Thursday, August 21, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Thursday, August 21, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

Registration for IBTTA’s 76th Annual Meeting and Exhibition Now Open – Baltimore, MD USA, September 21-24, 2008

Join IBTTA for the most significant gathering of toll industry professionals and business partners in the world. More than 1,000 delegates from 25 countries on six continents will converge on Baltimore’s Waterfront to examine best practices and critical innovations in toll industry finance, marketing, technology, customer service, environmental stewardship, operations, maintenance, and related issues. This meeting is hosted by the Maryland Transportation Authority. Registration cut-off for this meeting is September 5, 2008. For more information, visit IBTTA’s website and register online today! www.IBTTA.org.


AVIATION

1) Few Make Use of US Customs Pilot Plan
Program allows US citizens skip regular customs lines by swiping passport at a special kiosk.
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-08-20-customs_N.htm

2) Air Traffic Control Training Program May Stall
University needs money for tower simulation equipment.
Link to story in The Arizona Republic:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2008/08/21/20080821biz-asupolyair0821.html

3) Two Northwest Airlines Unions Object to Survey Seeking Employees’ Views
Link to story in the Star Tribune:
http://www.startribune.com/business/27207389.html?elr=KArks:DCiU1OiP:DiiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

4) Program to Teach Motorists to Safely Share the Road with Truckers
Link to story in the Times Union:
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=713615

ROADWAYS

5) Walking Human ‘Traffic Lights’ In Guangzhou
Link to story in the China Daily:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-08/21/content_6957993.htm

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) New York Statewide Emergency Radio Network on Ropes
Link to story in The New York Times:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/statewide-wireless-network-on-ropes/

7) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to Send Hours of Service, Electronic Onboard Recorder Rules to Transportation Secretary for Review
Link to story in Transportation Topics:
http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=20399

TRANSIT

8) Bus Systems Lure Riders with Plush Seats and Wi-Fi
Link to AP story:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jyo5_GEnP6yzg-1m6Cez_OfnO4sQD92MQ9HO0

9) Minnesota Rail Project Launches New Web Site
Link to story in Metro Magazine:
http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2008/08/Minn-Rail-project-launches-new-Website.aspx
Link to Northstar Commuter Rail site: http://www.mn-getonboard.com

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) Gwinnett County, Georgia Traffic Center Gets More Out of Roads
Link to story in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2008/08/20/traffic_center.html

11) Virginia DOT Unveils Improved Version of 511 Traffic Site
Link to story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-08-20-0177.html
Link to site: http://www.511virginia.org

12) Inside Bangalore’s Traffic Control Room
Link to story on Citizen Matters:
http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/view/379-traffic-control-room

13) Kathy Denman Keeps Traffic Center Rolling
A profile of a Syracuse, New York traffic reporter.
Link to story in the Solvay-Geddes Express:
http://www.cnylink.com/cnynews/view_news.php?news_id=1219320036


News Releases
1) National Transportation Safety Board to Offer Training on Emergency Communications Involved in Major Aircraft Accidents
CORRECTION
The wrong link was provided in yesterday’s edition to the news release below.
Yotta Launches World's First Panoramic 60 Megapixel Street-Level Imaging Vehicle


Upcoming Events
Webinar: Complying with the New FHWA Regulation on High Visibility Garments – September 4
http://www.workzonesafety.org/training/webinar/2008_wz_webinar_high_visibility_clothing


Today in Transportation History
1983 **25th anniversary** - Philippine opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr. was assassinated at the Manila International Airport.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/21/newsid_2534000/2534945.stm

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© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast