RICHMOND – Representatives from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) today announced that Verizon Landline customers can now simply dial 511 to access traffic and travel information for Virginia’s major roadways. Verizon customers represent 77 percent of all Virginia landline services. This improvement with Verizon means that all phone carriers – landline and wireless – in Virginia now provide access to the 511 service.

Due to the large number of Verizon customers, a great deal of effort was required to ensure they could easily access the 511 Virginia system. Verizon Landline programmed approximately 160 switches across the state over several months to provide the free 511 service.

Since the statewide launch, the 511 Virginia system has logged more than one million calls and has handled large call volumes during major traffic events. During the partial shutdown of the Capital Beltway near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in mid-July, 20,082 callers dialed 511 – the highest one-day call volume to date.

VDOT and the Virginia State Police continually update the 511 system with information about road construction, traffic and weather conditions, traffic incidents, transit information, lodging, food, gas and more. The service is available 24 hours a day by dialing 5-1-1 or by visiting www.511Virginia.org. Outside Virginia, 511 Virginia can be accessed by calling 1-800-578-4111. TDD and TTY users can call 711 and ask to be connected to 511.

For additional information about the 511 service go to: 511 Facts.

Tips about accessing 511 through an office or PBX phone system can be found at http://www.511Virginia.org. Select the "Phone" tab and review "Why can I not connect to the 511 Virginia System?"

Page last modified: Aug. 11, 2005