Receive Personalized Regional Traffic and Border Crossing Information on your Mobile Device or PC

November 18, 2009

As the winter months approach, travel in the region can become more difficult. To help manage your travels through the region and across the international border, the Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition (NITTEC) is pleased to announce the availability of MYNITTEC.

MYNITTEC is a personalized subscriber system jointly developed by NITTEC and the University at Buffalo (UB) that will provide real time traveler updates directly to users computers, mobile devices and cell phones. This service is provided free of charge to assist regional travelers in improving mobility, making travel more reliable and avoiding incidents and congestion on the regional expressway network and border crossings.

Through collaboration with the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, NITTEC is providing the system to enhance traveler information in the region. "The cooperation and collaboration between UB’s Transportation Systems Engineering Laboratory and NITTEC provided a good opportunity to utilize the knowledge and skills learned at UB in working on a real-world project, while providing benefits to the community", said Shan Huang, Principal Project Developer and a Ph.D. student working with Adel Sadek, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at UB.

Users can register for MYNITTEC from the homepage or Crossroads map page of the NITTEC website www.nittec.org. By completing the no cost registration, users are allowed to customize the traveler information received either by email or text or both. The individual routes by direction and segment of expressway or specific border crossing can be selected to reflect the registrants travel patterns. Notifications will be received only during the particular time frames selected.

"This service has been developed to help ease your daily commute by providing information on the condition of the transportation system. We want to help drivers make decisions that reduce their time in congestion," said Tom George, Executive Director of NITTEC. "This is another example of regional transportation partners working together to improve mobility through real time information sharing."

The MYNITTEC system will notify travelers of incidents and congestion on the regional transportation system. Users can also choose to receive notifications for alternative routes to their normal travel patterns. By receiving information on multiple expressways and bridges, the user can make informed decisions on route selection as conditions change.

"The Thruway Authority believes that providing customers with targeted traveler information will enable them to better plan their trips on the within the region," said Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer. "As technology continues to evolve and provide transportation officials with better real-time information, we, in turn, are able to inform customers about major unscheduled incidents that may affect their travel. That being said, it is important that everyone arrives at their destinations safely - motorists are reminded to leave extra time for travel, wear their seatbelts, and keep their attention on the roadway."

Travelers registering for this service are reminded of the restrictions on the use of mobile devices in vehicles. The system utilizes technology to improve travel in the region, but should not be used in a fashion that is illegal or would create unsafe conditions.

For additional information visit:
NITTEC - www.nittec.org