Governor Lincoln D. Chafee and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced today another expansion of a program designed to give real-time travel information to motorists on Rhode Island highways. This latest addition to the program includes all of I-195 from the Massachusetts line to the I-95 interchange.
Beginning tomorrow, Thursday, December 22, 2011, RIDOT will use existing electronic message boards on I-195 to provide travel time estimates to the I-95 interchange as well as to T.F. Green Airport in Warwick. The Department has been providing travel time estimates on I-95 in Rhode Island since August.
"I am pleased that the state will be further expanding the travel time information program to offer valuable information to our citizens as well as visitors to Rhode Island," Governor Chafee said.
Travel times are displayed to motorists on fixed overhead electronic message signs and on portable roadside electronic message signs from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. This information complements other travel planning services RIDOT has for motorists including 511, the Highway Advisory Radio (1630 AM) and live traffic cameras. RIDOT also recently added real-time travel estimates to its website at www.tmc.dot.ri.gov.
The travel times are calculated using sensors that were previously put into place to measure traffic volumes. The equipment measures the speed of traffic in real time as vehicles travel from one sensor to another, and determines an approximate travel time for each segment of road along the route.
"Due to high traffic volumes, the commute into Rhode Island on I-195 can be challenging," RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis said. "Now those who commute regularly from the East Bay area or Southeastern Massachusetts will have more information to help them with their drive to work or school."
RIDOT also recently expanded travel time information to include the weekends in acknowledgement of increased traffic through the holiday season. This special program runs through January 6, 2012.
Those with questions can contact RIDOT's Customer Service office at 401-222-2450 weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional information may be available on RIDOT's social media sites on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Blogger.
Contact: Charles St. Martin 401-222-1362 x4007