ITS applies to use 511 number for national weather and traveler info telephone line

The Intelligent Transportation Systems Society of Canada (ITS Canada) has applied on behalf of a consortium to the CRTC for the use of 511 for a national, non-commercial weather and traveler information phone line. The 511 filing on January 10 was submitted to the CRTC as a Part VII application, but ITS Canada suggests that the commission handle it like other N11 files by issuing a public notice. ITS Canada is asking for the 511 number to be used by governments and other service providers for the delivery of weather and traveler information to the public. The information would include severe weather warnings and weather forecasts, the status of roadway construction, accident locations, and traffic/transit conditions. "Currently, the patchwork of numbers that are in use across Canada for weather and traveler information requires multiple telephone calls and makes it difficult for users to make informed decisions when the need is greatest – in times of severe weather or when traveling," reads the ITS Canada application. "We are going along the same track as Alberta Health and Wellness (which is vying for 811) in the sense that they have the council of deputy ministers of health backing them, and we’ve got the council of deputy ministers responsible for transportation and highway safety," ITS Canada vice-chair Paul Frigon said. "All of the provinces have come on board, and we’ve got Transport Canada and Environment Canada as well." ITS Canada has applied for the N11 number on behalf of a consortium of interested parties that is made up of Environment Canada, Transport Canada, the Canadian Urban Transit Association, the Intelligent Transportation Systems Society of Canada, and all ten provinces and the Yukon territory, with the support of the council of deputy ministers. Frigon doesn’t anticipate that the players will be ready to roll out a 511 weather and traveler information service right away. "I think it will be national weather from day one, and some of the provinces will probably be able to start transportation (immediately), but most of them probably not," he said. He added, "All the provinces are supporting it (the application). I think this is the sort of thing the CRTC likes to see. I’m hoping our chances are good. There’s that little glitch of unencumbering the 511 and 811 numbers, but we’ll have to see what happens." ITS Canada is asking the CRTC to require all carriers to route 511 calls. The consortium has put together a Canada 511 development proposal to guide the planning, consultation, negotiation and deployment tasks necessary to realize a nationwide Canada 511 system, the application stated.

ITS applies to use 511 number for national weather and traveler info telephone line

News | February 2, 2005

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