State to unveil new 511 snarl alert number

Boston-area commuters who want to know where the traffic snarls are before they get to them will have a new number to dial this week, as state highway officials unveil a 511 alert system.

The alert, run by the private SmartRoute Systems, gathers information on major roads and allows callers to punch in their route numbers for instant updates on delays. Massachusetts has had a system since the 1990s, but many commuters are unaware that they can access the real-time updates by dialing star-1 on their cellphones. Drivers can also get the information at smartraveler.com or by calling a 10-digit number.

State Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen and Commissioner Luisa Paiewonsky of the Massachusetts Highway Department are expected to announce a set of promotional radio ads today announcing the new phone number, which has not yet been activated.

David Stein, a cofounder of SmartRoute who sold his interest in 1999, said the 511 dial-up will eventually connect the service throughout the entire country. In 2000, the Federal Communications Commission set aside 511 for state highway systems to use for traffic updates. Dozens of states have since signed on.

NOAH BIERMAN