The state Department of Transportation moved forward this week with plans to establish 511 in Connecticut as the phone number for travel information. Under a Federal Highway Administration mandate, the department has until the end of 2010 to roll the system out, as 26 states have already done.

Robert Kennedy, a DOT transportation engineer working on the project, said Thursday the goal is for residents to be able to dial 511 and get information on all modes of travel — highway, trains, buses, air and water.

The system will only be limited by the availability of electronic data, he said. But if an airport doesn't have that information available, Kennedy said, engineers are working on a way to be able to switch 511 callers to Bradley International Airport or other airports for more information.

The Connecticut 511 system will also have a Web site people can access for similar information.

The state expects it will cost $3.35 million to create the system, Kennedy said. The department is applying for federal funds to cover the entire cost and will also seek funds to cover all the operating expenses.

According to the FHWA Web site, a state without any existing resources would probably spend between $17 million and $44 million to create a 511 system. Connecticut already has a lot of resources for a 511 program, including electronic e-mail notification systems for traffic problems.

The state DOT began working on a plan to link Internet, electronic road signs and

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telephone information through a 511 service in 2002 after securing $100,000 from the FHWA to cover study costs. Now it has to get permission from the state Department of Public Utility Control to use 511 for travel information.

Department officials met with the DPUC on Tuesday to get direction about what will be needed to move forward.

Beryl Lyons, a DPUC spokeswoman, said it is still very early in the process and not many details are available.

The DPUC handled the activation of 211 for the United Way's Infoline, which provides access to housing, energy and counseling assistance statewide. The Federal Communications Commission actually decides for what purposes these numbers, called abbreviated dialing codes, can be used.

According to its Web site, all the ADCs are spoken for, either through official assignments or historic use. But in Connecticut, not all are active.

While 211 has been active for more than a year, 311 — assigned for non-emergency police and other government uses — comes up as inactive when called. Other assigned numbers that aren't active include 711 and 511.

The emergency service ADC 911 is technically unassigned, but it is active across the nation.

The other unassigned numbers include 811, 611 and 411, although this last is used for directory assistance across the nation.

Lyons said the average state resident can't come in and file to use an ADC.

While the DOT moves to activate one more ADC in the state, it must first file its projected cost and how it will pay for the system.

According to the docket filed with the DPUC, the DOT and interested parties have until Aug. 1 to submit written comments on the proposal.