Friday, February 1, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, February 1, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

GPS / NAVIGATION

1) Garmin to Launch GPS Smart Phone
Link to story in Computerworld:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=mobile_devices&articleId=9060618&taxonomyId=75&intsrc=kc_top
Link to news release from Garmin:
http://www8.garmin.com/pressroom/mobile/013008.html

MARITIME

2) US Department of Homeland Security May Target Small Boats for RFID
Link to story in Washington Technology:
http://www.washingtontechnology.com/online/1_1/32182-1.html
Link to report from DHS:
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/small_vessel_NSVSS_Report_HQ_508.pdf

OTHER

3) Ads on School Buses in Works in South Carolina
Link to story in The State:
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/302363.html

4) Interview: Tony Eales CEO at Trafficmaster
Link to interview on RoadTransport:
http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2008/02/01/129691/interview-tony-eales-ceo-at-trafficmaster.html
Link to Trafficmaster: http://www.trafficmaster.co.uk

5) 2008 TRB 87th Annual Meeting: Select Sessions Now Available in Electronic Format
Link to further information from the Transportation Research Board:
http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8666

RAILROADS

6) Maryland and CSX to Share Data
Agreement will help in tracking dangerous cargo.
Link to story in The Baltimore Sun:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.csx01feb01,0,7274458.story
Link to additional information from CSX:
http://www.csx.com/?fuseaction=general.csxo_safety#DOC38171

ROADWAYS

7) Georgia Billboards Will Broadcast Election Results
Link to story in The Atlanta Journal Constitution:
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/01/31/billboards_0201.html (may require free registration)

8) New Illinois Tollway Signs Bearing Governor’s Name Irk Activist
Link to story in the Daily Herald:
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=125560&src=1
Link to sign photo:
http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/uploaded_images/Blago-Tollway%20Sign%20-%20BIG-751645.jpg

9) Flashing Red Left-Turn Lights Blink Out for Good in Michigan
Link to AP story:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/NEWS06/80201024/1008
Link to additional information from the Michigan Department of Transportation:
http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9615_44557-157538--,00.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) New Traffic Device Slows Down Speeders
Sophisticated technology can override gas pedal.
Link to story in the Edmonton Journal:
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/cityplus/story.html?id=730d32ff-c8da-4f5d-a2d2-4214022822a7&k=25274

11) Few Delays as New US Border ID Rules Begin
Link to AP story:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h7YK6qe9Xpfr4heKG3_hRDGJP6jwD8UH6HGG1
Link to border wait times from US Customs and Border Protection:
http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/

TELEMATICS

12) US Senators Raise Privacy Issues about Federal Mileage Tax Proposal
Link to story in Land Line:
http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2008/Jan08/012808/013108-01.htm
Link to hearing information from the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works:
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=ae797cbc-802a-23ad-4a02-f558dda46a0a

13) Sensor Improvements Usher Cars to Safety
Link to story in EE Times Asia:
http://www.eetasia.com/ART_8800500306_480500_NT_dde84341.HTM (may require free registration)

TRANSIT

14) Queensland Government Considering Adding Rail Updates for Radio Traffic Reports
Link to story in the Brisbane Times:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/qld-rail-delays-on-radio-traffic-updates/2008/02/01/1201800983950.html

15) Subways: Going Cellular to Boost Service
Link to story in Metro:
http://www.metro-magazine.com/t_featpick.cfm?id=90511228

16) Emergency Preparedness Guide for Transit Employees on the Job and at HomeLink to guide from US Department of Transportation:http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/Emergency/Emerman.asp

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

17) Pilot Program Gets High Marks from Cities in Crises
REACT provides high-quality traffic control at roadway incidents in Arizona.
Link to story in The Arizona Republic:
http://www.azcentral.com/community/surprise/articles/0131gl-nwvreact0201.html

18) Cell Phones to Monitor Highway Traffic
Students will drive along ten miles of California freeway with GPS-equipped phones for a day-long experiment.
Link to story on ZDNet:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/?p=821
Link to additional information from CITRIS: http://www.citris-uc.org/mobile-century

19) China Sets Up Coal, Electricity Transport ‘Command Center’
Link to Xinhua story:
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-22697422.htm
Link to news release from the PRC State Council:
http://english.gov.cn/2008-02/01/content_878298.htm


News Releases
1) SuperBowlAirspace.com Gives Pilots, Aviation Buffs, Unique Access to Phoenix Skies
2) Sao Tome and Principe Coast Guard Utilizes Latest Technology to Maintain Maritime Safety and Security Within Region
3) Wi-Fi RTLS and Software Service Professionals Will Experience Added Revenue and Expansion
4) Michigan DOT to Podcast Metro Detroit Weekend Construction Updates
5) Accessible Sidewalk Videos Now Available Online
6) CITE and FHWA Introduce New Blended Course: Principles and Tools of Road Weather Management
7) iTravel Project Kicks Off
8) TrafficGauge Mobile Traffic Map Takes Part in a Puget Sound Congestion Information Survey


Upcoming Events
Webinar - Approaches for Building Effective Regional Relationships in the Deployment of ITS – March 4
http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/t3/s080304_integrate.asp


Friday Bonus
You’ve heard of the Bermuda Triangle but how about the Empire State Building Circle?
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/01/27/2008-01-27_empire_state_building_car_zap_mystery.html


Today in Transportation History
1968 **40th anniversary** - The Penn Central Transportation Company is formed through the merger of the New York Central and the Pennsylvania railroads.
http://www.pcrrhs.org/

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© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast