North Carolina s Integration of 511 and Workzone Information

North Carolina’s Integration of 511 and Workzone Information Jo Ann Oerter State Technology Implementation and Maintenance Engineer North Carolina Department of Transportation

Where your travel information begins NC’s 511 System • 511 - national • 511 - North Carolina • NCDOT’s 511 System: – Goal – Features – Content

511 Deployment Status as of September 7, 2004 Currently Accessible by 24% of Population = 511 Operational (“Live”) = Expect 2004 Launch = Planning Funding D. C. Alaska Hawaii Accessible by 31% of Population in 2004 Puerto Rico

WHY DID NCDOT IMPLEMENT 511? § § § Congestion Worsening on NC roadways Additional ITS Tool Enhanced current ITS system Connection of all transportation modes Foreseeable Benefits to our transportation users

Existing Trav Info Services in NC § NCDOT - Ferry Division (I-800 BY FERRY) § NCDOT - Rail Division (I-800 BY TRAIN) § NCDOT Customer Service (I-877 -DOT 4 YOU) § NC Tourism (1 -800 VISIT NC) § NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) (*HP) § NC Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) § 103 Urban and Rural Public Transportation Agencies (Voice automated or live Operator) § WWW. NCSMARTLINK. ORG Traveler Information Management System (TIMS)

Goal of NC’s 511 Program Tourism Public Transportation NCDOT CUSTOMER SERVICE Rail 511 NCDMV Road Conditions Ferries NCSHP Great Smoky National Park

511 System Features § Multi-modal § Voice activated/recognition system § Points to 800 toll free number therefore, it is a free call to users § Phased Statewide - all information available pertaining to Highways, Trains, Ferries, Tourism, NCDMV, & NCDOT deployed in the initial deployment. Transit will be deploy one region per FFY of the project until all regions deployed.

511 System Features § Allows for Floodgate messages § No Busy Signal to the caller § 72 ports § 96 ports for queued calls § Local Road Condition Content for the major metropolitan areas. § Impacts to road conditions that are due to weather § Forecasted weather that could affect travel § Call persistence § Call interruption

511 Traffic Content • Traveler Information Management System (TIMS)

511 Traffic Content

Using 511 for Work Zone Information • Information Resources: – Real Time: • • Construction/Maintenance Personnel TMC personnel Incident Management Assistance Patrols Smart work zones (under development) – Static: • Construction/Maintenance Personnel • TMC personnel

Workzone Data Dissemination

Other Methods to Disseminate Work Zone Information – Real Time: • • • Kiosks Dedicated Websites Pager Services Media DMS – Static • • • Highway Advisory Radios Safe Workzone Guide I-95 Corridor Coalition Publication Press releases Door Hangers Tray liners

US 1 Project • Overview: – 4 lane divided roadway – Heavily congested corridor – Major arterial into Raleigh from the south • Project goals – Widen Roadway and Install ITS • with minimal disruption • providing real time information to the public • Timeline – Project Began: March 2005 – Completion Date: September 2007 • incentives/heavy liquidated damages Fall 2006

US 1 Project • Impact to the public: – – 150, 000 +/Nightly lane closures Curiosity Factor during day Alternate Routes: • Daytime: – no good detour due to alter routes already at peak • Nighttime: – several local arterials – some NC routes • Notification to public: – Smart Workzone – DMS – Dedicated Webpage – 511 – Media – Public Workshops

US 1 Project w w w. u s 1 w a k e. c o m

511 - As an outreach tool • Type of Information Conveyed via 511: – – – Area of Closure Begin/End Times Severity of Impact Detour info ( if available) Travel Times/Delays (under development) • How data is entered: – Static information: • field personnel/contractor – Dynamic Information: • field personnel/contractor • Smart Workzone (under development) • Other outreach strategies: – Media releases – DMS – Public Workshops • How we know people are using 511 in WZ: – Comments to Contact Us - website – 24 live operator for US 1 project

US 1 Project - Using 511 Obstacles/Solutions * Obstalces: • Keeping information real time ° Dual Entries into our Travel Information Management System (TIMS) with conflicting information * Solutions: • Working with field forces/contractor ahead of time and define expectations and provide training. ° Better Quality Control

US 1 Project What we’ve learned • Successes: – easily accessible – communication/defining of expectations – advanced marketing – training • Lessons learned: – begin communication earlier – include all stakeholders – requirement of contractor

511 - Things to keep in mind • 511 is an excellent resource, however, a resource is only as good as the data. – Communication with all partners • Identify all resources – Keep information current • Training – Include all info related to closures/WZ • Static • Dynamic – Develop plan for QC – Marketing