511 website sees more than 2 billion hits in 2022; W-TAP hits 17K users

Wyoming 511 tools seeing more use than ever

By Jordan Achs

Every winter, the Wyoming Department of Transportation encourages drivers to know before they go. Recent data from the department’s 511 tools show that the message is working.

Data compiled for 2022 showed the www.wyoroad.info website saw 2.2 billion hits for the calendar year.

“The 511 tools are seeing increased usage year after year, which shows us we have great public trust in the system,” said Vince Garcia, program manager for Global Information Systems/Intelligent Transportation System at WYDOT.

The website shows both forecasted and real-time weather-related road impacts as well as data directly from WYDOT weather sensors, plow operators and Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers, all combined into one convenient tool for travelers.

The top visited pages were the Closures and Advisories page, followed closely by the I-80 web cameras.

A more active winter has also led to other 511 tool milestones. When the roads are closed, the Wyoming Travel Authorization Program can help drivers get to their destination when it is deemed safe enough to do so.

W-TAP users have to reapply each year, and as of late February, the program had a record number of more than 17,000 registered users with new applications rolling in nearly every day.

The Transportation Authorization Board – consisting of representatives from the Wyoming Highway Patrol, WYDOT Public Affairs office and the Chief Engineer – votes on many applications to ensure program compliance and to weed out travel that doesn’t fit the program’s mission.

About 90 percent of W-TAP users are Wyoming residents. The out-ofstate users, however, include doctors and nurses from neighboring states that travel to work in small Wyoming hospitals, commercial drivers making oil or propane deliveries to Wyoming residents, out-of-state students at the University of Wyoming and more.

“The wide user base shows us that the program is working as intended: to support the economy of the state even when we’re experiencing bad weather and road closures,” Garcia said.

Users who are rejected from the pro- gram have a way to appeal the decision and explain their reasoning to the TAB.

“The TAB takes a fair and honest approach to their votes to try to help enable travel whenever feasible,” Garcia said.

State employees are also encouraged to sign up for the program to minimize calls into the Transportation Management Center.

For more information about the program and the other 511 tools, visit www.wyoroad.info

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Interchange is published for employees of the Wyoming Department of Transportation by its Public Affairs Office and a number of field correspondents.

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Staff

WYDOT Director

K. Luke Reiner

Public Affairs Manager

Doug McGee

Editor

Carlie Van Winkle

Contributors

Jordan Achs Public Affairs

Matt Groth Public Affairs

Mark Horan Public Affairs

Carlie Van Winkle Public Affairs

Andrea Staley District 1

Jeff Goetz District 2

Stephanie Harsha District 3

Laura Dalles District 4

Cody Beers District 5

Sgt. Jeremy Beck Patrol

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