Name: 511PA
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

User Reviews for 511PA

5 out of 5

1 Ratings

4 weeks ago, 389gr

I do not like the new version

The previous version had everything I needed at my fingertips. If I wanted to use GPS, I would still use my previous map apps. I really liked having the camera or in the old version. And heaven‘s name would I need to go online to go look at it and it’s not even saved!

4 weeks ago, Jimadah

Version 3.1 - ehhhh

I preferred version 3.0. 3.1 is too busy with all the circled numbers. What I dislike the most is trying to see the speeds on the roads. The colors are not bold or wide enough like in 3.0. When zooming in, they’re still not wide enough, then eventually zooming in too much makes all the road speed colors go away. This is one of the most important parts of this app and now it’s really lacking in that department. I do like having the camera icons right there on the map (if enabled) but half the time they do not have streaming video, just a non-responsive picture. Currently using an iPhone 11 ProMax with ios 17.5.1.

5 months ago, Kings&Queens&Guillotines

Does not respect location setting

This app will monitor your location even if you have it set to only use location services while using the app. I discovered this because my battery was draining quickly after installing the app. I have an iPhone 15. The Dynamic Island shows the app’s icon even when not using the app. The developer doesn’t allow you to use the app without location services enabled- which should not be the case. The app doesn’t need to know my location for me to see the cameras in other parts of the Commonwealth that I want to see. Like all other things government, this too is wasteful and not functional the way it should be.

1 month ago, Tommyboy136

Ruined

Threw a bunch of junk in a simple easy to use. Now full of all kinds of junk. I'm deleting only wanted to check cameras and traffic conditions 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏼

3 weeks ago, Kinikia63

Bring back old version

This new version is horrible bring back the old one.

8 years ago, ricktrains

Works good, just needs tweaking.

Ok, first of all, it needs your current location to give you nearby alerts. Duh. Secondly, even if, which I doubt is true, they report your speed, if you are obeying the speed limit, who cares? ( Yeah, I forgot, none of you know how to drive, let alone how to obey silly things like speed limits...) What I feel it does need: send alerts when something, like a road closure, occurs in your vicinity. I had a major road closure just 3 miles away, that I had to look up just to find, after a friend had already told me about it! Kinda pointless if you have to search for things that are important to know about when they are that close. Real-time weather data. It lags, royally, on current roadway conditions. App showed as clear, but, said road closure above was due to a serious bad weather related accident, bringing down power lines across the roadway. Would not have happens on clear pavement the app said was there. Fix these two things, you got yourself a five-star, great, well worth your time to get, app.

5 years ago, Morac

Useless, runs all the time, drains battery

This app is almost completely useless. I ran it and allowed it to use my location all the time, yet it kept notifying me of traffic issues in areas no where near where I was or in the wrong direction from where I was traveling. For example I was traveling south on I-95 from Philadelphia and the app kept giving me traffic slowdown announcements for 95 between Aramingo and Girard. I set the app to only inform me of issues in the direction I was driving, but that apparently doesn’t work. Also the app was notifying me every few minutes. That was annoying because my car has Car Play and every time I got a notification the car switched to playing music from Apple Music instead of the radio. I had to keep switching back. Finally the app runs continuously in the background, even if the option to give notifications is disabled in the driving screen. I watched the app drain 10% of my phone’s battery over the course of a few hours while I was sitting in my living room. Considering the alerts the app gives me are mostly not applicable to where I’m driving and the severe battery drain when the app shouldn’t even be doing anything, I strongly recommend against using this app. You’ll get more reliable use from Waze, Google or Apple Maps.

9 years ago, broadfall

blows chunks

this app is a waste of space on the internet. I wonder how much the state paid to be part of this app. It wants your location even if your not using the app and is difficult to just look around the app without turning location services on. how about you make an app that can opened while your on the road and send you alerts instead of being invasive and having to have my location even when Im not driving or using the app. secondly what are you doing with info your collecting. please make a simple app that reports traffic and other important travel alerts and stop requiring people to turn on location services when the app is not in use. please people. the technology is there, its pretty simple.

2 years ago, Ladybugz65

Great App!

I have had this app for a couple years. It is not fancy, but it works. I get the information I am looking for before I leave home. I love that I can put my route and the time stamp of when my roads are taken care of or see where the trucks are if they haven’t.

3 years ago, GrumpyTurnip

Doesn’t work w/ locations off

App requires user to turn on location to work. Claims it’s for determining if the app is legal in current area but the website works fine on my phone. Also somehow, one time it actually worked without locations turned on so I don’t know what happened there. That one time it actually did work the app was pretty good. A shame that it doesn’t work without locations turned on otherwise it would have gotten a 4 or 5 star.

4 years ago, marisaromas

Annoying

It constantly has my location on and gps. I’ve went to settings to turn off and still won’t. I even deleted the app and it still is on! The app itself is a little confusing to use but once you figure it out it’s ok. It does give me good info about the roads during winter but it drains my battery with the constant location/gps

5 years ago, DAVE in Allentoen.

Needs improvements

Put the “bong” sound before the message so you know to pay attention, not after. This way you know or to listen for an upcoming message. You miss half the message before you realize there is one. The voice speaks too fast. Slow it down so you can pick up details.

6 years ago, Hakaibutsu

Not great

I’m glad it shows road conditions for winter but a couple things.. Can’t copy and paste an address, you MUST manually type it in which is super annoying. No GPS blip to show you your current location, you’ll have to bounce between your “Maps” app and this app to pinpoint you exact location, also super annoying.

2 months ago, ***pzza***

Used to use it but too many permissions now

I used to click on the app for helpful and quick real-time traffic info but now keep getting a bunch of permission screens that I need to click through. Defeats the purpose.

8 months ago, quentinh319

Winter help

It works and gives me the info I need. It’s not too dressed up as an app so if I need to show an older relative they can figure it out too. Thanks!

2 years ago, Tulip1186

Not Helpful

With all of the new technology that is out there, I’m shocked that this app hasn’t been updated in features in over four years. States like Ohio have road sensors, live cameras everywhere (not just a couple of interchanges) and user-friendly interactions. For such a large state, with major cities and interstate roadways, this app is disappointing.

8 years ago, Obie1829

Worked perfect!

Just used this app during Memorial Day traffic and it was true reports all the way. Would not hesitate to use again.

2 months ago, cvbjuy the w EST uhb

Simplicity

All I want is to see where the road is good to go. Why does everyone think the upgrades are better. Green is good, Red is a slow down, Black means the traffic is stopped. Alerts in the area you are traveling. That was good enough.

9 years ago, aTruckDriver

Almost useless

The only working feature that is accurate is the map which shows where the construction is taking place and where the four wheelers are busy creating wrecks. The traffic conditions seem to be fed from Google. Advance audio warning for anything? Forget about it. This app locks up frequently.

4 years ago, kaje32

Drain battery

Always want to location and anonimus reporting ...sorry not work for my

5 years ago, unhappy travler

Very poor app

This app is designed for a local commuter, not a traveler passing through PA. Developer should look at any other 511 app to see how to do it better.

10 years ago, Meltingtheplanet

Location services?

Why does this app need access to my gps? So my position and speed can be relayed to the police? Then the app can't be used when moving. I'm a passenger in the car and can't get road conditions. What's the purpose? Makes NO sense!! Sounds like politicians had their hands in this one.

2 months ago, Klg1976

Difficult to use

I am much preferred the previous version of this app. It was simpler to use, and the information was more streamlined. I am constantly having to renew the filters for the information I require.

6 years ago, Pats31

Horrible

Awful user interface, laggy and difficult to use. Not to mention that it gives no useful information and is extremely slow.

2 months ago, Amy from Pa

Horrible new format

The amount of steps that I now have to take to get to the map is unbelievable. Please change it back, not user-friendly at all now.

2 years ago, Symmetric

Poor interface

It looks like this app was done with a tool that make an app from there already poor/ancient website. They should hire a high school student to redesign them both.

3 years ago, concerned about roads

Annoying

Horrible! Won’t shut alerts off, annoying!!! Have to keep deleting app . Why is this so hard to have an easy to use app to tell us road conditions??

6 years ago, Screw cbs

Can’t read the route numbers

Looks like a spaghetti sandwich. Have to zoom in to read the numbers only to find out that I have the wrong spot. Practically useless.

10 years ago, Pknitty

Great App

Here is the app that runs by your preference. Start it and go!!

10 years ago, 333xyz333

Helpful App

Great source of traveler information

8 years ago, JWGunter

Not great

Unwieldy to use compared with other solutions.

8 years ago, Idetectstuff

Battery hog

Drained a fully charged battery in less than six hours, even when not in use.

10 years ago, MacMikey

Pathetic

Interface is terrible, and if you turn off location services app won't set up.

5 years ago, Jadonahue0891

Great app for what is does

Needs iPhone X, Xs, and Xs max support for screen resolution. Devs please update!

2 months ago, thisdefinetelystinkd

New system stinks

Why didn’t u leave well enough alone.

2 years ago, FirebirdWS6

Terrible and practically useless

Camera's are Inop most of the time. Better to use one of the Pgh TV News stations . Typical Pa garbage !!!

5 years ago, cartoon ds1976

Genuinely terrible

This app is genuinely terrible. I'm pretty sure even a redesign wouldn't fix everything that's wrong with this app.

3 years ago, 1kerriecat

App review

Very “junky” app. Minuscule stream across the top regarding a major storm. Awful to navigate. Maybe hire a college kid to redo this app?

9 years ago, ChrisPoz

Big Brother

This app reports your speed to a government database. I am deleting it before using it.

5 years ago, snickerdoodle 123

PA511

Is worthless! Did not even show “super load” movement 1 mile from where I live!

2 years ago, Dagwood543

Handy But Hogs Battery

Battery hog.

7 years ago, Don Jphnson

Shot

This is terrible

2 years ago, Havoc 9994367812

Worst app ever

Save your time. DO NOT DOWNLOAD .

4 years ago, poconoed

PA 511

App need a bad update. Half the time cameras don’t work. No live view, still picture or just a black screen. Update: 3/7/19 app on phone don’t show traffic delay on the traffic map icon after new update. Update: 4/18/20 app is at it again need an update camera don’t work, no live view black screen only.

Description

Get the most current and relevant Pennsylvania traffic information on your smart phone without ever taking your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel with 511PA, brought to you by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). 511PA provides real-time, hands-free traffic advisories for every PennDOT roadway in Pennsylvania, and for major roadways in neighboring states of NJ and WV, with more to come (visit the 'Settings' tab of the application in order to enable non-PA advisories). Simply turn on the application before you start your journey. 511PA uses your phone’s built-in GPS and the vast data in the PA, NJ and WV travel information system to determine when you are approaching congestion, an accident scene or some other traffic disruption. When there is an incident or slowdown nearby, 511PA broadcasts an advisory. Nothing to read, nothing to click, nothing to scroll through. You just leave your phone in the center console or on the seat beside you and focus your attention on the road ahead. By default, 511PA broadcasts advisories from within a 10-mile radius, but you have the option to reduce or expand the range to as little as one mile or as many as 500 miles. 511PA will automatically repeat advisories every 20 minutes while you remain within range of the incident, but you can change the setting to hear the advisories more or less frequently. You also can elect whether to hear advisories from all directions or just from the direction you’re traveling, and you have the option of filtering out different types of advisories by state or type of roadway. The application gives you audio player controls for Play, Pause, Stop, Skip, and Replay All. These controls should not be used while operating your vehicle. If you place or receive a phone call while a travel alert is playing and do not have a plan that allows simultaneous data and voice, the alert will pause, and will resume playing when the call has ended. You don’t need to register to use the app. 511PA operates anonymously. We don’t receive or record any identifying information about you or your phone. By default, the app reports your device-determined speed and location to our servers. The data generated by collecting that information is useful. It can help improve our ability to provide real-time information about what is happening on our roadways. But if you would rather not participate, you will be able to opt out simply by clicking a radio button on the settings page. The application is based on Information Logistics’ patent-pending "Open Microphone Platform," which is a queue-driven streaming technology platform used in combination with your phone's built-in GPS. The application provides real-time advisories via audio, based on your current location. The app subscribes for location updates as soon as the application begins and can be run in the background in order to send you alerts as you travel. The application will continue to check your current radius for the alerts and play them for you. You can run most music and other audio apps in conjunction with our app, which means our application may be in the background running while you utilize other apps. IMPORTANT – This application is intended to be launched while the user is not operating his or her motor vehicle. User agrees to use the Application responsibly and to avert any interaction with mobile devices while driving a motor vehicle. User understands and acknowledges that the Commonwealth Motor Vehicle Code states that 'No driver shall operate a motor vehicle on a highway or traffic way in this Commonwealth while using an interactive wireless communications device to send, read, or write a text-based communication while the vehicle is in motion.' IMPORTANT - Please note that continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. IMPORTANT - NON-GPS DEVICES This application will have some limited functionality on these devices.