OAKLAND -- The Bay Area’s 511 service is a resource for travelers that can be especially helpful during the holiday season. Travelers and commuters can find out how long it will take to drive to Grandma’s house, how many parking spots are left at the airport or when to catch the next train for some holiday shopping. The 511 information is toll-free and available 24/7. The same information is also available on the Web at 511.org.
Published: December, 2006
Among the most popular 511 features for holiday travelers is Driving TimesSM, which delivers on-demand information about point-to-point travel times on the Bay Area freeway network. The 511 Airport option is also popular, and contains information about traffic conditions, parking rates and ground transportation at the San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Sacramento airports — plus updated data on parking availability at Oakland International Airport. Callers to the 511 phone service need only say Driving Times or Airports at the main menu, and then follow the prompts on a state-of-the-art voice response system.
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) introduced the 511 phone service and a companion Web portal at 511.org to provide timely, on-demand information for drivers, transit riders, carpoolers, vanpoolers and bicyclists throughout the Bay Area in Dec. 2002.
