Interstate 80 frequently can choose to receive alerts for that route only, or for only a segment of that route, such as Cheyenne to Laramie or the Utah state line to Rock Springs.
Further, they can specify to hear all alerts, no matter when they are posted, or only those alerts posted during a certain time period. A commuter could select to receive only reports generated between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and then from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Signing up is quick and easy. The only requirement is having an active e-mail account. At a minimum, updates from 511 Notify will be sent as an email to the address listed on a subscriber’s account. The subscriber may also opt to receive alerts at a secondary e-mail address or as a text message to their cell phone.
The service is offered free of charge to the public, although subscribers should be aware that standard text messaging fees apply. Those wishing to subscribe should access the Wyoming Travel Information Service Web site and select "Sign Up to Receive E-mail/Text Updates" located near the bottom of the page.
511 Notify is powered by GovDelivery, a leading provider of government-to-citizen communications. The system delivers messages very quickly so subscribers will know right away when WYDOT posts a travel alert.
511 Notify is intended primarily as a pre-trip information service. Motorists are strongly cautioned not to engage in text messaging while driving.
|
