Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

Third Transportation Book by Joseph M. Giglio in Three Years: Judges of the Secret Court

Using the techniques of popular fiction, Giglio dramatizes how America's transportation system can be transformed into a vigorous engine for economic growth-and to make clear that our ability to meet the challenges of an increasingly competitive global economy depend on this transformation.
The book gives today's savvy readers a refreshing dose of real-world insights into creating a "New Covenant" on transportation-between the federal government, state and local governments, and private enterprise-that will not simply repair a broken transportation system, but will turn it into a crucial generator of economic growth. Copies of the book are available for purchase at www.Amazon.com and at www.hudson.org/bookstore.

AVIATION

1) Airlines Turn Attention to New In-Flight Entertainment Technology
Link to story in Flight International:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/09/02/315371/airlines-turn-attention-to-new-in-flight-entertainment.html

2) Harris Corp. Defends Phone System FAA Air-Traffic Controllers Use
Link to story in the Orlando Sentinel:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-harris0308sep03,0,6384526.story

MARITIME

3) Port of Seattle Gets Federal Grant for RFID
Link to story in RFIDNews:
http://www.rfidnews.org/2008/09/02/port-of-seattle-gets-federal-grant-for-rfid

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

4) Teaching Older People How to Use Brisbane’s Public Transport System
Link to story in the Westender:
http://www.westender.com.au/news/146
Link to additional information on UQDRIVE: http://www.uq.edu.au/uqdrive

ROADWAYS

5) Safety Research on Highway Infrastructure and Operations: Improving Priorities, Coordination, and Quality
Link to report from the Transportation Research Board:
http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9151

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) Gustav Response Highlights US Army’s Improvement in Disaster Communications
Link to story on NextGov:
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20080902_8272.php?zone=ngtoday

7) FEMA Launches MySpace Widget
Offers aid, information and awareness for those affected by Gustav.
Link to story in USA Today:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/technologylive/2008/09/victims-of-hurr.html

8) Assessment of the State of the Practice and State of the Art in Evacuation Transportation Management
Link to technical memorandum from the Federal Highway Administration:
http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop08014/index.htm

TELEMATICS

9) China Automotive Market Looking at Telematics
Link to story in GPS World:
http://cp.gpsworld.com/gpscp/Avionics+&+Transportation+News/China-Automotive-Market-Looking-at-Telematics/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/547482?contextCategoryId=39059

10) TrafficCast Taps Motorola Exec as CEO
Link to story in the Chicago Tribune:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chicago-trafficcast-sep03,0,825788.story
Link to news release from TrafficCast:
http://www.trafficcast.com/news_08_09_03.htm

TRANSIT

11) Mobile Phones to be Used as Oyster and Credit Cards
Londoners may soon be able to use cell phones to pay fare on public transport.
Link to story in the Evening Standard:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23549348-details/Go-ahead+for+Oyster+phones/article.do

12) Rude Calgary Transit Riders Face Crackdown
Two hundred thirty tickets issued for foul language.
Link to story in the Calgary Herald:
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/city/story.html?id=6e2fbc80-8277-4951-8344-b60683926f71

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) 511 a Good Substitute for Freeway Call Boxes in San Francisco Bay Area
Link to story in the San Francisco Chronicle:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/03/BA7212MQS2.DTL

14) Proposed Traffic Data System Hits Roadblock in Connecticut
Regional planning group says 511 system and traffic camera feed to first responders may be too much of a luxury.
Link to story in the New Haven Register:
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2008/09/03/news/a1_--_511_plan.txt

15) Sprint Readies WiMAX Location-Based Services
Users will have access to local information including real-time traffic and weather.
Link to story in Telecommunications:
http://www.telecommagazine.com/newsglobe/article.asp?HH_ID=AR_4410

16) ITS/Operations Resource Guide 2008 Now Available from US DOT
Link to further information:
http://www.its.dot.gov/press/resourceguide_2008.htm

VEHICLES

17) An Area in Downtown Tampa Makes Some Car Systems Go Haywire
Link to story in the St. Petersburg Times:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/bizarre/article792608.ece



News Releases
1) Inrix Expands Management Team and Establishes Inrix European Headquarters
2) Redline Products Installed to Provide Wi-Fi Access for Utah Commuters
3) SAIC Awarded $125 Million Contract by US DOT – Will deliver communications, navigation and surveillance solutions to Volpe Center
4) Mark IV Successfully Demonstrates Toll and Parking Applications Using 5.9GHz DSRC
5) Navteq Traffic Patterns Now Available in Europe


Upcoming Events
15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems – November 16-20 – New York City
http://www.itsworldcongress.org/


Today in Transportation History
1978 **30th anniversary** -- Eight new stations opened on the Montreal Metro.
http://www.stm.info/English/metro/a-index.htm

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