511 National Program
On March 8, 1999, The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to designate a nationwide three-digit telephone number for traveler information. This petition was formally supported by 17 State DOTs, 32 transit operators, and 23 Metropolitan Planning Organizations and local agencies. On July 21, 2000 the Federal Communications Commission designated "511" as the single traffic information telephone number to be made available to states and local jurisdictions across the country.

The FCC ruling leaves nearly all implementation issues and schedules to state and local agencies and telecommunications carriers. There are no federal requirements and no mandated way to pay for 511; however, USDOT and FCC expect to see some type of nationwide deployment.

Georgia 511 Program
Georgia was one of the pioneers in providing up-to-the-minute travel information when it created Georgia NaviGAtor. Today, Georgia 511 makes traffic, travel, tourism and transit information accessible through your phone.

Currently, 37 US states and 4 Canadian provinces are participating in the program.

In response to USDOT's implementation request, Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides end-users with real time traffic and travel information, or allows commuters to request assistance 24 hours a day. Georgia 511 can be accessed from anywhere in Georgia, by simply dialing 5-1-1.  511 also can provide you with the following travel information:

1. Trip times
2. Accurate, up-to-date information on statewide traffic conditions
3. Route-specific information
4. Current and planned road and lane closures
5. Construction
6. Critical incidents
7. AMBER alerts

511 Offers Important Connections

1. Accident reporting and HERO request
2. MARTA & Transit options
3. Rideshare (Carpool or Vanpool)
4. Atlanta and Savannah international airports
5. Tourism information
6. Neighboring state 511 systems (Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee)

Signage
In Georgia, there are 487 individual interstate, US highway, and state route locations -- one sign facing each direction of travel. 

• A traveler traveling through Georgia from TN to FL on I-75 will be exposed to 35 impressions while passing through the state, approximately one impression every 9 minutes.
• Georgia averages over 15 million cars on the highways and interstates every day.
• There are currently 974 total signs in the state of Georgia.
• This is a cost of less than $.45 per 1000 cars.

Website (Georgia-navigator.com)

• The website serves as the official pre-planning site for travel through Georgia. 

511 Audio -- Phone Tree Sponsorship

• Opportunity to have sponsor name on frontend of 511 call. For example, "Thank you for calling 511 sponsored by ________."