Thursday, October 30, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Thursday, October 30, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

Tickets Going Fast for the 15th World Congress on ITS “Night in Times Square”

Join fellow 15th World Congress on ITS participants for a truly special evening on Wednesday, November 19 as the World Congress takes over the ESPN Zone in Times Square. Tickets are selling quickly and there may be limited availability once you get to World Congress in November. Located in the heart of Times Square, the ESPN Zone is a world where sport is king. You’ll enjoy a tasty menu featuring generous portions of expertly prepared American grill food, an arena of interactive games and attractions, and an unparalleled sports viewing experience. Don’t miss this exciting networking opportunity. Tickets are $75.00 and can be purchased at www.itsworldcongress.org.


AVIATION

1) FAA Convenes Joint-Effort Runway Safety Council
Link to story on the Aero-News Network:
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=57ade608-dfa0-4d9c-8b41-4adf6f6b0cb2

2) San Francisco International to Test System that Checks Runway Traffic
Link to story in the San Francisco Chronicle:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/30/BAKU13QL29.DTL

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) TomTom to Offer Off-Board Navigation in First Half of 2009
Link to story in GPS Business News:
http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/index.php?action=article&numero=1133&TOKEN_RETURN

MARITIME

4) Post September 11 Seaports Security Program has More Problems
Link to AP story:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jIamqyZEQR62GMgBUJInyZALOKKwD944EJK80

ROADWAYS

5) New Plan for Closures of I-70 Through Colorado’s Vail Pass
The goal of the plan is to reduce gridlock and better provide information to travelers.
Link to story in the Vail Daily:
http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20081029/NEWS/810299914/1068

6) Minneapolis Bridge Collapse a Cache of Lessons Learned
New 800 MHz radios and relationships built during five years of exercises allowed for organized communication instead of chaos.
Link to story in Government Technology:
http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/426262

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) FCC 700 MHz ‘D Block’ Public Safety Plan Critically Flawed
Link to story in Government Technology:
http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/426176

8) Combating Nuclear Smuggling: DHS's Phase 3 Test Report on Advanced Portal Monitors Does Not Fully Disclose the Limitations of the Test Results
Link to US Government Accountability Office report:
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08979.pdf

TELEMATICS

9) Telematics, Rural Carriers Object to Universal Service Fund Plan
ATX Group predicts location-based emergency communications services delivered to vehicles could be cut off.
Link to story in WirelessWeek:
http://www.wirelessweek.com/article.aspx?id=163972
Link to news release from ATX Group:
http://www.atxg.com/node/164

TRANSIT

10) Dallas Transit Throws All Men Under the Bus in Male-Bashing Ad Campaign
Link to column in The National Post:
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/10/29/barbara-kay-the-dallas-area-rapid-transit-dart-is-complicit-in-throwing-all-men-under-the-bus-in-a-vicious-male-bashing-ad-campaign.aspx

VEHICLES

11) Autonet Car-Based Wi-Fi System was Neat but a Bit Bumpy
Link to column in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2008-10-29-baig-autonet-review_N.htm

12) Articles from New York Times Special Auto Show Section
- Loading Up on TVs and iPhones
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/automobiles/autospecial2/30after.html?partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all
- Your 0-to-60 Time? Just Ask Your iPhone
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/automobiles/autospecial2/30phone.html?ref=autospecial2
- Gadgets that Improve Life Behind the Wheel
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/automobiles/autospecial2/30gadget.html?ref=autospecial2
- Warning! Traffic Jam Straight Ahead
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/automobiles/autospecial2/30traffic.html
- Keeping Your Eyes on the Road
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/automobiles/autospecial2/30distract.html?ref=autospecial2
- When the Roads Talk, Your Car Can Listen
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/automobiles/autospecial2/30sense.html?ref=autospecial2
- Music, Menus and Directions, Too
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/automobiles/autospecial2/30GPS.html?ref=autospecial2


News Releases
1) Tennessee DOT Unveils New SmartWay Web Site
2) Nissan Syncs with Goggle Maps for Easy Navigation
3) Horizon Navigation Integrates Clear Channel Total Traffic Network Into Software
4) Government, Business and Civic Leaders Unveil Maryland Highway Safety Foundation at Press Conference


Upcoming Events
10th Annual ITS Heartland Annual Meeting – March 31-April 1 – Topeka, Kansas
http://matc.unl.edu/itsheartland/annualmeeting.php


Today in Transportation History
1973 **35th anniversary** - The Bosporus Bridge opened in Istanbul, Turkey.
http://www.wan-press.org/article3122.html

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© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast