CDOT launches new, user-friendly road condition and travel planner website, app

CDOT launches new, user-friendly road condition and travel planner website and mobile app
September 30, 2021 -Media will be invited to a tutorial of the new website and mobile app

Statewide - The Colorado Department of Transportation launched a new, easy-to-use COtrip.org website on Sept. 29 that features a new 511 map that will allow drivers to safely navigate Colorado roads. While motorists have been using COtrip.org for nearly two decades, this updated website will offer new features that will help travelers plan their route ahead of time, and be prepared for road or lane closures or adverse road conditions.

“This is an exciting time for our agency,” said Bob Fifer, CDOT’s branch manager of the Intelligent Transportation Systems & Network Services. “We are evolving legacy systems to better serve the traveling public. The new website brings more of our transportation technologies into one lense, improving the customer experience. We added several new features, while reducing system maintenance costs. Now, travelers can customize routes from point A to point B to see if their trip may be impacted by any road or lane closures. Motorists will have an easier time identifying road closures, road conditions and construction impacts, all while replacing outdated technologies.”

The new website incorporates the following new features:

Traveler Information & Layers
The COtrip website is powered by a dynamic Google Map™. Motorists can use the map as they would any Google map and click on the icons for more information. Icons are displayed on the map by checking or unchecking the boxes in the layers toolbar. Layers available and what data they provide are described here.

Trucker’s Layers
The new Trucker Mode features resources specific to commercial motor vehicle operators, including the following layers defined here.

My COtrip & Travel Alerts
Motorists can log-in in or sign up here for their own COtrip account to subscribe and manage their travel alerts. They can also save their favorite routes and cameras, and customize their travel preferences.

COtrip on Social Media
COtrip traveler information is automatically posted to the @ColoradoDOT Twitter feed. New roadway hashtags and Twitter threads were rolled out in Spring 2021, making it easier for users to track and stay updated on closures and incidents from CDOT. Follow @ColoradoDOT on Twitter for real-time travel information and road conditions.

511 Telephone Service
The 511 telephone service is an interactive, voice-activated traffic information system motorists can access by calling 511 (within Colorado) or 1-800-288-1047 (nationwide). This system has not changed, and will continue to provide a real-time option for travelers to get road conditions and traffic information. Learn more about 511 and how to use this service here.

“The updated website will be a great new tool for the public, however, we also wanted to bring the same information to your mobile device. ” said Fifer. “With that in mind, we are pleased to announce that we are also launching a brand new mobile app on Oct. 1. Now travelers will be conveniently informed no matter where they go. We are committed to continuously improving access to highway information and technologies.”

The new COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on smartphones and tablets that operate on iOS and Android platforms. Download the app in the Apple Store or Google Play Store starting on Oct. 1.

The app will be fully implemented in three phases

• Phase 1: Oct. 1
  - Traveler app with hands-free, eyes free functionality with customized CDOT layers now available
• Phase 2: Fall 2021
  - Winter-specific layers including weather warnings, weather stations, plow tracker with CDOT snowplow contest names, and Express Lanes
• Phase 3: Winter 2021/2022
  - My COtrip accounts integrated and new map search functionality, including event and camera clustering, predefined routes/areas, and adding an electronic sign layer
  - Social sharing of cameras and road conditions will also be available
• Future State
  - Turn-by-turn directions and recommended routes to user mapping app (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze)
  - Alert banners and push notifications
  - Rockfall and wildlife reporting

The COtrip Planner app also includes a feature called TellMe, which enables app users to be hands-free on their route. TellMe detects the user's current location, speed and direction of travel to announce upcoming road conditions and traffic incidents as they travel along their route.

“We want Coloradans and visitors to our great state to have all of the information they need to plan a safe trip, no matter where they go on our state highways and interstates,” said Fifer. “We hope all drivers will take advantage of the website and mobile app before getting into their vehicles for a safe and more convenient trip as both tools will help to eliminate any ‘surprises’ on the roadway.”
You Are Invited

Media partners are invited to join us on Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.for a tutorial of the new website and mobile app as well as a chance to interview Executive Director Lew and CDOT’s Branch Manager of the ITS & Network Services. This is your chance to ask questions related to how the change will help your method of reporting as CDOT knows the COtrip cameras are frequently used by its media partners.

WHEN: Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.

WHERE: Zoom link to come

WHO: Executive Director Shoshana Lew and Bob Fifer, CDOT’s Branch Manager of the Intelligent Transportation Systems & Network Services

Download the COtrip App!
The new COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on smartphones and tablets that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Starting on October 1, visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!

www.codot.gov/news/2021/september-2021/new-cotrip-app-launches