April 5, 2005

511 phone service
–a helpful tool

By Santa Clara County Supervisor Jim Beall
Special to the Times

Ever been stuck in traffic and want road or transit information? Many Bay Area residents have felt the same way. Just days after celebrating its second anniversary, the Bay Area’s 511 traveler information system reached another milestone when it logged its 5 millionth call.

A free phone and Web service, 511 consolidates Bay Area transportation information into a one-stop resource. The 511 phone is a useful tool for all transit users, regardless of mode or ability to pay. The Metropolitan Transformation Commission introduced the 511 phone service and a companion Web portal at www.511.org in December 2002.

The service provides up-to-the-minute information on traffic conditions, incidents and driving times, schedule, route and fare information for the Bay Area’s public transportation services, instant carpool and vanpool referrals, bicycling information and more. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 511 provides toll-free transfers to Bay Area transit agencies so you don’t have to remember agency phone numbers any longer.

Usage is expected to increase further as features are added to both the 511phone system and the 511.org Web portal. These include real-time arrival information for San Francisco Muni Metro vehicles and an expansion of the 511 driving times service, which provides actual driving times from point to point along local freeways.

I encourage you to try 511 and keep me informed of your experience with this exciting resource.