[TCN] Monday, November 24, 2008

 

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

 

Monday, November 24, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

---

Join IBTTA for the 2008 Transportation Finance Summit, December 7-9, 2008 in Washington, DC 

 

Hear industry experts discuss solutions to the huge challenge of funding, maintaining, and operating surface transportation infrastructure in a stressed global environment. Special guests include U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and Former Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Richard Gephardt. This year, a special Pre-Summit CFO Roundtable will be held on Sunday, December 7, in partnership with The Transportation Transformation Group. This four-hour session will focus on the nuts and bolts issues affecting CFO's and associated professionals in our industry. Jane Garvey, Head of U.S. Public-Private Partnerships at JPMorgan and a Department of Transportation Review Team Lead by the Office of President-Elect Obama, will kick off the Roundtable. Visit IBTTA's website to download the program, find the details and register online today! 

 

 

AVIATION

 

1) Blogging from 25,000 Feet

Link to CNET News story:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10106175-94.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0

 

MARITIME

 

2) South Korea to Launch Maritime Weather Satellite Next Year

Link to Xinhua story:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/23/content_10400234.htm

 

ROADWAYS

 

3) Traffic Control Devices, Visibility, and Highway-Rail Grade Crossings 2008

Link to report from the Transportation Research Board:

http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9726

 

SAFETY / SECURITY

 

4) New Machines Scan IDs at US Border Crossings

Link to story in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2008-11-23-passport-chips_N.htm

 

5) Intelligent Cars the Only Option to Stop Accidents

Link to story in the Business Daily:

http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11389&Itemid=5843

 

6) New US Air Security Rules Create Turbulence in Canada

Link to Canadian Press story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gSuMNqicpgXCtGuZhZZTf79I9VSw

 

7) New Roadside Vests Spark Controversy

Link to story in The Saginaw News:

http://www.mlive.com/saginawnews/news/index.ssf/2008/11/new_roadside_vests_spark_contr.html

Link to further information from the Federal Highway Administration:

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=483

 

TRANSIT

 

8) Left Turns Blamed in Houston Light Rail Collisions

Traffic signals adjusted and in-pavement flashing lights added to cut down on crashes.

Link to column in the Houston Chronicle:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/moveit/6128963.html

 

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

 

9) New Communications System Should Improve Traffic Flow in Macomb County, Michigan

Link to story in The Source:

http://www.sourcenewspapers.com/stories/112308/loc_story19001.shtml 

 

10) Nova Scotia Transportation Minister Vows to Renew Public Confidence After Traffic Jam

Link to Canadian Press story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gTqTwNm6XilXstLOIAitPobBrKFg

 

VEHICLES

 

11) Hot Technology Moves Down the Food Chain

Link to MarketWatch story:

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/hot-technology-moves-down-food/story.aspx?guid=%7B524EF86E%2D6D2B%2D4201%2D8E3F%2D4457E1BBD0A3%7D

 

12) Future Vehicles May Provide Traffic Updates – and More

Link to story in Newsday:

http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-liroad245940128nov24,0,807303.story

 

13) Infotainment in an AUTOSAR Environment

Link to story in Automotive DesignLine Europe:

http://www.automotivedesign-europe.com/howto/212200051;jsessionid=1MORREYJU4GDWQSNDLOSKHSCJUNN2JVN

 

 

News Releases

1) FAA Gives Green Light to NextGen Satellite System

2) Government of Canada Coordinates Joint Transit Security Exercise

3) New Generation of GPS Smart Phones Generating Renewed Momentum for the LBS Infrastructure Industry

4) Traveling with American Airlines' New Mobile Boarding Pass

5) Commuters Report Pressure from the Boss and a Desire to Stay Connected as Top Reasons for Reading E-Mail While Driving, New Study Finds

6) Gatso USA Introduces Industry's First Amber Alert Photo Enforcement Camera -- Helping Police Stop Child Abductions

 

 

Upcoming Events

Talking Freight Webinar: Establishment Surveys in Freight Transportation – December 10

https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webConfID=15724

 

 

Today in Transportation History

1943 **65^th anniversary** - The USS Liscome Bay was torpedoed and sunk near Tarawa with a loss of 646 men.

http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l7/liscome_bay.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

[TCN] Friday, November 21, 2008

 

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

 

Friday, November 21, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

---

Join IBTTA for the 2008 Transportation Finance Summit, December 7-9, 2008 in Washington, DC 

 

Hear industry experts discuss solutions to the huge challenge of funding, maintaining, and operating surface transportation infrastructure in a stressed global environment. Special guests include U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and Former Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Richard Gephardt. This year, a special Pre-Summit CFO Roundtable will be held on Sunday, December 7, in partnership with The Transportation Transformation Group. This four-hour session will focus on the nuts and bolts issues affecting CFO's and associated professionals in our industry. Jane Garvey, Head of U.S. Public-Private Partnerships at JPMorgan and a Department of Transportation Review Team Lead by the Office of President-Elect Obama, will kick off the Roundtable. Visit IBTTA's website to download the program, find the details and register online today! 

 

 

BICYCLES

 

1) Internet Offers Easy Access to the World of Cyber-Cycling

Link to story in the Mail Tribune:

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081120/LIFE/811200309

 

OTHER

 

2) ITS – Something for Everyone

Link to blog from ABI Research:

http://www.abiresearch.com/Blog/Telematics_Blog/553

 

3) Coverage of ITS World Congress from Traffic Technology Today

 -  ITS America President Calls on Obama for ITS Support

http://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/news.php?NewsID=9233

 -  A Show of Contrasts

http://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/industry-blogs.php?BlogID=138

 

RAILROADS

 

4) California Train Accident Puts Control System, Mandated by 2015, Back in Spotlight

Link to story in The Press-Enterprise:

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_metrolinkptc21.4426d4e.html

 

ROADWAYS

 

5) Questions Pile Up After Storm-Struck Travelers Spend Night on Nova Scotia Highway

Link to CBC News story:

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/081121/canada/novascotia_highway_stuck_questions

 

6) FHWA Provides Guidance on South Carolina Department of Transportation Outdoor Advertising Nonconforming Sign

Link to memo from the US Federal Highway Administration:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/realestate/scoacpilot.htm

 

7) New From the Federal Highway Administration

-  Work Zone Process Review Toolbox

http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/prtoolbox/pr_toolbox.htm

 -  Traffic Control Systems Handbook

http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop06006/index.htm

 

8) Effectiveness of Behavioral Highway Safety Countermeasures

Link to report from the Transportation Research Board:

http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9727

 

SAFETY / SECURITY

 

9) Highway Safety Improvement Program: Further Efforts Needed to Address Data Limitations and Better Align Funding with States' Top Safety Priorities

Link to US Government Accountability Office report:

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0935.pdf

 

TELEMATICS

 

10) HD Radio Telematics is Featured at ITS World Congress

Link to story in Radio World:

http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0101/t.16279.html

 

11) VW Says, 'Look, Ma - No Hands'

Link to blog on Wired:

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/11/vw-says-look-mo.html

 

12) Mercedes-Benz myCOMAND Concept Brings Internet Safely Into Cars

Link to story and video on autoblog:

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/20/mercedes-benz-mycomand-concept-brings-internet-safely-into-cars/

 

TRANSIT

 

13) Escambia County Area Transit's All a-Twitter

Florida transit agency plugs into multiple social networking sites.

Link to story in the Pensacola News Journal:

http://www.pnj.com/article/20081120/NEWS01/81120028 

 

14) DC Metro Hawking the Face of Change

Fare cards will commemorate Obama's inauguration.  

Link to story in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/11/21/2008-11-21_dc_metro_hawking_the_face_of_change-2.html

 

15) Essex County Council: Electronic Bus Timetable Boards Confusing

Link to story in the Gazette:

http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/3864466.Essex__Bus_route_timetables____confusing___/

 

16) Bus Ads Roll Again After Graffiti Flap

San Francisco Muni had ads removed from buses because ads 'looked like graffiti.'

Link to story in the Contra Costa Times:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/traffic/ci_11033625

Link to photo of Chevron bus ad:

http://www.thinkyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/eimg_0546.jpg

 

17) 'Grand Theft Auto' Ads Return to Chicago Buses Just in Time for Holidays

Link to story in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Grand-Theft-Auto-IV-Ads-Return-to-CTA-Buses.html

 

18) Maryland Transit Administration Official Says Rail Shutdown Might Have Been Prevented if Electronic System was Purchased

Link to story in The Baltimore Sun:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-md.rail21nov21,0,2614846.story

 

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

 

19) 511 Service Debuts in New York State

Link to story and video report on NY1 News:

http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/transit/89352/dial-511-for-updates-on-traffic--transit/Default.aspx

Link to 511NY: http://511ny.org

 

20) When Inclement Weather Strikes, Maryland Operations Center Keeps Track of Roads

Link to story in the Carroll County Times:

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/11/21/news/local_news/newsstory1.txt

 

21) Purdue Students Track Game Day Traffic Using Bluetooth Technology

Link to story in The Exponent:

http://www.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=13839

 

22) Nokia Researchers Show Off the Mobile Experiences of the Future

Link to story on VentureBeat:

http://venturebeat.com/2008/11/20/nokia-researchers-show-off-the-mobile-experiences-of-the-future/

 

 

News Releases

1) EMS Technologies Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Satamatics

2) AA Launches New Zealand's Latest Online Mapping Web Site

 

 

Upcoming Events

GPS-Wireless 2009 – February 4-5 – San Francisco

http://www.gps-wireless.com

 

 

Friday Bonus

I don't know about you, but I think I'd be afraid to wake up a commuter wearing this.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10071741-1.html

 

 

Today in Transportation History

1964 – The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge opened connecting the New York City boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn.

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/1121.html#article

 

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

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

[TCN] Thursday, November 20, 2008

 

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

 

Thursday, November 20, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

---

Join IBTTA for the 2008 Transportation Finance Summit, December 7-9, 2008 in Washington, DC 

 

Hear industry experts discuss solutions to the huge challenge of funding, maintaining, and operating surface transportation infrastructure in a stressed global environment. Special guests include U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and Former Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Richard Gephardt. This year, a special Pre-Summit CFO Roundtable will be held on Sunday, December 7, in partnership with The Transportation Transformation Group. This four-hour session will focus on the nuts and bolts issues affecting CFO's and associated professionals in our industry. Jane Garvey, Head of U.S. Public-Private Partnerships at JPMorgan and a Department of Transportation Review Team Lead by the Office of President-Elect Obama, will kick off the Roundtable. Visit IBTTA's website to download the program, find the details and register online today! 

 

 

AVIATION

 

1) European Countries Merge Airspace in Bid to Cut Costs, Pollution

Link to story on EurActiv:

http://www.euractiv.com/en/transport/european-countries-merge-airspace-bid-cut-costs-pollution/article-177327

 

2) Airport Workers Program Stresses How to De-stress

Link to AP story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iiUrp6UROlED59qrbqC7l11rB_vAD94I90T01

 

3) Virgin American Plans Wi-Fi Launch Party in the Sky

Link to CNET News story:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10102521-94.html

 

MARITIME

 

4) Eye in the Sky

Satellite, radar and VHF tracking systems could make port operations safer, swifter and more commercially viable.

Link to story in Port Strategy:

http://www.portstrategy.com/archive101/2008/november/port_services_vessel_tracking_management_systems/traffic_control

 

SAFETY / SECURITY

 

5) States Disagree Greatly on Amber Alert Criteria

Link to AP story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i-mBlY1iKNgd_UnrF8Ia5qISv48AD94IL7480

 

6) Silver Alerts' Frequency May Make System Less Effective

Link to story in The Tampa Tribune:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/nov/20/silver-alerts-frequency-might-make-system-less-eff/

 

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

 

7) Navteq to Acquire German Traffic Info Supplier T-Traffic

Link to story in GPS Business News:

http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/index.php?action=article&numero=1190

Link to news release from Navteq:

http://www.navteq.com/webapps/NewsUserServlet?action=NewsDetail&newsId=682&lang=en&englishonly=false

 

 

News Releases

1) The GPS Divide: Age Does Make a Difference in Navigation Device Usage

2) Weather and Climate Data on EUMETSAT Web Portal

3) Port Authority of NY & NJ Planning Airport Customer Service Improvements Including E-Mail Alerts on Delays and Parking Availability

4) New Signs Identify Bridges to be Repaired, Replaced in Missouri

 

 

Upcoming Events

Webinar: Human Factors Guidelines (HFG) for Road Systems – December 8

http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9712

 

 

Today in Transportation History

1998 **10^th anniversary** - Zarya, the first module of the International Space Station, was launched.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/fgb.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.   

© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast