Staff Reports
Just in time to assist international travelers before two of the busiest international travel holidays of the summer, Canada Day and Independence Day, the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission has launched a real-time traffic notification system utilizing Twitter.com. The program was designed to inform travelers which bridge has the shortest crossing times.
Updated every 30 minutes to an hour depending on traffic reports and only generated when there are reported delays at the bridges, subscribers to the service, will receive updates on wait times at the Rainbow and Lewiston-Queenston Bridges.
Traffic updates will allow the followers of Twitter.com/NiagaraBridges (the Twitter account name that provides traffic update) to determine which bridge has the shortest crossing time. The new service will allow a follower to be notified if there is a delay at one bridge and no wait at another, in efforts to enhance the crossing experience for automobile travelers and saving them travel time.
“We are utilizing Twitter technology to offer yet another service to our valued travelers that cross our bridges and to assist them in determining which one of our bridges has the quickest crossing time,” said Norma Higgs, chair of the commission.
Travelers interested in this traffic update service will need to create a Twitter account to begin following the commission’s traffic alerts and other updates. You can also register for the service by visiting Niagarafallsbridges.com and clicking on the Twitter logo on the traffic conditions page. Once an account is set up and the user logs on, they will need to type www.Twitter.com/NiagaraBridges in their browser.
The commission also has a toll free number that provides hourly updates of traffic conditions on the three NFBC managed bridges as well as the Peace Bridge: 1-800-715-6722, press 2 for car traffic info.
