Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

Join IBTTA at the Toll Road Summit of the Americas – Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 30-April 1, 2008
IBTTA and experts from 20 countries will gather in Buenos Aires to examine an array of institutional models that are now being used to successfully finance and develop both urban and interurban roads. Hosted by AUSA and Associación Argentina de Carreteras, this will be a unique forum for the private and public sectors, as agencies and companies from the Americas and Europe gather to exchange ideas and discuss how to best reduce congestion and improve the flow of goods and people. Download the program, find the details and register online today! www.IBTTA.org


AVIATION

1) A Virtual Travel Agent with All the Answers
Link to column in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/business/04road.html?ex=1362373200&en=d0ed389e64926a03&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all
Link to Ask Jenn: http://activeagent.alaskaair.com/alaskawebui/Agent.aspx

2) Branson’s Online Charter Plane Service Launches
Link to Reuters story:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=bransons-online-charter-p
Link to Virgin Charter: https://www.virgincharter.com/

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) Satellite Navigation to Help at Olympics
Link to AP story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080304/ap_on_re_as/beijing_transportation

TELEMATICS

4) Study Shows Drivers Want Assistance, But Don’t Want to Lose Control
Link to story in Motor Age:
http://motorage.search-autoparts.com/motorage/Customer+Service/Study-shows-drivers-want-assistance-but-dont-want-/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/499838?contextCategoryId=43145
Link to news release from Harris Interactive:
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1283

TRANSIT

5) Privacy Czar Okays Toronto Transit Cameras
But commissioner puts limits on storage and use of images.
Link to story in the Toronto Star:
http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/308892
Link to further information from the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario:
http://www.ipc.on.ca/index.asp?navid=55&fid1=737

6) Hacker Costly for California Transit Agency
Link to story in the Marin Independent Journal:http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_8444654
Link to Transportation Authority of Marin site: http://www.tam.ca.gov/

7) Overly Chatty VRE, Metro Announcements Jangle the Nerves
Link to story in The Free Lance-Star:
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/022008/02242008/357571

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

8) Australian Firm Seeks to Cash In on Indian Market for Traffic Information
Link to story on livemint:
http://www.livemint.com/2008/03/05000407/Australian-firm-seeks-to-cash.html


News Releases
1) Econolite and Uniloc Partner to Bring Unmatched Infrastructure Security to Advanced Traffic Control Networks with Launch of StrongPoint
2) CITE and FHWA Introduce New Blended Course: Principles and Tools of Road Weather Management
3) Oregon Public Safety Exercise Shows Value of Interoperable Communications in a Disaster
4) Utah State University Buses Can Now be Tracked Online
5) TomTom Unveils New High Definition Traffic Receiver


Solicitation
- Request for Information and Comment - Development and Application of Crash Warning Interface Metrics - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
http://frwebgate3.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=6706437125+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve


Upcoming Events
New York Metropolitan Transportation Council Annual Meeting – March 13 – New York City
http://www.nymtc.org/mainpage/March%2013%20documents/meetingNOTICE031308.pdf


Today in Transportation History
1394 – Henry the Navigator, an early proponent of Portuguese exploration, was born in Oporto, Portugal.
http://www.thornr.demon.co.uk/kchrist/phenry.html

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Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.
© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast