Q2: When and why was 511 initiated?
Q5: What does it cost to call the 511 System?
Q6: What language does the 511 System understand and speak?
Q7: What type of information is available through the 511 System?
Q8: What are the tricks for navigating the system faster and more efficiently?
Q9: What Counties, Metro Areas and Highways are covered by the 511 System?
Q10: What can I do when the system cannot recognize what I am saying?
Q11: Is there list for touch-tone entries recognized by the system?
General Information
A1: 511 is America’s new, easy-to-remember travel information telephone number. 511 will replace and consolidate a proliferation of travel information telephone numbers around the country, estimated at more than 300.
Q2: When and why was 511 initiated?
A2: As a way to deliver the real-time information collected by Intelligent Transportation Systems to travelers and commuters to help them with their trip decisions the Federal Communications Commission assigned "511" to the transportation community on July 21, 2000.
A3: With 511, you can expect to receive considerably more route-specific information than you hear in a 30-second traffic news slot, and you will be able to access the information on demand, whenever you need it.
FL511 Application Information
A4:You can call 511 at anytime, as the system operates 24 hours a day and 7 days each week.
Q5: What does it cost to call the FL511 System?
A5: Calling 511 from a landline phone will cost the same as making a local call; wireless phone users will incur no extra charges by calling 511. However, it will use minutes on their calling plans (roaming charges may apply).
Q6: What language does FL511 System understand and speak?
A6: North American English. Common accents will be understood, however the system may not be able to recognize callers with unusual speech patterns.
Q7: What type of information is available through the FL511 System?
A7: If there are any emergency conditions related to that area, you will hear those first. After that you can get information on:
Highways: "Traffic Reports”," "Drive Time Summary” for a City County or Highway.
Public Transportation: information on Transportation Services provided by LYNX as well the ability to transfer to their to phone systems for these services. The services that you will be able to transfer to are: Transit Information - Bus Fixed Route, Access LYNX and Carpool information.
Airports: information on the Orlando International Airport and the Orlando Sanford International Airport and the ability to transfer to their phone system
Port Canaveral: information on Port Canaveral and the ability to transfer to their phone system
Other Parts of the State: You can transfer to all 511 Systems in Florida (Tampa Bay, South East Florida, Statewide or Central Florida).
Q8: What are the tricks for navigating the system faster and more efficiently?
A8:
The number one way to move through the system faster is to interrupt (barge-in) the system. Once you know what questions will be asked, you can answer them as soon as the system starts asking them. You DO NOT need to wait for the system to finish the question before answering.
Other tricks for faster and more efficient navigation are using the following commands:
Get Help - To get help just say “help.”
Go back to Main Menu: You can say Main Menu at any time to return to this menu.
End the call: Say “goodbye”
Main Menu Choices: Highway, Public Transportation, Airports, Port Canaveral, Other Parts of the State.
Q9: What Counties, Metro Areas and Highways are covered by the FL511 System?
A9: Refer to Q13 for a complete list of Cities covered by the System.
Q10: What can I do when the system cannot recognize what I am saying?
A10:
Please speak as clearly as possible and try to minimize any background noise.
You can also ask for help at anytime simply by saying the word “Help.” The system automatically gives the caller information specific to the question just asked.
You can ask to go to Main Menu at anytime.
FL511 also allows you provide touch-tone (DTMF) input at various stages of the system. See the next question, for a list of touch-tone entries.
Q11: Is there list for touch-tone entries recognized by the system?
A11: List of touch-tone entries along with rules for each category are provided ahead:
For Interstates, US Routes, and State Routes – Use the number followed by #. You can enter up to first 5 digits of the road number followed by #. For Example: for information about I4 caller will press 4#.
For Cities – Use 24 (for “CI”) followed by the first five letters of the City Name followed by #. For Example: Gainesville caller will press 24-42463#
For Counties – Use 26 (for “CO”) followed by the first five letters of the County Name followed by #.