Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) has awarded Iteris (News - Alert), Inc., a global provider of traffic management software, a $1.5 million contract in order to work on the area’s 511 traveler information network. This lucrative contract will be spread out over a five-year period and is in cooperation with the San Bernardino Associated Governments.

More specifically, Iteris will manage and maintain what is known as the Inland-Empire 511 (IE 511) traveler information system. The work on this particular system is expected to be completed by June of 2016. The IE 511 system launched in June of 2010 and is geared towards giving travelers who are east of Los Angeles up-to-the-minute and comprehensive travel information. This information is provided in a multi-media format that will give information on a wide variety of topics drivers might need to know.

Iteris has already devised some key components of the IE 511 including an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone service in which travelers can call in and find out where there might be road construction or traffic jams that will significantly impede their progress. Iteris has also come up with interactive web-based traffic maps that display projected travel times and live video broadcast from roadside cameras. 

Part of this new contract will have Iteris converting the current IVR system into their enhanced IVR system. This conversion should mean that the system itself will work better than what is currently offered, at a lower price. Robert Yates, the RCTC Multimodal services director is quite excited to roll out these enhances services.

“This is the next step in enhancing overall traveler information services to the residents and commuters throughout the Inland Empire,” Yates said in a press release. “Not only will our team continue to provide vital, real-time, and accurate information, but we are also enhancing the overall service to efficiently respond to the increasing demand of the service.”

Abbas Mohaddes, the president and CEO of Iteris said that his company was very proud of the enhanced IVR deployment. He added that his company strives to make sure they are working to improve it as they go along on a nearly constant basis.