Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, June 25, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

Request for Qualifications for the Upgrade and Enhancement to the Tolling System for the Pocahontas Parkway

Transurban (895) LLC wishes to solicit qualifications from those interested in contracting for the design, roadside equipment and back office software and hardware supply, system installation and integration of the tolling system upgrade and enhancement for the Pocahontas Parkway in Henrico County, Virginia. Transurban intends to complete this work under a single contract. Interested parties should go to the Pocahontas Parkway website at www.Pocahontas895.com to download a complete copy of the Request for Qualifications, or call Rich Prezioso at (804) 822-3422 to obtain a copy. Qualifications submissions will be due on July 21, 2008.


AVIATION

1) EU: Air Fares Must Show All Taxes, Surcharges
Link to AP story:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-06-24-eu-fares_N.htm

2) Travelers Can Soon Book Reservations, Buy Tickets at Dayton, Ohio Airport Site
Link to story in the Dayton Daily News:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/06/25/ddn062508flightsweb.html

MARITIME

3) Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Launches Wireless Internet on Commuter Boats
Link to story in The Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/06/25/mbta_launches_wireless_internet_on_commuter_boats/

RAILROADS

4) How Amtrak Deployed Wi-Fi on Its Trains
Link to interview on SearchNetworking:
http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/news/interview/0,289202,sid7_gci1318622,00.html

ROADWAYS

5) ‘Audible’ Traffic Signals No Match for Din of Traffic
Link to story in the Toronto Star:
http://www.thestar.com/GTA/Fixer/article/448731

6) Ohio DOT Rejects Deal from Highway Sign Company
Firm offers to share revenues from blue highway exit sign program.
Link to story in The Columbus Dispatch:
http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/06/25/sign_side.ART_ART_06-25-08_B1_K8AJ0ME.html?sid=101

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) As the Roads Turn Gray, Ways to Make Driving Safer
Link to story in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/automobiles/22OLDER.html?_r=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin

8) US Transportation Security Administration Set to Examine TWIC Card Readers
Link to story in Federal Computer Week:
http://www.fcw.com/online/news/152953-1.html#

9) Feds: Drivers Don’t Have to Hang Up Phones
Link to story from Automotive News:
http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080625/FREE/356344909/1005

10) More States Say Cell Phones and Driving Don’t Mix
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/phones/2008-06-24-cellphone-car-driving-headset_N.htm

TELEMATICS

11) More Telematics Options Coming Soon
Link to story in Consumer Reports:
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2008/06/hugh-telematics.html?EXTKEY=I72RSC0

TRANSIT

12) Mass Transit Meets Mass Media
Increase in advertising on buses and light-rail cars is a trend that's paying off for Minnesota’s Metro Transit.
Link to story in the Pioneer Press:
http://www.twincities.com/ci_9686409

13) Dutch Researchers Break Security of London’s Oyster Transport Card
Link to story in ComputerWeekly:
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2008/06/25/231206/dutch-researchers-break-security-of-londons-oyster-transport.htm

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

14) Cumulus Media, Hubbard Ally with Broadcaster Traffic Consortium
Link to story in Radio Ink:
http://www.radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.asp?hid=142676
Link to news release from the Broadcaster Traffic Consortium:
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/200806250951PR_NEWS_USPR_____CLW053.htm

15) New Pennsylvania DOT Web Site Provides Live Camera Views Along I-81 Corridor
Link to story on WNEP-TV:
http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=8554480
Link to site: http://67.62.24.187/PAScranton/

16) RITA Administrator: San Francisco Poised to Revolutionize Future Transportation Systems
Link to blog entry from US Department of Transportation:
http://fastlane.dot.gov/secretarysblog/2008/06/rita-administra.html
Link to news release from US DOT:
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/rita0108.htm

VEHICLES

17) Chrysler Will Offer Wireless Internet Access in 2009 Models
Link to story in the Los Angeles Times:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wificar25-2008jun25,0,1676276.story

18) Automotive Industry is Hostile to Innovation, Study Says
Link to story in EE Times Eastern Europe:
http://www.eetimes.eu/eastern_europe/208800700?cid=RSSfeed_eetimesEU_easternEurope


News Releases
1) US DOT Partners with Caltrans to Move California Drivers One Step Closer to Instant Travel Information and Safety Technologies
2) Georgia 511 Reaches 1 Million Call Milestone
3) The European Commission Launches Single European Sky II for Safer, Greener and More Punctual Flying
4) Intelligent Transportation Society of America Releases RFP for Public Relations Services


Upcoming Events
Reducing Driver Distraction: Improving Safety Behind the Wheel Telephone/Webcast – August 14
http://www.sae.org/servlets/pdEvent?OBJECT_TYPE=PDEventInfo&PAGE=getPDEventInfo&EVT_NAME=C0816


Today in Transportation History
1938 **70th anniversary** - Manchester Airport opened as Ringway Airport.
http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf/Content/celebrates70years

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