An example of Caltrans' new QuickMap, which shows motorists traffic flow, lane closures, CHP incidents, message signs, traffic cameras and more.
Before you hit the road, you might want to check out Caltrans’ cool new website on your computer or its app on your smartphone.
Caltrans’ QuickMap, officially launched this week, provides real-time traffic information, from traffic flow to lane closures to CHP incidents to message signs to traffic cameras and more.
“It’s all about giving motorists a tool to better plan their trip,” Caltrans spokesman Matt Rocco said.
The info will help cut congestion by keeping more drivers away from traffic-snarled roads and it’ll make travel safer as drivers avoid the congestion, he said.
The traffic flow data come from sensors imbedded in many state highways and from other monitoring technology, all of which is fed directly into the QuickMap system, Rocco said. As a result, drivers can check to see if traffic is green and flowing or it’s red and black and extremely congested.
Clicking on orange cones on the map gives you info on lane closures. Clicking on yellow triangles will call up details about CHP traffic incidents. Clicking on a golden message sign symbol shows what that specific sign is displaying at that time. For example, click on a message sign in Marin County and it’ll give you estimated times to travel to specific points from that sign.
My personal favorite are the cameras, of which there are nearly 1,000 statewide. There are none in Sonoma County but a few in Lake and Mendocino counties. By clicking on a camera, you’ll see how much traffic there is. The ones in the Sierra and Shasta especially are cool in winter, showing all of the snow.In winter, QuickMap also shows roads with chain controls.
Rocco said Caltrans developed the QuickMap system in house and staff members have been working on it for the past year or so, with a “soft launch” earlier this year. But now it’s officially off and running.
You can access QuickMap by CLICKING HERE. The website tells how to get the phone app.
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Rex Faktor
I’ve always liked the cameras too, for checking the snow before heading up.
But, can you find out who does own the cameras on the white poles in a couple spots along the 101 corridor in Sonoma County, if not CalTrans?
July 31st, 2012 7:05 pm
Road.Warrior
Caltrans is setting up traffic cameras along 101 in Sonoma County and promises to let us know when they’re working.
August 1st, 2012 7:53 am
Brian
This isn’t new, I’ve used the same feature for months.
August 1st, 2012 10:18 am
JJ
This blog is just plain cool. So helpful.
August 1st, 2012 10:35 am
Sally
Thanks for letting us know about this – very useful site. I’ve been pleased to see safety reminders on the electronic billboards along 101, but the billboard on 101 south just north of the Shiloh Rd exit has never worked since it was installed when the stretch was widened. Less than 50 yards from it is a much smaller electronic billboard (the one that originally displayed a message about using your radio to get traffic alerts) and that one hasn’t been lit since they took off the radio message. Kind of funny that they are using a trailered sign about 20 yards from the electronic signs to alert drivers to Shiloh ramp closures. Would you find out why the two installed electronic signs don’t work?
You can see how close the two signs are in the Road Warrior post http://roadwarrior.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/13052/looking-for-answer-to-mystery-sign/
The trailered sign is right about where the photographer of the picture was standing…
Thanks for all the great info.
August 1st, 2012 12:47 pm
Joe B
Not to throw cold water on this one, but I have to ask a question: What distinguishes this website from other, existing websites with similar traffic info? We already have 511.org, Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, and local broadcast stations traffic maps (on their websites). Isn’t this just another waste of taxpayer money, either replicating existing publicly financed (511.org) or doing something that a private company already does and does better (Google, etc.)? Please justify this expenditures of tax dollars, especially when the State Budget is in such a mess, by an appropriate “added value” over what is already out there!
August 1st, 2012 4:27 pm