511 - San Diego Traffic, Transit and Commute Info

full of information for you and your visitors including airline, public ground transportation, border crossings (US nationwide) and roadside aid and National Weather Service updates. You can connect to San Diego International Airport to check on flight status, plan a flight or get directions to the cell phone parking lot that offers up to an hour wait time and has convenient food and drink machines and portable restrooms.

Car drivers can dial 511 to find out traffic conditions such as current incidents and rates of speed on major thoroughfares. The system is voice activated interactive - very convenient if you're using your Bluetooth cell phone. To check on a particular area, such as Interstate 5, you can say "five," and you will hear updates. You can also say, "next" to get to the next incident if you are already aware of it. If you need roadside assistance, when you are on the Traffic menu, request the assistance and you will be transferred to a San Diego SAFE operator who can assist you.

To plot a route through the extensive Metropolitan Transit System of San Diego that offers ground transportation such as bus, trolly and light rail, the 511 service is invaluable. Bus routes transverse all of San Diego, but the light rail provides an invaluable service for commuters traveling from the suburbs to the north and east of San Diego. The blue line travels north from the Mexican border to the city, and the orange and green lines, orange being south, travel from east to west and back. The Coaster rail line goes from San Diego through Del Mar, Encinitas and Carlsbad up to Oceanside, while the Sprinter line travels from Escondido through San Marcos and Vista to Oceanside.

The "Border Crossing" section of the 511 website offers updates on hours, closures and construction to all of the crossings within the US borders to Canada and Mexico. The National Weather Service link provides up to the minute weather conditions, and while they don"t occur often in San Diego, when the city is experiencing severe weather, it is unusual, and it's helpful to have authoritative guidelines for reactions.

SANDAG is a cooperative effort by the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), North County Transit District (NCTD), San Diego SAFE, California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Transportation.

This very cool service is free, so don't be afraid to leave your apartment, and to be prepared, check out 511 first.