Friday, November 14, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, November 14, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

With TIC, you can let your imagination flow, so let us know… at the ITS World Congress next week!Did you know that TIC is not just for traffic? For example, did you know that some customers uses TIC for radio program associated data (PAD) such as song title, artist photo, and schedules, for broadcasting over FM radio data service (RDS) and digital audio broadcast (DAB)? And there’s much more. With the new TIC architecture, you can let your imagination flow, so why not let us know your ideas, requirements, and even your problems, at the ITS World Congress? TIC is a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) platform solution proven in over 100 projects operating worldwide, and can be deployed faster, more affordably, and with less risk than build-your-own solutions. See TIC at GEWI booth #1025 at the ITS World Congress, New York City, or contact jim.oneill@gewi.com to discuss your requirements.


AVIATION

1) Probe Finds FAA Hid Dallas Airport Safety Errors
Link to AP story:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hXbhVyxRItBGiptRL2qZj1erGXJwD94EE4D80
Link to further information from the US DOT Inspector General:http://www.oig.dot.gov/StreamFile?file=/data/pdfdocs/OIG_Report-April_2008.pdf

2) Losing Face
A tale of two airlines and their Facebook fiascos.
Link to story in The Economist:
http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12566818

3) Helicopter Panel to Work Behind Closed Doors
Maryland experts will consider new guidelines for flying accident patients to trauma centers.
Link to story in The Gazette:
http://gazette.net/stories/11142008/polinew201629_32485.shtml

CAMERAS

4) Photo Radar Company Sues Rival in Arizona Suit
Link to AP story:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_az_photo_radar.html

MARITIME

5) New Jersey State Police Push Maritime Security
Hundreds of signs erected along coastline with tip number for suspicious activity.
Link to story in Today’s Sunbeam:
http://www.nj.com/sunbeam/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1226639419100130.xml&coll=9

OTHER

6) US Government Accountability Office: Department of Homeland Security Should Resolve Issues with Satellite Imagery
Link to story in Federal Computer Week:
http://www.fcw.com/online/news/154351-1.html

ROADWAYS

7) Road Tolls for Whom, Transport Canada Asks
Link to story in The Globe and Mail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081114.TOLLS14/TPStory/National

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) TB Data Shared Too Late to Stop Traveler
Link to story in The Washington Times:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/14/tb-data-shared-too-late-to-stop-traveler/
Link to GAO report: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0958.pdf

9) Florida Budget Cuts Threaten to End Amber Alerts
Link to story on WJXT-TV:
http://www.news4jax.com/news/17981959/detail.html

TRANSIT

10) GO Transit Plans Friendlier Delay Notices
Link to story in the National Post:
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/toronto/story.html?id=948886

11) Denver RTD Gives Up on Light-Rail Announcements Downtown
Automated ‘next train’ public address and electronic sign notifications faced technical difficulties.
Link to story in The Denver Post:
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_10980384

12) Toronto Transit Riding Made Easy with iPhone Applilcation
Link to story in the Toronto Star:
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/535279

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) Concerns with Highway Alert Signs in Florida
Link to story and video report on WBBH-TV:
http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=23063&z=14

14) Hungarian TMC Research Consortium Presents First Results
Link to story from ERTICO-ITS Europe:
http://www.ertico.com/en/news_and_events/ertico_newsroom/general_news_hungarian_tmc_research_consortium_presents_first_results.htm

VEHICLES

15) Chip Identification System for Cars in Portugal in 2009
Link to story in The Portugal News:
http://www.the-news.net/cgi-bin/google.pl?id=985-17


News Releases
1) Texas Transportation Institute Issues Invitation to 2008 Traffic Safety Conference, November 17-19
2) ATX Unveils Hands-Free Web Surfing from Inside the Car


Job Postings
- Executive Director – Regional Transportation Program – Portland, Maine
http://www.transittalent.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=5250
- Maintenance Supervisor – Bombardier Transportation – Ottawa, Ontario
http://www.transittalent.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=5240


Upcoming Events
NAVITEC 2008 4th ESA Workshop on Satellite Navigation User Equipment Technologies – December 10-12 - Noordwijk, The Netherlands
http://www.congrex.nl/08c19/


Friday Bonus
At least this explanation gets directly to the reason for the accident.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcU4t6zRAKg


Today in Transportation History
1832 – The first streetcar in the US, a horse-drawn vehicle, went into operation in New York City.
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/images/john_mason_001.jpg

=============================================================================================
The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.
To subscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

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