Friday, August 22, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, August 22, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

North to the Future: Register Now for the 2008 National Rural ITS Conference

Experience all that Alaska has to offer while networking with transportation professionals from across the US when you join us for the 2008 National Rural ITS Conference. "North to the Future" is the theme for the event. Professional tours, mini-training sessions, and in-depth information exchange opportunities make this a can't miss event. It should be noted that many of the offerings have limited space so we encourage you to register early to guarantee your seat! So plan your trip north and we'll see you there! Visit www.nritsconference.org for program details and registration.

With so many critical intermodal transportation challenges faced by frontier states and the innovative solutions these states' agencies implement to address these challenges -- Alaska being a leading example -- the 2008 National Rural ITS Conference, September 3-5, is not to be missed! Hope to see you there!


AVIATION

1) Ads on Nuclear Threat Removed from Democrat and Republican Convention Airports
Link to story in The New York Times;
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/us/politics/22nuke.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all&adxnnlx=1219400593-NoUrt5gso43ABFQW2CA+Xw

2) Mobile X-Ray Inspections of Cargo Trucks are Used in Surprise Test at O’Hare International Airport
Link to story in the Chicago Tribune:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ohare-cargoaug20,0,2884842.story

3) FAA Seeks Pilot Feedback on Flight Services
Link to story on AVweb:
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FAASeeksPilotFeedbackOnFlightServices_198639-1.html

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) Electronic Toll Dodging Cost 661 Million Yen, but Expressway Toll Booth Violations Down for First Time in FY07
Link to story in The Yomiuri Shimbun:
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080823TDY02304.htm

MARITIME

5) NOAA Launches Maritime Weather Web Site
Link to story in Federal Computer Week:
http://www.fcw.com/online/news/153579-1.html
Link to Southeastern US Marine Weather site: http://forecast.weather.gov/mwp/

OTHER

6) Nevada Lawmakers Reject Hotline to Report License Scofflaws
Link to story in the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
http://www.lvrj.com/news/27267944.html

7) Q& A with Mobileye Vision Technologies
Link to interview on just-auto:
http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?id=95782

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

8) Web Site, Tour Invite Input on Georgia Transport Plan
Link to AP story:
http://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8882806
Link to IT3 site: http://www.it3.ga.gov

SAFETY / SECURITY

9) Port’s High-Tech IDs are Causing Concern
Link to story in The Daily Record:
http://www.mddailyrecord.com/article.cfm?id=8360&type=UTTM

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) Michigan Pushes Smart Traffic
Link to story in the Times Herald:
http://www.thetimesherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080822/NEWS01/808220305/1002

VEHICLES

11) Teaching Cars to Sing
Sound engineer gives otherwise silent hybrids a voice.
Link to story in Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/21/singing-prius-lotus-tech-science-cz_cf_0821prius.html


News Releases
1) ITS Midwest Seeks Nominees for 2007-08 ‘Project of the Year’ Award
2) ITS Midwest Extends Date for Abstract Submissions to August 29
3) US Falling Behind in Eco-Friendly Car Electronics, iSuppli Warns
4) Next Generation of Air Traffic Controllers to Benefit from New Tower Control Simulators, US Secretary of Transportation Says
5) FCC’s Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau Announces the Activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) in Response to Tropical Storm Fay
6) Research and Markets: Benchmarking Telematics in Europe Against Global Trends: Discover Opportunities for Reducing Costs and Expanding Business in Europe
7) I-95 Corridor Coalition Hosting a 511 Webinar on Thursday, September 4 at 10:30 am Featuring James Pol of FHWA


Upcoming Events
Talking Freight Seminar: Commercial Motor Vehicle Size and Weight – September 17
http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=457


Friday Bonus
Someone in Vermont apparently thought this sign could use some “dressing” up.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080821/NEWS02/808210392/1003


Today in Transportation History
1963 **45th anniversary** - Joseph Walker reached an altitude of 107.96 km in an X-15, an unofficial world record.
http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/mwade/flights/x15ght91.htm

August 23, 1958 **50th anniversary** - The Federal Aviation Administration was created when the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 was signed by President Eisenhower.
http://www.faa.gov/about/media/b-chron.pdf

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