The Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and others have partnered to bring you 511 Traffic information. They make 511 Traffic possible by providing the most current data on Bay Area traffic and incidents to drive such features as 511 Driving Times^SM and up-to-the-minute traffic conditions.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is the transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. MTC functions as both the regional transportation planning agency – a state designation – and for federal purposes, as the region's metropolitan planning organization (MPO). As such, it is responsible for the Regional Transportation Plan, a comprehensive blueprint for the development of mass transit, highway, airport, seaport, railroad, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

A pioneer in new transportation technologies (referred to as intelligent transportation systems), MTC sponsors a number of high-tech programs to smooth commutes and take the kinks out of intersystem travel. The 511 Traveler Information System provides real-time traffic conditions via the phone and a companion Web site located at 511.org. MTC also oversees Clipper – a universal smart card that already can be used to pay fares on the Bay Area's largest transit systems. Acting in its role as Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA), MTC administers all toll funds generated by the region's seven state-owned toll bridges, and oversees the FasTrak® electronic toll collection system.

Caltrans is the lead agency in operating the region's freeway system. Traffic flow is monitored as part of this effort, using loop detectors embedded in the pavement, as well as off-pavement sensors. Traffic counts and speeds from these detectors are reported back to Caltrans’ District 4 Transportation Management Center (TMC) in Oakland. In addition to detector data, the TMC also uses closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) to check hot spots on the freeway. The 511 Traveler Information Center (TIC) is co-located with the TMC within the Caltrans facility, allowing Caltrans' TMC staff to share this traffic data and information with the TIC staff quickly and conveniently, enabling the TIC to provide the data to the public via 511. In addition to providing the TIC with information on freeway conditions, Caltrans also informs motorists already on the road through overhead changeable message signs and highway advisory radio.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is a major public partner in the 511 project. The CHP's Computer Aided Dispatch system provides important data to the 511 system on accidents, stalled vehicles, debris, etc. CHP's participation in 511 assists in achieving their goal of increasing safety on Bay Area freeways. Additionally, CHP personnel staff the Transportation Management Center (TMC) in Oakland and assist in managing the Freeway Service Patrol.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), a major agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation, is charged with the broad responsibility of ensuring that America's roads and highways continue to be the safest and most technologically up-to-date. Although State, local, and tribal governments own most of the Nation's highways, the FHWA provides financial and technical support to them for constructing, improving, and preserving America's highway system. The FHWA has an annual budget of more than $30 billion that is funded by fuel and motor vehicle excise taxes. FHWA is headquartered in Washington, DC, with field offices in every State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The FHWA has served as a technical advisor on the 511 systems' implementation.

The SFMTA’s Integrated Transportation Management System, known as SFgo, employs intelligent transportation technology that replaces a traffic signal and communications infrastructure dating back to the mid 20th Century. Key initiatives include expanding traffic monitoring to quickly respond to congestion by adjusting signals, changing signal timing scenarios during major events, installing advanced transit signal priority capability at 500 intersections, replacing outdated communications infrastructure with fiber optics, and adding more real-time variable message signs to keep motorists informed and additional traffic cameras.

The Alameda County Congestion Management Agency (CMA) East Bay SMART Corridors program consists of three major arterial corridors in the east bay portion of the San Francisco Bay Area - San Pablo Avenue, Telegraph Avenue, and the Hesperian/International/E. 14th Boulevard corridors. This multi-modal advanced transportation management system is intended to allow the participating agencies to better manage congestion and incidents along regional routes, improve transportation mobility, efficiency and safety, and to provide timely, multi-modal transportation information to agency transportation managers and to the public.

Silicon Valley Smart Corridor
The Silicon Valley Smart Corridor (SVSC) project is a multi-year, multi-phase program to install Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) in the south bay's roadway network. The Smart Corridor uses advanced technologies and real-time system management techniques to help keep all transportation facilities within the Highway 17/Interstate 880 corridor operating at maximum efficiency, even following a major disruptive incident