Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

Deadline to Enter ITS America’s Student Essay Competition Approaching September 30

The deadline for entering ITS America's 2008 Student Essay Competition, sponsored by Southwest Research Institute®, is September 30. ITS America’s Student Essay Competition is designed to encourage student interest and future participation in the development of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Three winners will be honored at the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems in New York City, November 16-20, 2008. The winners will receive complimentary registration, airfare and accommodations to attend the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems. The winners will present their essays to the ITS community during the conference’s Research, Integration, Training and Education Forum Showcase. For the list of topics and entry guidelines, visit http://www.itsworldcongress.org/student-essay-competition.html.


AVIATION

1) Edinburgh Airport Improves Transport Information
Link to story on FHR Travel News:
http://www.fhr-net.co.uk/travel_news/1478/edinburgh_airport_improves_transport_information/

CAMERAS

2) $5 Million Traffic-Camera Pact Probed in Washington, DC
Link to story in The Washington Times:
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/17/5-million-traffic-camera-pact-under-scrutiny/

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) Google Adds Street View, Walking Directions to Mobile Devices
Link to story in Computerworld:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9114933&intsrc=hm_list

RAILROADS

4) New Bill Mandates that Railroads Use Collision-Prevention System
Link to Scripps Howard News Service story:
http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/36352

ROADWAYS

5) September Issue of Florida DOT’s SunGuide Disseminator Online
Link to newsletter:
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/Newsletters/2008/09_2008/09_2008.shtm

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) TSA Tests Scanner for Car Bombs
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-17-car-scanner_N.htm

7) US House Panel Gets Static on How to Develop First Responder System
Link to story in Government Executive:
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=40987&dcn=todaysnews

TRANSIT

8) Metrolink Balked at Safety Upgrade’s Cost
Link to story in the Los Angeles Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-traincrash17-2008sep17,0,7005617.story

9) San Francisco Muni Set to Test TransLink Fare Card
Link to story in the San Francisco Chronicle:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/16/BA4C12VKH3.DTL

10) Toronto Smartcard Faces Bumpy Ride
Link to story in the Toronto Star:
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/500521

11) Public Transit 2.0
Mobile Web technology could be the critical ingredient for creating transit systems that better react to the needs of riders.
Link to podcast from Planetizen:
http://www.planetizen.com/node/35009

VEHICLES

12) Experts in a Race to Keep Grandpa on the Road
Technological improvements could extend time behind the wheel.
Link to story in The Globe and Mail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080916.wlcar16/BNStory/lifeMain/


News Releases
1) Southwest Pilots Launch TSA Demonstration Project to Test Biometric Screening
2) Pay-As-You-Drive Service Set to Reduce Emissions and Improve Road Safety in Europe
3) Delaware Builds on E-ZPass Success with PrePass Deployment
4) Report: Drivers Over-Estimate Capabilities of Driving Aids and Safety Systems


Upcoming Events
ITS Canada Annual Conference and General Meeting – May 10-13 – Edmonton, Alberta
http://www.itscanada.ca/edmonton2009/


Today in Transportation History
1908 **100th anniversary** - The first fatality in powered aviation took place at Fort Myer, Virginia. US Army Lt. Thomas Etholen Selfridge died in the crash.
http://www.firstflight.org/shrine/thomas_selfridge.cfm

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© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast