Twitter.com is a free social networking & micro-blogging service using text-based posts (tweets) of up to 140 characters in length.
Tweets tell a story in 140 characters or less. And characters = spaces, punctuation & letters of each word too. Must be succinct.
Twitter is used by friends, businesses, non-profit orgs, political campaigns, schools, elected officials, govt agencies – even KDOT!
You might ask, “can a story really be told in only 140 characters?” Maybe, maybe not. It depends on how much of the story you choose to cut.
Recent post: Concrete patching today 9am-3pm on NB I-235 btwn Zoo & 25th St. North. Expect right lane closure.
Doesn’t tell: Hired crew, bought trucks, supplies, EO training, traffic control, ANSI 2004, jackhammerg, cure time, Crew Card, danger, etc.
Recent post: KDOT crews out all night but expect snowpacked conditions in metro. Some ramps bad. Leave early - use caution. 3" on ground.
Doesn’t tell: Away frm family, not normal sleep hrs, 12-hr shift, dispatcher, mechanic, try to conserve salt/diesel, supervisor nervous, etc.
Recent post: W. U.S. 54 at 135th St. W will open to two lanes each direction + left turns allowed on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
Doesn’t tell: Project is 1st step of freeway, corridor mgmt., road/br. design, inspectors inspect everythg., protected left turns = safer
Recent post: 511 reports: Most highways NE of Emporia spotty to completely snowpacked/icy. http://511.ksdot.org
Doesn’t tell: Subareas report conditns, gotta keeps servers up, each change monitored, recordings made, 24/7 coverage, lots of bckgrd work.
Recent post: Previously suspended K-61 project in Reno Co. bids to be opened Feb. 4. Hutch to McPher. Co., 9 miles, 4 lanes, $58M est.
Doesn’t tell: CTP negotiatns, planning, design work, “kitchen table” discuss, ROW acq., ready to go, $ angst, STOP, prices?, okay to let…
Recent post: Want to comment on I-70 through downtown KC? Missouri DOT hosting online public mtg: http://www.modot.org/kansascity/metroi70/
Doesn’t tell: Should we post about things in an adjacent state? Yes, our citizens should make comments – they drive there too.
Recent post: EB U.S. 54 at Hillside (to Oliver) CLOSED due to crash. Overhead sign structure hit - being removed. To be closed >1 hour.
Doesn’t tell: Sign not safe, remove or repair?, borrowed sign frm a project, Sunday pm work by expert KDOT crew, lucky it fit, road opened.
Can KDOT tell its story in 140 characters? Yes. And no. We can share info with customers but can’t give the whole story. Whoops – that’s 140…