St Louis gets ad-supported traffic info

By: Drivers.com staff
Date: 2007-05-10

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On May 11th 2007, Traffic.com, a provider of real-time personalized traffic information in the U.S., announced the launching of a fully automated, interactive traffic information service that will be funded by advertising rather than tax-payer dollars.

The St. Louis 511 Traveler Information Service allows area travelers to dial 511 on their mobile phones for traffic information for major roadways around the metropolitan area. The interactive automated voice system allows callers to specify an area roadway to obtain real-time updates for congestion, drive times, delays, and incidents.

About 36% of the U.S. population now has access to real-time traffic data, according to the Federal Highway Administration. The agency expects that figure to be 50% by the end of 2007.

First of its kind

Traffic.com says the St. Louis 511 Traveler Information Service is the first of its kind.

"We are excited about our combined effort with a leader such as MoDOT to deliver innovative and beneficial services to drivers," said John Collins, Traffic.com vice president of ITS services for Traffic.com. "When most cities with 511 systems rely on taxpayers to fund more than $1 million each year typically necessary to operate the system, the taxpayers for St. Louis and MoDOT are paying zero. Traffic.com is committed to extending this savings to other cities and states by leveraging this successful model."

The 511 service launch is part of a long-standing public-private collaboration between the Missouri DOT and Traffic.com. Last year, Traffic.com announced the expansion of its St. Louis sensor network which it uses to monitor traffic conditions. It continues to provide MoDOT with comprehensive, in-depth traffic data.

As part of its collaboration, Traffic.com installed the sensors at no cost to MoDOT.

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