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contracostatimes.com
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but interactive maps and mobile content are far more useful to stuck commuters. |
In the wee hours of Sunday morning, a gasoline tanker truck crashed and caught fire at the MacArthur Maze (a key highway interchange leading to the Bay Bridge), causing a 250-foot section of overpass to collapse. The resulting traffic/commuting nightmare is huge, complex, and only just beginning.
News sites can play a key role in helping commuters literally navigate ongoing roadway messes like this -- and perhaps gain considerable audience, loyalty, brand awareness, and even advertising in the process.
The key, I think, is judicious use of interactive mapping tools and customizable mobile content. Tools that can answer questions such as: What are conditions on key alternate routes? What are current conditions and options for mass transit, ferries, van pools, etc.?
Photo slideshows and text stories are fine, but for people who must cope with daily commutes, interactive online and mobile tools are far more helpful over time.
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The
Contra Costa Times is off to a decent start. The left column of its
home page features a small window with traffic updates syndicated from
SigAlert. This opens to a
detail page. Online editor
Ari Soglin told me that the
Times switched to SigAlert traffic reports when it launched its redesign earlier this month, and moved that window higher in the home page design today.
Said Soglin, "One of the cool things that happened Sunday was seeing readers jump in to help each other. Check out the comments at the bottom of this article from commuters who suggested alternative travel routes."
At this point the Times has no plans for developing online mapping tools related to this ongoing traffic issue, said Soglin -- although they will be doing more slideshows and other online features. However, it occurs to me that perhaps they might be able to springboard from their current traffic map to offer expanded map-based tools. And the exchanges that happened in that lively comment thread might be expanded into a mobile-friendly audio/text forum. Just a thought.
The San Jose Mercury News started a forum thread on alternative routes. So far it hasn't drawn much discussion, but they are a bit farther from the traffic crisis epicenter.
SFGate.com offers co-branded access to traffic info on the regional transit portal 511.org. That site also offers a phone-based info service. Hmmmm... makes me wonder whether it might be possible to adapt that content into co-branded audio or text mobile content specifically related to the MacArthur Maze mess...
Unfortunately I haven't had time today to check out all the Bay Area news sites. Are there any that are jumping ahead of the pack with mapping tools or mobile content related to this event? Please comment below, and include links.
Obviously, good interactive mapping and mobile tools don't just pop out of thin air. It might be a good idea for any online news organization to review its online tools for traffic and transportation, and consider how you might adapt them quickly to respond to a major traffic disaster.
