The Cruz511 Map on our homepage includes traffic information from Caltrans and the CHP overlaid on a Google Map. Traffic layers include real-time traffic speeds, incident reports, traffic camera snapshots, Changeable Message Sign content, construction closures, and chain control requirements. Layers are shown by icon images on the map. Clicking on an icon displays details in a pop-up window. The Cruz511 map is modeled on Caltrans Quickmap. Like Quickmap, it can be used for viewing travel conditions on highways and major streets and roads throughout the state of California.
Other traffic maps
If you would like to compare conditions presented on a variety of maps, here are some other options:
- Caltrans Quickmap
- 511.org (San Francisco Bay Area)
- Waze
- Google Maps
- Sigalert
Cruz511 map details
Traffic speeds
Indicated by color-coded lines overlaying the roadway, traffic speed data is provided by using the Google Maps Traffic Layer. This enables Cruz511 to provide speed data beyond what is available using just Caltrans data. Google uses Caltrans data as well as other sources of data, such as Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) from private companies, as well as cellular phone data. The colors represent speeds. Green means there is a normal speed of traffic with no traffic delays. Orange means there’s a medium amount of traffic. Red means there are traffic delays. The more red the roads become, the slower the speed of traffic.
Lane closures
Caltrans construction and maintenance activity that results in lane and full-road closures are shown by activating the Lane Closures layer. The Cruz511 map only shows the active lane closures. Lane Closure data files are updated every 5 minutes.
CHP / CHIN Incidents
Roadway incidents are presented using the publicly available California Highway Patrol incident feed combined with Caltrans highway information messages. The roadway incident layer is updated every 1 minute.
CHP incidents are indicated by yellow or red markers to differentiate the severity of the incident. CHP incidents that involve closed lanes or result in a full closure are indicated by red markers. All other incidents are indicated by yellow markers.
Caltrans highway information markers are always red. If there is an incident with both CHP and Caltrans highway information, a single red marker is used. The resulting info window pop-up will display the Caltrans highway information message first, followed by the CHP indent information.
CHP incident logs include a variety of alphanumeric codes. Refer to CHP’s glossary of commonly used abbreviations for help decoding incident reports.
Message Signs
The Message Signs layer presents CMS (Changeable Message Sign) markers only for signs with active messages. The Cruz511 map does not show markers for signs that are not currently displaying messages. The info window pop-up displays the message as it is shown on the changeable message road sign. The Message Signs layer is updated every 1 minute.
Cameras
The Cameras layer presents selected still images from cameras throughout the state. A time stamp is imprinted at the bottom of each image. Still images were selected instead of providing full motion imagery to insure that the web page would be able to provide traveler information even during high demand periods. The goal is to provide image updates every 20 minutes or less.
Save Cruz511 to your mobile device
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