TranStar Press Release

Houston TranStar wins award for travel alerts

Dec 20th, 2007

Media Contact Dinah Massie Martinez
Office 713.881.3244
Cell 713.591.6856

Houston TranStar Garners Statewide Service Award
Program Tells Travelers of Drive Times


HOUSTON (December 20, 2007) – Houston TranStar has received the 2007 Best of Texas Award from Intelligent Transportation Society of Texas (ITS-Texas) for its personalized real-time traffic alerts to area motorists.

The prestigious award honored TranStar’s “Innovation in Providing Real-Time Comparative Travel Times.” The unique technology gives travelers a message, either by e-mail to a personal computer or via a Web-enabled cell phone, alerting them of travel times between two given points.

“The purpose of this service is to let the public know what’s happening on the roads they drive, on the days they travel and during the times they plan to drive,” said John R. Whaley, director of Houston TranStar. “With this tool, we can avoid getting in our cars, getting down the road and then finding ourselves in the midst of a traffic jam.”

In addition to sending requested information on a specified route, the program allows subscribers to select multiple routes and then compare travel times. This lets motorists choose the less congested route and enjoy a smoother trip.

Houston is one of only a few locations in the world to have a real-time comparative travel tool.

Houston TranStar also offers a personalized alert for traffic incidents when they occur. To set up either or both alerts, go to http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/trafficalert/.

During the 13 years of its existence, Houston TranStar has received several local, state, national and even international awards for its innovative approaches to solving traffic problems.

Houston TranStar is a collaboration between four government agencies that coordinate and enhance transportation and emergency management services, responding to incidents and emergencies in Harris County and beyond. Sharing their resources to serve area residents, the agencies are the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Harris County, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Metro) and the City of Houston.

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