[TCN] Monday, December 22, 2008

 

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

 

Monday, December 22, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

---

Bernie's Notes

 

Are you on Facebook, LinkedIn or Plaxo?  If so, and you'd like to connect with me, please send me an invitation.  Also, if you're on Facebook and you enjoy the TCN, you can become a "fan" by searching for "Transportation Communications Newsletter" and joining. 

 

 

CAMERAS

 

1) Teens Claim Pranks on Speed Cameras

Students print duplicate license plates and then purposefully speed past cameras so others get citations.

Link to story in The Sentinel:

http://www.thesentinel.com/302730670790449.php

 

GPS / NAVIGATION

 

2) Emergency-Vehicle GPS Plan is Getting a Mixed Response in Boston

Link to story in The Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/12/21/emergency_vehicle_gps_plan_is_getting_a_mixed_response/

 

3) New California GPS Law Opens a Window of Opportunity

Windshield mounting, previously illegal, will be allowed in two corners of the glass (not in the middle). How well will it work?

Link to story in the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-consumer21-2008dec21,0,7671118.story

 

OTHER

 

4) New Cell Phone Apps Help You Find Your Way Around Town

Link to story in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/19/AR2008121901472.html

 

5) Big Boxes Making Us Safer, and Uglier

Columnist says new traffic control boxes in Philadelphia's urban neighborhoods are required by US government.

Link to column in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20081219_Changing_Skyline__Big_boxes_making_us_safer__and_uglier.html

 

6) Very Moving Pictures

Community-based art project looks to turn blank trailers or truck boxes into finished paintings.

Link to story on Today's Trucking:

http://www.todaystrucking.com/news.cfm?intDocID=20940

 

SAFETY / SECURITY

 

7) Public Safety Groups Urge $15 Billion Broadband Investment

Link to story in Federal Computer Week:

http://www.fcw.com/online/news/154740-1.html

 

8) Nevada Department of Motor Vehicle's Facial Recognition Technology Leads to Second Arrest on False Identity Charge

Link to story in the Reno Gazette-Journal:

http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812200333

 

TRANSIT

 

9) Chicago Transit Authority Sheds Light on New Subway Emergency Efforts

Glow-in-the-dark paint, added signs point way to underground avenues of escape.

Link to column in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/autocorner/chi-getting-around-22-dec22,0,3343771.column

 

10) Washington Metro-Google Transit Issue Leads to Talks

Local blog takes initiative.

Link to commentary on WRC-TV:

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Metro-Google-Transit-Issue-Leads-to-Talks.html

 

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

 

11) UK Highways Agency Combines with Google for Route 2.0

Link to story in ComputerWeekly:

http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2008/12/22/234023/highways-agency-combines-with-google-for-route-2.0.htm

 

12) High-Tech Safety Sign to be Put Into Operation in Wisconsin

System is designed to warn drivers of unsafe conditions before they cross highway by using electronic signs and a computer-detection system.

Link to story from KUWS Radio:

http://www.businessnorth.com/kuws.asp?RID=2701

 

VEHICLES

 

13) Saved by Technology: Hot New Safety Features Hit the Luxury Market

Link to story in the San Francisco Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/18/MTUJ14K802.DTL&type=autos

 

 

News Releases

1) Multimedia Features Enhance the Navigation Experience, but Also Represent Risks

2) Federal Railroad Administration Begins Development of Positive Train Control Regulations

3) Eurocontrol De-mystifies Safety Culture

4) Westwood One's Metro Traffic and TrafficLand Create Exclusive Partnership to Bring Leading Edge Video Traffic Information System to US Broadcasters

 

 

Job Postings

 -  Business and Policy Analyst – California Center for Innovative Transportation (CCIT) – Berkeley, California

http://jobs.berkeley.edu  (job code 9327)

 

 

Upcoming Events

Traffic Modeling Conference – March 31 – Milton Keynes, UK

http://statistics.open.ac.uk/TrafficConference

 

 

Today in Transportation History

1963 **45^th anniversary** - The ocean liner, TSMS Lakonia caught fire while on a cruise to the Canary Islands.  The death toll was 128.

http://www.ssmaritime.com/jvoch8.htm 

 

=============================================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

To subscribe send an e-mail to:  TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com

To unsubscribe send an e-mail to:  TCNL-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

 

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

© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast