Traveller information systems provide users with up-to-date information on road and weather conditions, including weather alerts, congestion, incidents, and planned events. This information provides the travelling public an opportunity to make effective decisions on how and when to travel.

Transport Canada is a member of the 511 Consortium, led by the Intelligent Transportation Systems Society of Canada (ITS Canada), with the primary goal of obtaining the three digit “511” telephone number for use as a traveller and weather information system. Other participants include Environment Canada, all provinces, Yukon Territory, the Transportation Association of Canada, and the Canadian Urban Transit Association. Additional information on 511 is available at the ITS Canada website.

On January 10, 2005, the Consortium filed an application with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for the allocation of "511". To read the application, please visit the CRTC website at http://www.crtc.gc.ca/PartVII/eng/2005/8698/j44_200500240.htm.

511 is currently available in several jurisdictions in the United States. For information on the U.S. initiative, please visit the 511 Deployment Coalition website at http://www.its.dot.gov/511/511_Deployment_Coalition.htm.