New road map information system to improve local travel with dynamic traffic disruption updates

Kingston is joining other Ontario municipalities in implementing Municipal 511—a road map information system that centralizes traffic disruption notices—to provide more consistent and up-to-date details on traffic conditions.

Municipal 511 helps municipalities communicate about road closures, construction and other traffic disruptions on a publicly accessible map. Beginning Monday, Feb. 9, the map will be live at Municipal511.ca and embedded on the City’s Road Closures page to replace the existing map.

With a new mapping tool in place, staff will be phasing out the Traffic Report this winter. The last Traffic Report will be issued on Friday, Feb. 6. After this date, subscribers to the Road and Parking Notices list will only receive parking notices, including overnight on-street parking bans. “The weekly Traffic Report we issue to email subscribers is static and limits our ability to easily provide updates throughout the week,” says Adam McDonald, Operations Manager, Public Works and Solid Waste Services. “Public feedback supported investigating improvements, and this new approach will streamline and centralize how we communicate traffic disruptions to help drivers avoid delays where possible.”

The new map will display all information currently captured in the City’s weekly Traffic Report, but in a more dynamic, accurate and user-friendly format. Icons on the dashboard will show the duration of the project/disruption and include a brief description.

The Municipal 511 road information management service is used by numerous municipal and regional governments across the province. The system integrates with third-party mapping applications and geographic information systems, ensuring smoother navigation for drivers and emergency services.

This enhanced approach improves how information is shared not only for drivers but also for people walking, cycling and taking transit. By centralizing information in one location, Municipal511 supports safer travel, more informed trip planning and reduced uncertainty across the transportation network.

“We’ve seen examples of how effectively other communities use Municipal 511 to communicate traffic disruptions,” adds McDonald. “It’s a valuable tool to help all road users safely and efficiently navigate around the city.”