Monday, December 10, 2007

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, December 10, 2007 -- ISSN 1529-1057

1) Rocket (and Subway) Science
Washington Metro hopes upgrade will make for a smarter SmarTrip card.
Link to story in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/08/AR2007120800737.html (free registration required)
Link to further information on SmarTrip: http://www.wmata.com/riding/smartrip.cfm

2) Sacramento Regional Transit Cameras Watching You
Devices posted at all 47 stations so riders can feel more secure.
Link to story in The Sacramento Bee:
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/552177.html (free registration required)
Link to news release from the Sacramento Regional Transit District:
http://iportal.sacrt.com/WebApps/PressReleases/PressReleases.asp?ShowPressID=280

3) Queensland Travel Smart Card Not Ready
Link to story in The Courier-Mail:
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22896654-952,00.html?from=mostpop
Link to statement from the Queensland Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations:
http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=55570

4) New York Area Airports are Behind on Technology
Link to story in The New York Sun:
http://www.nysun.com/article/67787

5) US Agency Tests Auto Crash Alert System
Link to UPI story:
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/2007/12/10/us_agency_tests_auto_crash_alert_system/8261/

6) A Starring Role for Drivers Who Drink
Arizona county attorney creates a Web site with mug shots of those convicted of drunken driving.
Link to story in The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/us/10drunk.html?ex=1354942800&en=3848204e1a67c01c&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
Link to Stop DUI AZ: http://www.stopduiaz.com

7) Keeping Traffic Rolling
Michigan DOT operates an intelligent transportation system for the Grand Rapids area.
Link to story in The Grand Rapids Press:
http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2007/12/keeping_traffic_rolling.html
Link to Grand Rapids ITS: http://mdotwas1.mdot.state.mi.us/public/drive/grCameraMap.cfm

8) Are Cars Too Safe? Are User Manuals Necessary?
Design guru Don Norman argues for making autos less automated and for infusing gadgets with natural, easy-to-interpret feedback signals.
Link to story in BusinessWeek:
http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/dec2007/id2007125_252237.htm?campaign_id=mag_Dec6&link_position=link30
Link to further information from Don Norman: http://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/the_design_of_future_1.html

9) Finding Your Way to Historic New Jersey
Tourist locations come together to develop uniform signage.
Link to column in The Star-Ledger:
http://blog.nj.com/njv_mark_diionno/2007/12/finding_your_way_to_historic_n.html
Link to additional information from Celebrate New Jersey: http://www.celebratenj.org/online_store_top.html

10) In the Future, Smart People Will Let Smart Cars Take Control
Link to story in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/science/04tier.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

11) Fuel-Efficiency Gauges Start Appearing in Non-Hybrids
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-12-09-fuel-gauges_N.htm?csp=N008
Link to photo of energy monitor in Toyota Prius: http://www.toyota.com/images/vehicles/2008/prius/gallery/interior/large/photo_3.jpg

12) Jacksonville Web Site Pushes Alternative to Bus Rapid Transit
Link to story in The Florida Times-Union:
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/120907/met_223793685.shtml
Link to Metro Jacksonville: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/

13) Car Gadgetry at Your Command
Link to column and video in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/08/AR2007120800006.html (free registration required)

14) Connected Cars, Volkswagen Research
Link to story on Technology News Daily:
http://www.technologynewsdaily.com/node/8712

15) Japan to Start World’s First GPS Tsunami Monitoring System
Link to story from the Thai News Agency:
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=1721

16) Effective Use of Weigh-in-Motion Data: The Netherlands Case Study
Link to report from the Federal Highway Administration:
http://international.fhwa.dot.gov/pubs/pl07028/


News Releases

1) Image Sensing Systems Purchases Assets of EIS and Announces Expanded Strategy
2) Increased Info on South Africa Road Safety
3) Project News: SIMBA India National Event, November 21-22, 2007
4) Mississippi DOT Extends MSTraffic Web Site to Mobile Users
5) Harris Team Completes Weather and Radar Processor System Transition to FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure Network


Upcoming Events
American Bus Association Marketplace – February 2-7 – Virginia Beach, Virginia
http://aba.teameventmanagement.com/2008/


Today in Transportation History
1970 – Lee Iacocca is named president of the Ford Motor Company.
http://www.iacocca.com/my-life/index.aspx

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© 2007 Bernie Wagenblast