OLYMPIA — The state Department of Transportation will deactivate the 5-1-1 automated travel information system on Friday, May 19.
The system, which has aided motorists for more than 20 years, has seen a steady decline in use over the past decade, according to a WSDOT press release.
The system, which logged more than 2.2 million calls in 2009, only received 302,000 calls in 2022.
The department points to fixed hardware costs of $150,000 per year plus staff time to update traffic information in the system and to maintain 5-1-1 highway signs across the state.
The department has several other sources of travel information available to travelers including the WSDOT app in the Apple and Google stores as well as accounts on Facebook and Twitter.
Travelers may also access real-time road and traffic information at www.wsdot.com/travel/real-time or the interactive travel map at www.wsdot.com/travel/real-time/map.
Travelers without smart phones or internet access may still access some information by phone:
• Washington State Ferries’ information phone number — 888-808-7977.
• Tolling information (Good To Go!) — 866-936-8246.
• Amtrak Cascades — 800-872-7245.
Additionally, the radio stations 530 AM and 1610 AM will still be used for highway advisories.
