Monday, March 12, 2007

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, March 12, 2007 -- ISSN 1529-1057

Last Chance to Enter the Student Essay Competition

ITS America’s Student Essay Competition, which has been sponsored by PBS&J for six years, is designed to encourage student interest and future participation in the development of ITS solutions. Entries must be received by ITS America no later than March 16, 2007. Both graduate and undergraduate students are eligible to participate. The winner will receive complimentary registration, transportation and accommodations to attend ITS America’s 2007 Annual Meeting & Exposition from June 4-6, 2007 in Palm Springs, California. For the list of topics and entry guidelines, please visit www.itsa.org/amstudentessay.html. Questions? Contact Edgar Martinez at emartinez@itsa.org.


1) Oregon has Difficulty Keeping Track of Local Hazardous-Materials Incident Response Plans
Link to story in The Statesman Journal:
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070311/NEWS/703110348/1001

2) Putin Hopes GLONASS Satellite System Will Outperform GPS
Link to Itar-Tass story:
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11326043&PageNum=0

3) Computer Glitches Forecast Future Airline Snafus
Link to column in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07070/768009-243.stm

4) Airlines Add Edgier Movies, TV Options
iPod docks are also in the plans to win over passengers.
Link to story in The Denver Post:
http://origin.denverpost.com/movies/ci_5390479

5) Do Cell Phone Driver Bans Work?Mixed results cited by other states; Washington Senate-passed bill faces uphill fight.
Link to story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/306987_cells10.html

6) They Almost Drive Themselves
Automakers are embracing technology like never before, loading up their cars.
Link to story in the Star Tribune:
http://www.startribune.com/535/story/1044988.html (may require free registration)

7) Freeway Markers Have Lots of Fans, Especially Among EMS, Safety Forces
Link to column in The Plain Dealer:
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1173688996240080.xml&coll=2

8) Improved Crisis Cooperation Needed – Beijing Mayor
Airport, civil aviation, air traffic management, meteorological bureau and transportation administration, each have their own system.
Link to Reuters story:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/2008/2007-03/12/content_825850.htm

9) Keeping Tired Drivers Alert, with No Snooze Button
Link to story in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/automobiles/11WAKE.html?ex=1331269200&en=bb60486bc9b85cf6&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

10) The Battle for Spectrum
Growing demand and a finite supply of radio frequencies could force confrontation — and compromise — between the US government and competing global interests.
Link to story in Federal Computer Week:
http://www.fcw.com/article97846-03-12-07-Print

11) Southern California Counties Plan for Traffic Hotline
Link to story in The Press-Enterprise:
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_congestion12.3e995d6.html

12) Dual Purpose Video to be Installed on Mumbai Buses
System will include CCTVs to record passenger activities and playback system for information and songs.
Link to story in The Indian Express:
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=226393

13) A Few Minnesota Highway Ramp Meters Miss Time Change
Link to story in the Star Tribune:
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1049159.html (may require free registration)

14) Naming Roads to Honor Past, Stirring Conflict
Link to AP story:
http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/16884510.htm

15) Sources Say Microsoft Near Deal to Buy Tellme
Link to CNET News story:
http://news.com.com/Sources+say+Microsoft+near+deal+to+buy+Tellme/2100-1014_3-6166481.html?tag=nefd.top

16) Steering Clear of Traffic Jams
Dr. Roadmap rides San Diego’s roads and freeways.
Link to story in The San Diego Union-Tribune:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070312-9999-lz1n12traffic.html

17) Where Are You? What Are You Doing?
Mapping and tagging information in real-time will change how we interact with one another in real space--if we can access the Web.
Link to article in Technology Review:
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/17556/

18) Common Issues in Emergency Transportation Operations Preparedness and Response: Results of the FHWA Workshop Series
Link to publication from the Federal Highway Administration:
http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/etopr/common_issues/etop_compliance.htm


News Releases

1) Evaluation of the Single European Sky Reveals Positive Impacts on Air Traffic Management in Europe
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/317&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en


Upcoming Events
2007 IBTTA Organization Management Workshop – April 22-25 – Austin, Texas
http://www.ibtta.org/Events/eventdetail.cfm?ItemNumber=2219


Today in Transportation History
1888 – The Blizzard of 1888 shuts down transportation, and almost everything else, in the northeastern United States.
http://www.nycsubway.org/articles/1888-blizzard.html

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© 2007 Bernie Wagenblast