An Advanced Traveler Information System Providing Real-Time, Location-Specific On-Demand Traffic Information

A new, advanced driver information system, which provides real-time, location-specific, on-demand traffic information, has been developed and is in operation in Boston. It addresses all three areas of traffic data collection, data management and data dissemination in a fully vertically integrated system. Both “static data” (information about traffic that is known ahead of time such as construction projects) and real-time data are fed to an Operations Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At this Traffic Information Center, traffic managers, with the aid of computerized databases and mapping software, determine what information should be disseminated to the company's clients. Various automated mechanisms, such as interactive audiotext and broadcast fax, have been developed to disseminate efficiently the information to a wide variety of business clients and radio stations. Access to the information may be obtained via landline or cellular phone, corporate voice mail or E mail systems, direct fax or computer/modem link. This system has been in development for the last three years, and will initially service the Boston metropolitan area.