Waze, GDOT Team Up For Real-Time Traffic Program

This week, the Georgia Department of Transportation announced it has entered into a data-sharing partnership with Waze, the popular crowd-sourced traffic navigation app powered by the world's largest community of motorists.

Designed as a free, two-way data share of publicly available traffic information, the Connected Citizens Program will promote greater efficiency, deeper insights and safer roads for the citizens of Georgia, as it does for nearly 80 partners around the world.

The partnership provides real-time, anonymous, Waze-generated incident and slow-down information to Georgia DOT directly from drivers.

In exchange, Georgia DOT will provide real-time construction, crash and road closure data to Waze. This will result in a succinct, thorough overview of current road conditions. The data sharing partnership is seen as significant for both the NaviGAtor and Waze platforms.

“We are excited about this great data-sharing partnership with Waze that will provide a valuable supplement to the NaviGAtor 511 system,” said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry. “Georgia motorists will now have real-time traffic information not only on our interstates and state routes, but also on arterial routes - information that is coming directly from the traveling public.”

NaviGAtor 511, Georgia’s traveler information system, is a State Farm sponsored free public service of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

It can be accessed at www.511ga.org or by calling 511 anywhere in Georgia. NaviGAtor 511 enhances mobility, safety and efficiency by providing travelers with real-time, route-specific travel information and 24/7 access to live operators.

“Waze welcomes Georgia DOT, our fourth Georgia partner, to the Waze Connected Citizens Program," said Paige Fitzgerald, Waze's Connected Citizens Program manager. "No one knows more about what is happening on the roads than Wazers. Georgia DOT can use these anonymous insights to further promote safer roads. More than that, Georgia DOT is providing critical construction and road closure data to Waze, helping Wazers better circumvent major traffic events and real-time traffic blocks statewide. This exchange empowers our users, Georgia DOT and the broader community to work together to improve urban mobility within the state.”

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