[TCN] Tuesday, June 30, 2009

 

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

 

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Register Now for IBTTA's Workshop — Incident Management, Safety and Security, July 19-21, 2009, Denver, CO   

 

Join the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association in Denver, CO to learn about best practices from around the world in Incident Management and Emergency Response. Gain valuable knowledge on the most effective tools and communication methods available to promote toll facility safety and security, maintain operations in the face of disruption, and effectively communicate with customers during all phases of an incident – from prevention to recovery. Meeting highlights include a technical tour of E-470 Public Highway's Tools and Technology followed by Northwest Parkway's 5.9GHz DSRC Multi-Application Demonstration, a networking event at INVESCO Field at Mile High, and a fundraising golf tournament to support the IBTTA Foundation. Hotel cut-off extended until July 1^st. To register or view the preliminary agenda, visit IBTTA's website today!

 

 

AVIATION

 

1) Simulator Helps Train Air Traffic Controllers

Link to story and video on WCVB-TV:

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/19894458/detail.html

 

2) Delta to Install Wi-Fi on First Wide-Body Jet

Link to story in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=68493042.blog

 

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

 

3) 'Bungled' E-Toll System Delayed in Queensland

Link to Australian Broadcasting Corp. story:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/30/2612342.htm?section=business

 

GPS / NAVIGATION

 

4) GPS Mapping Team Takes a Ride

A ride-along with a crew from Navteq as they map roadways.

Link to video in The Birmingham News:

http://videos.al.com/birmingham-news/2009/06/gps_mapping_team_takes_a_ride.html

 

OTHER

 

5) New York Mayor Releasing City Data Online in Hopes Developers Will Create New and Better Mobile Apps

Link to story in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/06/30/2009-06-30_bloomberg_releasing_city_data_online_in_hopes_developers_will_create_new_and_bet.html

Link to news release from the City of New York:

http://tinyurl.com/lh8xhf

 

6) Latest Issue of Transport Business Online

Link to magazine:

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?referral=mypagesuite&refresh=J0r72B1i1qH3&PBID=8a22ef1c-9187-4d60-a8da-96ecddd9260a&skip

 

ROADWAYS

 

7) Considerations for High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane to High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lane Conversions Guidebook Now Available

Link to guidebook from the Federal Highway Administration:

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=552

 

SAFETY / SECURITY

 

8) New York MTA Employee Sues City for $1 Million After Being Arrested for Taking Pictures

Link to story in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/06/30/2009-06-30_busted_for_taking_pix_of_subways_he_hits_back_with_1_million_suit.html 

 

9) Ex-National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Chief Fears New Safety Technologies Will Take Backseat to New MPG Rule

Link to story in USA Today:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/openroad/post/2009/06/68493165/1

 

TELEMATICS

 

10) Insurance Companies Embrace Technology – Again

Link to story in Telematics Weekly:

http://telematicsweekly.com/archives/insurance-companies-embrace-technology-%E2%80%94-again-1258

 

TRANSIT

 

11) SEPTA: Now You Can Use Google to Plan Trips

Link to story in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/technology/20090630_SEPTA__You_now_can_use_Google_to_plan_trips.html

 

12) Automated Bus Route Scheme to Start July 25 in Metro Manila

Link to story in The Philippine Star:

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=482478&publicationSubCategoryId=200

 

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

 

13) Caltrans Hotline Fails to Deliver

Link to column in the San Jose Mercury News:

http://www.mercurynews.com/localnewsheadlines/ci_12713933

 

14) Navteq Offers Free Traffic Updates on Your Phone

Link to CNET News story:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10275395-48.html

 

VEHICLES

 

15) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Looking to Mandate Rear Turn-Signal Color

Link to story on Cars .com:

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2009/06/nhtsa-looking-to-mandate-rear-turn-signal-color.html

 

 

News Releases

1) DC Metro Taking Additional Actions After Collision

 

 

**CORRECTION**: The wrong link was included for story #8 in yesterday's issue.  Here's the correct link to the story:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Toyota-technology-has-brain-apf-2893135796.html?x=0&.v=5

 

 

Upcoming Events

East Coast Maritime Conference – October 5-6 – Jersey City, New Jersey

http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=3799e6dd-3528-4420-a7f1-434d7836d925

 

 

Today in Transportation History

2004 **5^th anniversary** - The Cassini -Huygens spacecraft arrived at Saturn.

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov

 

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

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.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

[TCN] Monday, June 29, 2009

 

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

 

Monday, June 29, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

 

1) Computer Failures are Probed in Air France Crash

Link to story in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124605948270463623.html

 

2) FAA Chief Backs NextGen Users

Link to story in Aviation Week:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=busav&id=news/Babbitt062909.xml&headline=FAA%20Chief%20Backs%20NextGen%20Users

 

3) Soon, Fliers Can 'Voice' Their Complaints at Mumbai Airport

Link to story in The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Soon-fliers-can-voice-their-complaints-at-airport/articleshow/4713665.cms

 

4) Marketers See Fliers Waiting to Claim Bags as Captive Audience

Link to story in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-06-28-airport-ads_N.htm

 

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

 

5) Some Still Slow to Make the Move to Fast Lane

Link to story in The Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/06/29/a_third_of_tollpayers_still_resist_offer_of_a_free_fast_lane_transponder/

 

GPS / NAVIGATION

 

6) Garmin Issues Fix for Widespread GPS Glitch

Link to story in PC Magazine:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2349317,00.asp

 

OTHER

 

7) Iowa DOT Blocks Tweeter, Facebook, Other Online Social Media Over Security Concerns

Link to story in The Des Moines Register:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090628/NEWS10/906280337/1011

 

8) Toyota Technology has Brain Waves Move Wheelchair

Link to AP story:

http://www.smartsunguide.com/pdf/SMART%20Moves_JUNE%20Issue_Final.pdf

 

9) Besides Rail, We Need Smart Transportation Technology

Link to commentary in the San Jose Mercury News:

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_12701754

 

RAILROADS

 

10) Bellingham, Washington Still Fighting to Keep Amtrak Records Private in Death Case

Link to story in The Bellingham Herald:

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/966547.html

 

ROADWAYS

 

11) June Issue of Florida DOT's Smart Moves Newsletter Online

Link to newsletter:

http://www.smartsunguide.com/pdf/SMART%20Moves_JUNE%20Issue_Final.pdf

 

SAFETY / SECURITY

 

12) Metrorail Crash May Exemplify Paradox of Human-Machine Interaction

Link to story in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/28/AR2009062802481.html

 

13) America's Fortress: Cheyenne Mountain, NORAD Live On

Link to column on CNET News:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10274268-52.html

 

TRANSIT

 

14) UK Commuters Could Use Phone to Pay for Travel

Link to story in the Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/5626613/Commuters-could-use-phone-to-pay-for-travel.html

 

15) Who Owns San Francisco Muni's Arrival and Departure Times? That Depends on Who You Ask

Link to story in the SF Weekly:

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2009/06/who_owns_munis_arrival_and_dep.php

 

16) Sound Transit Releases Powerful PSA Aimed at Youth and Light Rail Safety

Link to video via the Rainer Valley Post:

http://www.rainiervalleypost.com/?p=11779

 

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

 

17) Taiwan Traffic Radio Station Can't Meet Target

Link to story from the Taipei Times:

http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-eastasia.asp?parentid=109984

 

18) Coming Soon: Maps That Give You a More Complete Seattle-Area Traffic Picture

Link to column in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/170396.asp

 

 

News Releases

1) Nissan Gets 'Intelligent' Over Saving Fuel - Project will use communications technology to teach drivers how to improve fuel economy

2) Washington, DC Launches New Circulator Bus Mobile Application

3) Inrix Wins Contract with GeoDecisions to Aid Government Logistics Using Real-Time Traffic Data

4) Navteq Traffic.com Upgrades Mobile Web Site for Real-Time Traffic Delays

 

 

Upcoming Events

12^th IFAC Symposium on Control in Transportation Systems – September 2-4 – Redondo Beach, California

http://ee.usc.edu/CTS09/home/

 

 

Today in Transportation History

1909 **100^th anniversary** - The first flight of a US military airplane took place took place at Fort Myer, Virginia.

http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Wright_Bros/Military_Flyer/WR11.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.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

[TCN] Friday, June 26, 2009

 

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

 

Friday, June 26, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

 

1) Israel to Install Air Defense in Passenger Planes

Link to UPI story:

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/25/Israel-to-install-air-defense-in-planes/UPI-29191245948681/

 

GPS / NAVIGATION

 

2) Boeing: Urgent GPS Satellite Launches on Schedule

Link to story in Computerworld:

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9134866

 

OTHER

 

3) Summer Issue of National Center for Freight & Infrastructure Research & Education Newsletter Online

Link to newsletter:

http://www.wistrans.org/cfire/news/newsletter/Summer09.pdf

 

RAILROADS

 

4) Historic Steam Locomotive Goes High-Tech on Way to Railroad Days

Union Pacific engine can be followed by GPS and Twitter.

Link to story in the Lincoln Journal Star:

http://journalstar.com/articles/2009/06/18/news/local/doc4a384c642502b044637609.txt

Link to GPS tracking:  http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/excurs/trace.cfm

Link to Twitter updates:  http://twitter.com/up_steam

 

SAFETY / SECURITY

 

5) Unclear what Happens to Personal Info with Clear

Link to AP story:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Unclear-what-happens-to-apf-690267501.html?x=0&.v=4

 

6) GIS Maps Prevent Vehicle Collisions with Elk and Deer

Link to story in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/691425

 

TRANSIT

 

7) A Metro Train Control System Fails a Post-Crash Test

Link to story in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/25/AR2009062501073.html

 

8) Operational Test for the Implementation of Advanced Technologies in Rural Transit Service

Link to report from the Federal Transit Administration:

http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/OperationalTest_Implementation_of_Advanced_Technologies_Rural_Transit_Service_(FinalReport).pdf

 

VEHICLES

 

9) Ghosts in the Machine

Robots are taking the place of human drivers in an increasing number of vehicle test scenarios.

Link to story in Vehicle Dynamics International:

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/f0bbbaf8#/f0bbbaf8/30

 

 

News Releases

1) BART Unveils News Web Site to Keep Riders, Public Informed on Labor Negotiations

 

 

Upcoming Events

Western Snow & Ice Conference – September 22-26 – Estes Park, Colorado

http://www.westernsnowandice.com/

 

 

Friday Bonus

I thought Batman Airport was in Gotham City.

http://news.skyscanner.net/articles/2009/06/002552-worlds-funniest-airport-names-rudest-weirdest-and-strangest.html

 

 

Today in Transportation History

1959 **50^th anniversary** - The St. Lawrence Seaway is officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight Eisenhower.

http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/seaway/history/index.html

 

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

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.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast