Ive heard of 800-COMMUTE and 800-427-ROAD for Caltrans Road Conditions. What happens to them after 5-1-1?
800-COMMUTE is California’s predecessor to 511. It provided simple links to transit, highway, train, and rideshare agencies, but does not have the modern technologies or real-time information content of 511. 511 has already replaced 800-COMMUTE in the Bay Area and Northern California. Soon San Diego 511 will also 800-COMMUTE in that region. After 2005 800-COMMUTE is only expected to be working in the greater Los Angeles region. 800-427-ROAD (7623) is Caltrans traditional highway maintenance conditions telephone number, used by generations of Californians wanting to check for snow conditions and flooding closures. 511 will have the same information, as well as traffic conditions, estimated driving times, and more. It will likely be phased out when all of the major regions of the state have their own 511 systems and callers switch to the newer, better, faster three-digit 511 calling.
