Castle Rock is currently working with Wisconsin and Indiana to plan the statewide deployment of 511 traveler information systems. Wisconsin and Indiana are working with neighboring Illinois to create interoperable 511 systems to support interstate travel along the Gary/Chicago/Milwaukee (GCM) corridor. The objective of the project is to develop a comprehensive deployment plan specific to each state. This plan will guide the DOTs through the process of 511 deployment from initial exploration to final implementation and beyond to continuing operations.

Wisconsin and Indiana (along with Illinois) are operating under particular constraints with regard to the GCM corridor. This corridor forms a single travel axis that for all purposes ignores “artificial” state boundaries. Therefore the 511 plans developed in these states must overcome the unique challenges associated with maintaining independent 511 systems while simultaneously sharing data and reports.

Planning work associated with the final deployment report includes:

• Establish stakeholders and a workgroup • Inventory existing information resources and systems • Document existing telephone carriers and infrastructure • Evaluate legal and regulatory issues • Write a core system deployment plan • Develop a marketing plan • Develop a operations plan • Determine a successful business plan

When the planning work is done, Wisconsin and Indiana will be able to take the final report and turn it into a set of requirements for the building of their system. Additionally, much of the groundwork will already be laid for establishing connections with telecommunications providers and application hosting facilities.

For more information on the GCM Corridor, please contact: