Travel information for provincial highways, including road closures, planned work and extreme weather conditions, is now available in Open511 format as a real-time data feed that businesses and programmers can use to create new apps and online services for the consumer market.

“Publishing DriveBC real-time data online and under the Province’s Open Government License opens up a world of possibilities for British Columbians to get driver information more seamlessly,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone. “Companies or individual developers could use this data with their online maps or in handheld apps, letting people know instantly about crashes, detours and extreme weather conditions as they plan or follow their route.”

“DriveBC is an early example of how we are making valuable provincial data available to better inform British Columbians so they can plan their travel route for convenience and safety,” said Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services Minister Amrik Virk. “As well, this particular initiative is part of an innovative partnership between the public sector and the tech sector, and I look forward to seeing how we can continue to collaborate in new ways.”

The Open511 standard provides a consistent way to connect with and share DriveBC’s live feed data across multiple users and jurisdictions, for both industry and for the different levels of government: municipalities, provinces, territories and states. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has been involved from the start in this North America-wide project led by the Canadian non-profit organization Open North to establish a data standard for publishing mobility-related data.

“We initiated Open511 a few years ago to increase the adoption of open data and to improve the experience of road travelers,” said Open North executive director Jean-Noé Landry. “We are proud of our partnership with the Government of British Columbia, which is the first to implement the standard on a large scale, and hope that it will benefit all citizens.”

These initatives reflect a commitment to improve highway safety by enhancing and improving driver information systems as part of the Province's 10-year transportation strategy, B.C. on the Move. This plan will improve British Columbia’s transportation network, providing a comprehensive road map for transportation investments and strategic policy actions over the next decade.

Quick Facts:

• With 14 million annual visitors, DriveBC is the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s most popular online communication tool.
• DriveBC travel information is available 24/7 via the internet, mobile devices or by telephone.
• This year marks the 10th anniversary of DriveBC.

Learn More:

Open511-DriveBC data is available at: http://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/open511-drivebc-api

DriveBC Open511 API Guidelines: http://api.open511.gov.bc.ca/help

Know before you go and arrive safely by checking current conditions at: www.DriveBC.ca or by dialing 511

Follow the work of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastucture at: http://tranbc.ca/

B.C. on the Move is available online at: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/transportationplan/

Open North information at: www.opennorth.ca