ALBANY (AP) -- A new "5-1-1" phone service is now available to give motorists real-time traffic updates and travel conditions. It's called 511 New York. The free service covers state highways and public transportation services and provides information about traffic incidents, roadway conditions, congestion, work zones and weather.
Information about air, rail and bus transportation also is available to 511 New York users. Users can access a transit trip-planning feature, which includes schedules, routes, fares and park-and-ride locations. It also has carpool and rideshare referrals, and bicycling information.
The 511 New York phone system detects a caller's location based upon the land-line or cell-phone tower being used.
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