New 511 Web site launched
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) has launched an updated version of its 511 Web site (www.511ia.org), which offers many new features for users with high-bandwidth Internet connections. While ready for this year's road construction activities, the site will be available for the impending winter storm forecast for parts of Iowa. This will be an opportunity for Iowans to check out the new site.
The Iowa State Patrol within the Iowa Department of Public Safety remains a vital partner in implementation of Iowa 's 511 system. During the winter months, state troopers patrolling Iowa 's roadways are responsible for reporting current road conditions to an Iowa State Patrol Communications Center, which then distributes that critical information to the public through the 511 phone system and Web site.
Notable changes to the 511 Web site include:
- A Google™-based mapping system with a zoom extending down to the street level
- Different and fewer road condition categories (normal-seasonal, fair, difficult, closed-impassable)
- New road condition colors and icons
- User-selected map view preferences (statewide, regional or six major cities)
- A ticker that scrolls high-priority information, such as weather warnings, closures and Amber Alerts, at the top of the page
- User-selected report types (road closure, danger, restriction, crash, traffic problem, weather, warning, lane closure, road work, road conditions, cameras) that can be selected or deselected by simply checking a box (the fewer boxes that are checked the faster the site)
- "Hotspots,” which allow users to receive detailed information as they hover over the spots
- Information about construction activities, which are scheduled to start within two weeks
- tripGuide video-streaming cameras for Iowa City and the Quad Cities (additional features and information will be forthcoming about technologies being launched in these areas; users will be prompted to download a CISCO™ software plug-in to see the camera views after they have clicked on the tripGuide logo on the map)
NOTES: Persons without high-bandwidth Internet access can still access the 511 Web site in its previous format by selecting the low-bandwidth icon on the home page. The high-bandwidth site is best viewed using Microsoft Internet Explorer 7™ and Mozilla Firefox 2™ Web browsers.
The latest version of the 511 Web site has been two years in development and accomplished through a multi-state consortium. Iowa 's share of development costs was $80,000.
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