IDOT creates one-stop website for traveler information
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Timothy
W. Martin unveiled a new website today aimed at improving customer service
information delivery. The new web page,
www.gettingaroundillinois.com,
brings multiple IDOT internet based maps together allowing users to have access
to multiple layers of information on one page.
“We are using technology to make IDOT more accountable and accessible to the
public. You can view current road conditions, construction information and plans
for future projects all on the same page,” IDOT Secretary Martin said. “By
incorporating multiple electronic maps into one, we’re making it easier to get
information and saving everyone valuable time.”
The gettingaroundillinois website provides users with up to date road
conditions, construction information, average daily traffic counts and will also
map out future projects contained in the IDOT’s highway programs. Users will
also be able to map travel destinations, like hotels, restaurants, gas stations,
airports, tourist attractions, museums, hospitals, schools and government agency
locations.
IDOT built gettingaroundillinois using the latest mapping technology to bring
together information from a variety of IDOT bureaus for use by IDOT staff,
transportation industry professionals and the general public. The idea was to
create a one-stop location that was easy to navigate in an interactive format.
Multiple layers can be displayed on the map at one time, making it more
efficient for travelers to plan routes.
Two of the most popular IDOT internet tools have already been switched to
gettingaroundillinois, winter road conditions and construction information.
Construction information is updated on a daily basis between March and November,
and on an as needed basis during the off-season. Winter road conditions are
update at least every two hours during a winter storm event, and in one 24-hour
period earlier this month the site received more than 1 million hits.
The gettingaroundillinois website was developed by IDOT staff and GIS Solutions
as part of a much larger technology initiative. That initiative includes
creation of a free database accessible to local governments for all roads on the
Illinois highway system, including state, municipal, county and township roads.
This database will allow for more collaboration on transportation issues between
different governments in the future.
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