Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, December 5, 2007 -- ISSN 1529-1057

1) CSX Talks with Maryland on Cargo
Railroad says it wants state in project that gives information about shipments.
Link to story in The Baltimore Sun:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.csx05dec05,0,5596968.story (may require free registration)

2) High Risk of Runway Collision Plagues US
Malfunctioning technology one concern raised by congressional investigators.
Link to AP story:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ik6Pj2j4UqVkLirX1k5Y9JwZJuVQD8TBFFEG0
Link to GAO report:
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-29

3) Accidents Up at Red-Light Camera Sites in Harlingen, Texas
Link to story in the Valley Morning Star:
http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/accidents_15109___article.html/report_commissioners.html

4) Digitally Connecting Roads, Cars Drives US DOT’s Plans
Link to story in Federal Computer Week:
http://www.fcw.com/online/news/150999-1.html

5) New York Subway Track Workers Get Emergency Radios
Link to story from amNew York:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nystud055488170dec05,0,4402531.story

6) Dutch Labor Party Pushes for Internet on Trains
Link to story on DutchNews.nl:
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2007/12/labour_pushes_for_internet_on.php

7) Experts Confer on Tanker-Truck Safety
Using high-tech systems that sense when a truck is about to go out of control and automatically throttle down and apply brakes, among chief strategies.
Link to Bay Area News Group story:
http://www.mercurynews.com/traffic/ci_7638894?nclick_check=1

8) Cell Phone Replaces Boarding Pass in Houston Test
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2007-12-04-electronic-boarding-pass_N.htm

9) Spreading the Word
Newfoundland airport offering gentle reminder of services in Gander.
Link to story in The Beacon:
http://www.ganderbeacon.ca/index.cfm?sid=86155&sc=305

10) Smart Card Gets Confused by San Francisco’s Transit Agencies
Link to story in Wired:
http://blog.wired.com/cars/2007/12/smart-card-gets.html

11) Massachusetts Governor Halts Plan to Remove Road Banners
Link to story in The Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/12/05/a_reprieve_for_road_banners/ (free registration required)

12) New York MTA Set to Take Web Hits
Agency launches its first online forum to accept comments on fare hike and financial plan.
Link to story in the New York Post:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12052007/news/regionalnews/mta_set_to_take_web_hits_504122.htm
Link to more information from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority:
http://www.mta.info/mta/news/hearings/fareandtoll/webinar.htm

13) Red-Light Cameras OK’d to Catch Speeders in Alberta
Link to story in the Edmonton Sun:
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/12/05/4709238.html

14) New York MTA is the Last to Know Trains Flunk with Riders
Subway report cards criticized as a public relations gimmick.
Link to story in The New York Sun:
http://www.nysun.com/article/67495

15) Clear Channel AirWatch Grounded
Company says technology is a better way to gather traffic information than aircraft.
Link to story in Radio & Records:
http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRWebSite/NewsStoryPage.aspx?ContentID=wPaK7FCn7ik%3d&Version=1

16) Groveland, California Innkeepers Take On Map Providers
Push to change route drivers are given to a less dangerous approach.
Link to story in The Union Democrat:
http://www.uniondemocrat.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=25158

17) Road to Mayhem
Editorial calls for improvements to Virginia’s I-81, including better management and information.
Link to editorial in the Daily Press:
http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-ed_i81_edit_1205dec05,0,650819.story


News Releases

1) US Coast Guard Takes Delivery of High-Tech Facility
2) Fredericton Partners with Google to Launch Transit Trip Planner
3) Hughes Telematics Announces Comprehensive New Technology Partnership with Mercedes-Benz USA
4) TomTom and Google Maps Work Together to Send Business Info to TomTom Users
5) Iteris Awarded ITS Contract for I-35W Bridge Replacement in Minneapolis
6) Greater Toronto Transportation Authority Rebrands Itself as Metrolinx – Creates New Interactive Web Site


Upcoming Events
2008 Motorcoach Expo – January 16-20 – San Francisco
http://www.motorcoachexpo.com/


Today in Transportation History
1879 – Clyde Cessna, an airplane designer and manufacturer, was born in Iowa.
http://www.wingsoverkansas.com/profiles/article.asp?id=66

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© 2007 Bernie Wagenblast