PennDOT to Start Posting Travel Times for Parkway East on May 9

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May 06, 2011, 03:06 ET

PITTSBURGH, May 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Monday, May 9, motorists on the Parkway East (I-376) in Allegheny County will have a new feature available to help them plan their daily commutes. Beginning at 6 a.m., travel times will be posted on overhead message boards.

"By having this real-time information displayed on message boards, motorists will be better able to predict how much time it might take to reach their destinations, and, during times of heavy traffic, possibly consider alternate routes," said PennDOT District 11 Executive Dan Cessna, P.E.

Using sensors mounted on traffic camera poles to measure average vehicle speeds, the travel time system calculates travel times from various locations between Monroeville and downtown Pittsburgh.

Within the next few months, travel times will also be displayed on overhead message boards on the Parkway North (I-279) and Parkway West (I-376). The system will continue to be expanded to other area roadways as well.

PennDOT provides many useful tools to help motorists plan their travels and avoid congestion. More than 140 traffic-monitoring cameras have been installed in the Pittsburgh region, most of which are accessible by visiting the 511PA homepage at www.511pa.com. 511PA allows users to check traffic cameras, local weather and traffic conditions.

The 511 system also automatically feeds Twitter accounts with information such as incidents, construction notices and weather alerts. 511PA information is also available for mobile devices or by calling 511 from any phone.

The Pittsburgh/Southwestern-region account, www.twitter.com/511PAPittsburgh, covers Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland counties.