[TCN] Thursday, May 1, 2008

 

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

Thursday, May 1, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

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ELECTRONIC TOLLING

 

1) Illinois Toll Agency Sued Over Enforcement Process

Federal lawsuit alleges notices violate motorists' constitutional rights.

Link to story in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-tollsuit_30apr30,1,2470968.story

 

2) E-ZPass Coming to Rhode Island Bridge

Link to story and video report on WJAR-TV:

http://www.turnto10.com/northeast/jar/news.apx.-content-articles-JAR-2008-05-01-0013.html

 

MARITIME

 

3) US Coast Guard Plans Data Center to Monitor Vessels

Link to story in Washington Technology:

http://www.washingtontechnology.com/online/1_1/32714-1.html

 

OTHER

 

4) 'Green Woman' Offers Equal Rights at Traffic Lights

Link to AFP story:

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gTUmI4_PLO0F_3KNWBUDoxAEBdlw

 

RAILROADS

 

5) Caltrain Wants Cameras, Seeks to Reduce Deaths

Cameras would be installed on trains to learn how and why people die on the tracks.

Link to story in the San Jose Mercury News:

http://www.mercurynews.com/valley/ci_9116276

 

SAFETY / SECURITY

 

6) Lollicams – The Latest Weapon in the Battle Against Bad Drivers

School crossing guards will have small cameras installed on lollipop signs.

Link to story in The Times:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3846958.ece

 

7) Alberta Government Report Opposes Banning Cell Phone Use While Driving

Link to CP story:

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jNGqUo7N6eJuq8Axw17CA6-_iMtA

Link to report:

http://www.infratrans.gov.ab.ca/INFTRA_Content/docType48/Production/DistractedDrivingReportSept-07.pdf

 

8) Uniform Shift a Sign of Times

New York State DOT rolls out new safety vests for highway workers ahead of federal deadline.

Link to story in the Times Union:

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=685223&category=STATE&newsdate=5/1/2008

 

9) DC Forging Surveillance Network

About 4,500 cameras, including traffic cameras, will be linked to central office.

Link to story in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/30/AR2008043003430.html

 

10) Road Safety Focus in Scotland is Shifting from Cameras to Speed Alerts

Link to story in The Scotsman:

http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Road-safety-focus-is-shifting.4039394.jp

 

TELEMATICS

 

11) Keep on Trucking

Intelligent transport technology using telematics is set to transform the logistics world forever.

Link to story on SiliconRepublic:

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/news.nv?storyid=single10856

 

TRANSIT

 

12) Sofia's Public Transport Online in Real-Time

Link to story in The Sofia Echo:

http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/sofia-s-public-transport-online-in-real-time/id_29087/catid_66

Link to GPS Net:  http://www.skgt-bg.com/  (in Bulgarian)

 

13) With Poetry on Video, Pace Buses Take the Road Less Traveled

Link to story in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/nearnorthwest/chi-bus-poems_both_01may01,0,475275.story

 

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

 

14) Helping Winston-Salem, North Carolina DOT Control the Streets

Link to AP story:

http://www.chiefengineer.org/content/content_display.cfm/seqnumber_content/3386.htm

 

15) New Hampshire Service Patrols Aim to Fight Traffic Jams

Link to story in the Concord Monitor:

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080501/NEWS01/805010430/1043/NEWS01

 

VEHICLES

 

16) University of Michigan Gets Money to Field Test Crash-Dodging Vehicles

Link to AP story:

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/business-16/120966534943470.xml&storylist=michigannews

Link to news release from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute:

http://www.umtri.umich.edu/news.php?id=1948

 

17) Ryder Rides Into Wireless

GPS, RFID contribute to fleet's business success.

Link to story in RCR Wireless News:

http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080501/FREE/310879680/1014

18) Making Cars Smarter, Greener, Safer…and Better Listeners

Link to column in The New York Times:

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/making-cars-smarter-greener-safer-and-better-listeners/  (may require free registration)

 

19) Volvo's 2020 Vision: The Injury-Proof Car

Link to Reuters story:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24406445/

 

 

News Releases

1) University of Virginia Research Aims to Optimize Traffic Light Timing to Reduce Gas Consumption and Emissions

2) Digital In-Car & Mobile Technologies Revealed at Telematics Detroit Exhibition 2008

 

 

Upcoming Events

International Cargo Security Council Annual Meeting & Exposition – May 12-15 – Kings Point, New York

http://www.cargosecurity.com/annual/welcome.html

 

 

Today in Transportation History

1898 **110^th anniversary** - The US Navy destroys Spain's Pacific fleet in the Battle of Manila Bay.

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq84-1.htm

 

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

© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast