MADISON — A traveler information system that’s been available to residents for years just got an entirely new revamped app and has new features on its phone service and website.
Whether users dial 511, use the new mobile app or log on to 511.gov, an upgraded system has been enhanced and revamped to serve motorists throughout the state. The 511 Wisconsin Traveler Information System is the state’s official source for trusted roadway conditions and traffic impacts across Wisconsin.
Communications Manager at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the Traffic Management Center Jon Riemann said they have paired with a new vendor that has taken over all three services, allowing the systems to work better together. Despite the service being in operation for more than 10 years, users will now see upgrades and new features along with everything they once used.
Calling 511 will connect people to an interactive, state-of-the-art voice recognition system. Callers can say a roadway name, a county or destination to get relevant information. Those who have “My Routes” set up in their account can hear personalized information about their preferred routes as soon as they connect.
“The ideas is to get alerts for what’s specifically important to you,” Riemann said. “You can make an informed decision as a traveler.”
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced in late February that the new 511 app “puts motorists on easy street” for navigating interstates and state highway systems. The app is an entirely new build and will require a new download, however, it’s set up in a “similar fashion.”
Most notably, one upgrade is a voice recognition system within the app, available for both Apple and Android devices, to keep users hands free while driving. The app is designed as a companion to run in the background of other popular navigation apps.
The 511 app allows motorists to set routes with a timetable that they often travel, such as a daily commute to work or school. A notification gives detailed information to travelers along their specified route, including the weather, which isn’t included in other popular navigation apps.
With the 511 Wisconsin app running in the background of other navigation apps, it can give audible alerts on incidents and closures as they occur during the route.
“We are a traveler information site,” Riemann said, noting that they don’t try and compete with other navigation apps but instead provide additional information, such as road conditions, that can run in the background. They also work with other popular apps by sharing information.
Users familiar with the website will not see big changes, but will see additional features, Riemann said. One change is user-selectable layers for information including incidents, project closures, camera images, weather radar and the introduction of crowd sourced data from Waze.
“All of the features previously available are still there,” Riemann said. “We didn’t take anything away.”
The website has the integration of weather along with three options for weather radar, which are directly from the National Weather Service. Weather alerts now specifically highlight counties and there is a 10-day outlook offered into the future.
The soft rollout of the website, phone service and app came around mid-January and so far, feedback has been positive, Riemann said. Even the smallest changes have made a difference for users. February 2020 will be their first full month with the new features.
511 Wisconsin also provides travel times, traffic speeds, near real-time images of roads from traffic cameras, incident locations, maintenance and construction work along with project information including schedules, closures, contacts and maps for large construction projects in the state.
511 Wisconsin launched in 2009 and the first app was released in 2015.
“They love the visibility, things are easy to see now,” he said. “We’re excited about it.”
For more information, visit 511WI.gov. Travelers can also follow @511WI on Twitter for real time alerts.