511 SF Bay

What 511 SF Bay does

511 SF Bay is a public regional traveler information service operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. It provides free, 24/7 multi-modal transportation information across 7,179 square miles and a 7+ million resident region through a dialable phone number (511), a web platform (511.org / new.511.org), and an Open511 API for developers. The platform aggregates real-time data from more than 40 transit agencies (including BART, Muni, Caltrain, VTA, AC Transit, SamTrans, and Golden Gate), Caltrans highway systems, CHP incident feeds, FasTrak tolling, and Clipper fare infrastructure into a single regional information layer covering 9,000 miles of bus routes, 470 miles of rail, 1,420 miles of highways, 340 miles of carpool lanes, 8 toll bridges, and 750 miles of bikeways.

The underlying technology combines an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system with speech recognition, a responsive web platform centered on a real-time interactive map, an alert system built on Nixle/Everbridge (511Alert), carpool/vanpool matching (RideMatch), trip planning with GPS support, and a token-authenticated Open511 API conforming to the Open511 standard. Adjacent operational programs include the Freeway Service Patrol (78 trucks patrolling 575 miles of freeway), the Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program administered jointly with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and Clipper Access for riders with disabilities.

The business model is government-funded and free at the point of use. Revenue flows from federal, state, and local transportation allocations, plus the MTC SAFE $1-per-vehicle-registration fee in participating counties; there are no user fees or commercial subscriptions. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via phone and web, supplemented by deep integration with 40+ transit-agency partner channels and mandatory employer enrollment for the Commuter Benefits Program. The service is not a commercial entity and has no equity ownership, venture funding, or M&A history.

Name

511 SF Bay

Legal name

Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Website

https://511.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

511 SF Bay is a free, 24/7 multi-modal traveler information service operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, delivering real-time traffic, transit, and travel data via the 511 phone line, 511.org website, and Open511 API to commuters, employers, transit agencies, and regional visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transportation Information Services

akta.pro primary industry

Roadside Emergency Communications & Dispatch (Call Boxes, 511 Integration) (TLAJAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cooperative ITS (C-ITS) Corridor & Intersection Deployments (TLAJAHAG)

Keywords

• Real-time transit information
• Traffic condition reporting
• Multi-modal travel data
• Commuter benefits program
• Freeway service patrol

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: 511 SF Bay is operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), a public government agency, funded through federal, state, and local transportation funds. The service is provided free to all users. Revenue comes from public funding allocations rather than direct user fees. MTC SAFE is financed by $1 of every vehicle registration in participating counties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

511 SF Bay is a free, 24/7 multi-modal travel information service for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, accessible by dialing 511 or visiting 511.org. It provides real-time traffic conditions, transit schedules, bridge toll and express lane information, carpool/vanpool matching, biking resources, and emergency alerts through an integrated phone IVR, interactive web map, and the Open511 developer API. The service also administers the Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program for employers with 50+ employees and operates the Freeway Service Patrol roadside assistance program covering 575 miles of Bay Area freeways.

Product overview

511 SF Bay is a comprehensive, multi-modal travel information platform operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, providing free 24/7 access to Bay Area transportation information via phone (511) and web (511.org). The core offering consists of an interactive real-time map displaying traffic conditions, incidents, and transit alerts across the nine-county Bay Area, supported by a voice-responsive phone service (511 IVR) that provides hands-free traveler information. The platform connects users to Express Lanes, bridge tolls, the Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program, Freeway Service Patrol (roadside assistance), and carpool/vanpool matching services. An Open511 API provides programmatic access to traffic and transit data for registered developers. Additional services include Clipper Access cards for discounted transit, a network of transit agencies and transit centers, All Nighter late-night service, biking and walking resources, and the 511Alert emergency notification system. A newly redesigned website is currently in soft launch preview.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bay Area Freeway Service Patrol (FSP): A congestion management program implemented by MTC SAFE, Caltrans, and CHP that provides quick response to freeway incidents with roving tow trucks during peak hours
• Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program
• 511 Alert

Products and services

• 511 Interactive Map Real-time interactive map displaying traffic conditions, incidents, construction alerts, road closures, events, and transit alerts across the nine-county Bay Area for travelers and commuters.
• 511 Phone Service (IVR)

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces auto carbon emissions by approximately 67,000 tons annually through the FSP program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTC is the primary operating agency and governing body for 511 SF Bay, responsible for overall program management, funding, and policy direction. MTC SAFE (Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways) oversees the Freeway Service Patrol and 511 phone services.
• California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaltrans is the owner and operator of California's state highway system. Partners with 511 to provide real-time traffic data, highway condition information, and manages tunnel and bridge operations in the Bay Area region.
• California Highway Patrol (CHP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHP is responsible for traffic safety and saving lives on California roads. Partners with 511 for freeway emergency response coordination, incident management, and Freeway Service Patrol oversight through quarterly training of FSP drivers.
• Bay Area Air Quality Management DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBay Area Air District developed Regulation 14, Rule 1: Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program and manages compliance. Jointly manages the Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program with MTC.
• Bay Area Transit AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 40 transit agencies including BART, Muni, AC Transit, Caltrain, VTA, SamTrans, Golden Gate Transit/Ferry, Capitol Corridor, ACE, SMART, and others provide integrated transit data through 511. Agencies connect customers to 511 services and receive referral traffic.
• Plan Bay Area 2050+minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional transportation and housing strategy for the Bay Area. Plan Bay Area 2050+ provides the long-term planning framework that 511 supports through traveler information services.
• Clipper (Metropolitan Transportation Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClipper is the regional transit fare card system operated by MTC. 511 promotes Clipper cards and provides information about adding value, card distribution locations, and Clipper Access discount program for riders with qualifying disabilities.
• FasTrakcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFasTrak is the electronic toll collection system for Bay Area bridges and express lanes. 511 provides FasTrak account information, express lane requirements, and toll payment guidance for Bay Area travelers.
• Bay Wheels (Lyft)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBay Wheels bike-share system promoted on 511 as a bicycling option. 511 map includes Bay Wheels station locations and availability data.
• County Commute ProgramsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEight county-based commute programs (Marin Commutes, 511 CCTA/Contra Costa, Alameda CTC, SF Environment, V Commute/Napa, Commute.org, Solano Mobility, Go Sonoma) provide local employer commute resources promoted through 511.
• Bay Area Host CommitteeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for FIFA World Cup 26 SF Bay Area events, coordinating transportation information and transit routing guidance for visitors attending matches at Levi's Stadium and Chase Center.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Google Maps: Google's flagship mapping product provides real-time traffic, transit, and commute information at global scale. Overlaps directly with 511's core real-time map and traffic offering but is a free, advertising-funded broad incumbent rather than a regional public service.
• Apple Maps: Apple's default iOS mapping and navigation product, including real-time traffic, transit routing, and incident reporting. Competes for the same Bay Area commuter attention as 511 and is preinstalled on every iPhone.

Direct peers

• Waze: Crowdsourced real-time traffic and incident app now owned by Google, serving the same commuter use case as 511's traffic and FSP-related alerts but with superior driver-focused UX and a global user base.
• Moovit: Urban mobility app aggregating 40+ Bay Area transit agencies into a single trip-planning experience with real-time arrivals, directly competing with 511's transit agency directory and trip planner.
• Transit App: Multi-modal transit and micromobility app with real-time data, trip planning, and bikeshare integration — directly comparable to 511's trip planner and multimodal coverage for the same Bay Area commuter base.
• Citymapper: Premium urban transit and multimodal trip planner operating in major global cities, offering an experience-led alternative to government-run 511-style traveler information services in dense metros like the Bay Area.

Others

• INRIX: Leading traffic intelligence and connected car data provider whose real-time traffic feeds power many 511 deployments and Caltrans systems. An upstream data infrastructure peer rather than a direct end-user competitor.
• HERE Technologies: Location platform providing map data, traffic, and transit APIs used by automakers, agencies, and transit apps. Comparable to 511 as a transportation data and routing infrastructure layer for regional travel information.
• TomTom: Location technology company offering real-time traffic, map, and routing APIs/services that compete in the same transportation data layer that powers 511-style traveler information platforms.
• StreetLight Data: Transportation analytics provider using location data to deliver mobility insights to MPOs, DOTs, and agencies — comparable to 511 as analytics and insight infrastructure for regional transportation planning and operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/511SFBay
• Facebookfacebook.com/511SFBay
• Instagraminstagram.com/511sfbay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bayareacommuterbenefitsprogram

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 511 SF Bay