The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will no longer be sending out text alerts for I-90 travel notifications.
WSDOT will now be pushing I-90 travel alerts on its mobile app, as of Aug. 31, instead of text alerts. WSDOT said this is to “to allow more efficient, user-friendly updates and information.”
“Change may be as difficult as it is inevitable, but change can also be a good thing,” WSDOT said in a blog post on their website. “In the fast-paced world of transportation, we know it’s important to keep you up to date in the most efficient, user-friendly way possible. Whether it’s weather changes, construction or other travel information, we want to keep you informed.”
After downloading the “WSDOT” app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, users can turn on notifications for the Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 and receive notifications for any incidents or activities from North Bend to Vantage that will add 30 minutes or more to travel time. This also includes advance notice for planned closures for construction or winter avalanche-control work.
WSDOT said the mobile app is a “one-stop shop for travel information.” It includes real-time travel alerts, mountain pass conditions, traffic cameras and roadway conditions.
Unlike text alerts, the WSDOT app relies on internet connection, which some opponents of the change say is limited in rural areas and in the mountain passes of the state. The app also requires a smart phone, while almost all cell phones can receive text messages.
“Whether you’re commuting over Snoqualmie Pass, visiting family or traveling across the state, the WSDOT Mobile App makes it easy to get the travel information you need when you need it,” WSDOT said.
