Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Tuesday, March 25, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) Unmanned Drones to Help with Hurricane Forecasting
But FAA worries they could endanger planes fleeing hurricanes.
Link to story in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbdrones0323sbmar25,0,2643645.story

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

2) Taking the E-Z Way Out
While experts debate how much a Manhattan congestion fee would cut traffic and air pollution, one thing does seem certain: It will boost E-ZPass usage.
Link to column in the Gotham Gazette:
http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2008/03/24/taking-the-e-z-way-out/

3) How Mark IV Beat Amtech to win E-ZPass in 1994 – Inside Story
Link to story in TOLLROADnews:
http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/3464

OTHER

4) March Issue of Florida DOT’s Sunguide Disseminator Online
Link to newsletter:
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/Newsletters/2008/03_2008/03_2008.htm

ROADWAYS

5) Arizona DOT Requests Pedestrian Input on Highway System
Link to story in the Arizona Daily Star:
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/231177 (free registration required)

6) New MUTCD Sign Retroreflectivity Requirements
Link to article in T2 Roads on the Range:
http://wwweng.uwyo.edu/wyt2/newsletters/Winter.pdf (page 3)

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) Arizona Lawmakers Take Issue with Hybrid Driver’s Licenses
The new license would contain an RFID tag that can be scanned at a distance, raising concerns about privacy and cost.
Link to story in Federal Computer Week:
http://www.fcw.com/online/news/152029-1.html

8) Cell Phone Law May Not Make Roads Safer
Link to story in the Los Angeles Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-distract25mar25,1,105874.story (free registration required)

TELEMATICS

9) Honda Tests Inter-Vehicle, Road-to-Vehicle Communication Systems
Link to Nikkei story:
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080325/149370/

TRANSIT

10) Melbourne Public Transport Smart Card Faces Two-Year Delay
Link to story in the Herald Sun:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23428832-29277,00.html

11) Chicago Transit Authority’s Bus Tracker System to be Expanded
Link to story in the Chicago Tribune:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-cta-bus-tracker_25mar25,1,7991054.story

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

12) How Smart Can Intelligent Transportation Get?
Link to story in Better Roads:
http://www.betterroads.com/content/Issue-Story.45.0.html?&no_cache=1&tx_magissue_pi1[showUid]=1076

13) Beating Traffic by Joining the Network
New system takes and shares data from cars.
Link to story and video report in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/24/AR2008032402502.html?sub=AR (free registration required)

14) mSpot Adds Live Traffic Reports
Link to story in Mediaweek:
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003732656
Link to news release from mSpot:
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=835608


News Releases
1) TomTom and Swisscom Sign Agreement to Bring High Definition Traffic to Switzerland
2) Argonne National Laboratory, US DOT Open Transportation Research, Computing Center


Upcoming Events
Fatigue & Work Seminar – May 9 – Chicago
http://www.thebigsleepshow.com/workplace-seminar.php


Today in Transportation History
1958 **50th anniversary** - The Avro Arrow, a Canadian jet interceptor, makes its maiden flight.
http://archives.cbc.ca/science_technology/aeronautics/topics/275/

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© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast