[TCN] Tuesday, March 25, 2008

 

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

Tuesday, March 25, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

 

1) Unmanned Drones to Help with Hurricane Forecasting

But FAA worries they could endanger planes fleeing hurricanes.

Link to story in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbdrones0323sbmar25,0,2643645.story

 

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

 

2) Taking the E-Z Way Out

While experts debate how much a Manhattan congestion fee would cut traffic and air pollution, one thing does seem certain: It will boost E-ZPass usage.

Link to column in the Gotham Gazette:

http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/03/24/taking-the-e-z-way-out/  

 

3) How Mark IV Beat Amtech to win E-ZPass in 1994 – Inside Story

Link to story in TOLLROADnews:

http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/3464

 

OTHER

 

4) March Issue of Florida DOT's Sunguide Disseminator Online

Link to newsletter:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/Newsletters/2008/03_2008/03_2008.htm

 

ROADWAYS

 

5) Arizona DOT Requests Pedestrian Input on Highway System

Link to story in the Arizona Daily Star:

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/231177  (free registration required)

 

6) New MUTCD Sign Retroreflectivity Requirements

Link to article in T² Roads on the Range:

http://wwweng.uwyo.edu/wyt2/newsletters/Winter.pdf  (page 3)

 

SAFETY / SECURITY

 

7) Arizona Lawmakers Take Issue with Hybrid Driver's Licenses

The new license would contain an RFID tag that can be scanned at a distance, raising concerns about privacy and cost.

Link to story in Federal Computer Week:

http://www.fcw.com/online/news/152029-1.html

 

8) Cell Phone Law May Not Make Roads Safer

Link to story in the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-distract25mar25,1,105874.story  (free registration required)

 

TELEMATICS

 

9) Honda Tests Inter-Vehicle, Road-to-Vehicle Communication Systems

Link to Nikkei story:

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080325/149370/

 

TRANSIT

 

10) Melbourne Public Transport Smart Card Faces Two-Year Delay

Link to story in the Herald Sun:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23428832-29277,00.html

 

11) Chicago Transit Authority's Bus Tracker System to be Expanded

Link to story in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-cta-bus-tracker_25mar25,1,7991054.story

 

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

 

12) How Smart Can Intelligent Transportation Get?

Link to story in Better Roads:

http://www.betterroads.com/content/Issue-Story.45.0.html?&no_cache=1&tx_magissue_pi1[showUid]=1076

 

13) Beating Traffic by Joining the Network

New system takes and shares data from cars.

Link to story and video report in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/24/AR2008032402502.html?sub=AR  (free registration required)

 

14) mSpot Adds Live Traffic Reports

Link to story in Mediaweek:

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003732656

Link to news release from mSpot:

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=835608

 

 

News Releases

1) TomTom and Swisscom Sign Agreement to Bring High Definition Traffic to Switzerland

2) Argonne National Laboratory, US DOT Open Transportation Research, Computing Center

 

 

Upcoming Events

Fatigue & Work Seminar – May 9 – Chicago

http://www.thebigsleepshow.com/workplace-seminar.php

 

 

Today in Transportation History

1958 **50^th anniversary** - The Avro Arrow, a Canadian jet interceptor, makes its maiden flight.

http://archives.cbc.ca/science_technology/aeronautics/topics/275/

 

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Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.   

© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast