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Idaho 511 adds weather forecasts |
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January 24, 2018 |
Improvements to the 511 Traveler Services
platform will allow drivers to more efficiently
track driving conditions, and give them the
weather forecast on highway routes. Tony Ernest,
the manager of the
511.Idaho.gov
platform, said drivers can now track the weather
forecast on highway routes that experience
changing weather conditions, especially during
the winter months.
Ernest said the transportation department
partnered with the National Weather Service in
Pocatello to offer the weather forecast. The 511
platform takes specific weather forecast
information from areas along a section of
highway, and creates an overall forecast for
that route.
“I’ve been trying to get useful weather
information to the public,” Ernest said. “The
weather forecast information is really important
from a planning standpoint for a traveler.”
There may be multiple weather forecasts for a
highway, depending on its length. Weather
forecasts are available for 16 individual
sections of Interstate 84, for example. Idaho 1,
in northern Idaho, is covered by one weather
forecast.
The weather forecast option represents a new,
innovative technology that is funded by the
transportation department and developed for
Idaho. The department is the first one to offer
weather forecast information in this format, and
it is active on all 511 versions and the
smartphone app.
To view weather forecasts, click on a highway on
the 511 map. The weather forecast will appear
right below the description of the current road
conditions.
During the summer months, when weather
conditions don’t change as rapidly in Idaho,
forecast information may not be available.
Another improvement to the 511 system is to give
the option to users who have set up a
personalized 511 account to program in up to
three phone numbers that the system will
recognize.
When a caller phones in, the system recognizes
the number, and offers a menu on the highway
routes that the caller programs into 511.
“The phone numbers are used by the system to
identify you when you call in,” Ernest said.
He said offering up to three phone numbers
allows 511 users to choose which phones they
want to call in from.
For example, those interested in highway
conditions can call from a cell phone, landline
number from home, or from a landline number at
work. All three numbers will take the caller to
their account, and the routes they have saved in
it.
To program in the three phone numbers,
individuals will need to set up a 511 account if
they don’t have one. To set up an account, visit
511.idaho.gov, and click on the “Full Featured”
option that is to the right of “Travelers” or to
the right of “Truckers.” Then click on
“Personalize your 511” on the upper left side of
the page to create an account. This procedure
also works for the 511 app.
After an account has been set up, click on the
gold star on the upper left side of the page to
access your account settings and program in
phone numbers. |
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