canonical: https://jentic.com/apis/511ny.org/511ny

# 511ny New York 511 Traffic API

Jentic publishes the only available OpenAPI specification for the New York 511 Traffic API, keeping it validated and agent-ready. The New York 511 API exposes real-time traffic and roadway data for New York State - events and incidents, traffic cameras, variable message signs, alerts, and winter road conditions. Authentication is via an API key passed as the query parameter 'key'. The five endpoints support trip-planning, fleet, and situational-awareness applications across NYS roads.

## For AI agents

Read real-time New York State traffic events, cameras, message signs, alerts, and winter road conditions using a query-string API key.

## Scope

Does not provide turn-by-turn directions, geocoding, or coverage outside New York State - use for reading NYSDOT real-time traffic events, cameras, message signs, alerts, and winter road conditions only.

## Capabilities

- Read live traffic events and incidents on New York State roadways via GET /GetEvents
- Retrieve the full list of NYS traffic camera locations and feed URLs via GET /GetCameras
- List variable message sign locations and current messages via GET /GetMessageSigns
- Surface NYSDOT alerts and advisories via GET /GetAlerts
- Pull winter road conditions for NYS roadways via GET /GetWinterRoadConditions

## Use cases

### New York Traffic Dashboard

Power a public or internal traffic dashboard for New York State by polling /GetEvents and /GetCameras every few minutes, plus /GetMessageSigns for variable-sign content. The result is a live overlay covering incidents, lane closures, and travel-time advisories across NYS roads.

Example prompt: Every 5 minutes fetch /GetEvents, /GetCameras, and /GetMessageSigns, and update map markers and overlays for the I-87, I-90, and I-95 corridors.

### Winter Travel Advisory

Issue winter travel advisories during storms by polling /GetWinterRoadConditions and /GetAlerts. Combine with weather forecasts to push notifications to commuters or fleet drivers when conditions deteriorate on specific corridors.

Example prompt: When /GetWinterRoadConditions reports 'snow covered' on any I-87 segment, send a push notification to subscribed commuters along that corridor.

### Fleet Routing Awareness

Feed New York 511 events into a fleet routing engine so dispatchers can avoid incident-impacted segments. /GetEvents returns location, type, and severity; the engine can re-route in-flight when severity rises above a threshold.

Example prompt: On every /GetEvents poll, mark routes that pass through a high-severity event and signal the routing engine to compute alternates.

### Agent-Driven NY Roads Briefing

Let an AI assistant produce a New York roads briefing each morning - top events, active alerts, and notable variable message sign content - through Jentic. The agent searches by intent, loads the read schemas, and Jentic injects the API key from the vault.

Example prompt: Through Jentic, search 'get new york traffic events', load /GetEvents and /GetAlerts, and assemble a 5-bullet morning briefing for the NYC metro and upstate corridors.

## Key endpoints

| Method | Path | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GET | /GetEvents | List active traffic events |
| GET | /GetCameras | List traffic cameras |
| GET | /GetMessageSigns | List variable message signs |
| GET | /GetAlerts | List NYSDOT alerts |
| GET | /GetWinterRoadConditions | Winter road conditions |

## Key resources

- **Traffic** — Events, cameras, message signs, alerts, and winter road conditions for New York State

## Why Jentic

- **Setup:** Wiring the New York 511 Traffic API by hand means managing its API key, appending it as a query parameter, and parsing event, camera, and winter-road feeds yourself. Through Jentic you install once, import the New York 511 Traffic API from the API Directory, store the key once, and your agent calls it.
- **Permission scoping:** This API is read-only and selects data through query parameters rather than a resource id in the path, so limit the agent to the operations it needs, such as reading events, cameras, or winter road conditions, and leave out others unless you add them. You choose the allowed set, so only the operations you pick can run.
- **Credential handling:** Your New York 511 API key is stored once, encrypted, by your own Jentic One instance and injected at execution time. It never enters the agent's prompt, logs, or context.
- **Discovery method:** Agents search Jentic by intent such as 'get New York traffic events' or 'read winter road conditions', and Jentic returns the matching NY 511 operation with its input schema so the agent calls the right endpoint without browsing the reference docs.

## Related APIs

- **Idaho 511 Transportation API** — Idaho 511 exposes the same traffic-events, cameras, and conditions pattern for Idaho roadways.
- **OpenWeather API** — OpenWeather forecasts complement NY 511's reported winter road conditions.
- **WeatherAPI** — WeatherAPI provides point forecasts that pair well with NY 511 incident and condition data.

## FAQ

### Why is there no official OpenAPI spec for the New York 511 Traffic API?

NYSDOT publishes a developer help page at 511ny.org/developers/help but no OpenAPI specification. Jentic generates and maintains this spec so that AI agents and developers can call the New York 511 API via structured tooling. It is validated against the live API and kept up to date. Get started with Jentic One, the self-hosted execution layer.

### What authentication does the New York 511 API use?

It uses an API key passed as the query parameter 'key' on every request to https://511ny.org/api. Through Jentic, the key is stored encrypted in the vault and appended to the query string at execution, so agents never see the raw key.

### How do I get current New York traffic events?

Call GET /GetEvents to list active traffic events on NYS roadways. Each record includes location, severity, and a description. Pair with /GetAlerts for higher-priority NYSDOT advisories.

### Are NY traffic cameras included?

Yes. GET /GetCameras returns NYSDOT-maintained traffic camera locations and stream URLs. Use the response to embed camera feeds in dashboards or to surface a relevant camera near an incident.

### How do I get a New York traffic briefing through Jentic?

Run pip install jentic, then search 'get new york traffic events', load /GetEvents, and execute. Combine with /GetAlerts for advisories. Run it through Jentic One, the self-hosted execution layer to receive an agent API key for execution.

### Does this API cover roads outside New York State?

No. The 511 NY feed is limited to New York State-maintained roadways. For other states, use the equivalent state 511 feed - for example, Idaho 511 for Idaho routes.

### Can I limit what my agent is allowed to do with the New York 511 Traffic API?

Yes. Because you run Jentic One yourself, your own rules decide which of the five read operations the agent can call, so you can allow only GET /GetEvents, GET /GetCameras, or GET /GetWinterRoadConditions and leave GET /GetMessageSigns and GET /GetAlerts out of scope. This API is read-only and selects data through query parameters rather than a path id, so the agent only ever reads the feeds you permit and cannot write or delete anything. Your instance also holds the API key and injects it at execution, so the credential and the allowed operation set both stay under your control.