Monday, November 24, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, November 24, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

Join IBTTA for the 2008 Transportation Finance Summit, December 7-9, 2008 in Washington, DC

Hear industry experts discuss solutions to the huge challenge of funding, maintaining, and operating surface transportation infrastructure in a stressed global environment. Special guests include U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and Former Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Richard Gephardt. This year, a special Pre-Summit CFO Roundtable will be held on Sunday, December 7, in partnership with The Transportation Transformation Group. This four-hour session will focus on the nuts and bolts issues affecting CFO's and associated professionals in our industry. Jane Garvey, Head of U.S. Public-Private Partnerships at JPMorgan and a Department of Transportation Review Team Lead by the Office of President-Elect Obama, will kick off the Roundtable. Visit IBTTA’s website to download the program, find the details and register online today!


AVIATION

1) Blogging from 25,000 Feet
Link to CNET News story:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10106175-94.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0

MARITIME

2) South Korea to Launch Maritime Weather Satellite Next Year
Link to Xinhua story:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/23/content_10400234.htm

ROADWAYS

3) Traffic Control Devices, Visibility, and Highway-Rail Grade Crossings 2008
Link to report from the Transportation Research Board:
http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9726

SAFETY / SECURITY

4) New Machines Scan IDs at US Border Crossings
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2008-11-23-passport-chips_N.htm

5) Intelligent Cars the Only Option to Stop Accidents
Link to story in the Business Daily:
http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11389&Itemid=5843

6) New US Air Security Rules Create Turbulence in Canada
Link to Canadian Press story:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gSuMNqicpgXCtGuZhZZTf79I9VSw

7) New Roadside Vests Spark Controversy
Link to story in The Saginaw News:
http://www.mlive.com/saginawnews/news/index.ssf/2008/11/new_roadside_vests_spark_contr.html
Link to further information from the Federal Highway Administration:
http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=483

TRANSIT

8) Left Turns Blamed in Houston Light Rail Collisions
Traffic signals adjusted and in-pavement flashing lights added to cut down on crashes.
Link to column in the Houston Chronicle:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/moveit/6128963.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

9) New Communications System Should Improve Traffic Flow in Macomb County, Michigan
Link to story in The Source:
http://www.sourcenewspapers.com/stories/112308/loc_story19001.shtml

10) Nova Scotia Transportation Minister Vows to Renew Public Confidence After Traffic Jam
Link to Canadian Press story:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gTqTwNm6XilXstLOIAitPobBrKFg

VEHICLES

11) Hot Technology Moves Down the Food Chain
Link to MarketWatch story:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/hot-technology-moves-down-food/story.aspx?guid=%7B524EF86E%2D6D2B%2D4201%2D8E3F%2D4457E1BBD0A3%7D

12) Future Vehicles May Provide Traffic Updates – and More
Link to story in Newsday:
http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-liroad245940128nov24,0,807303.story

13) Infotainment in an AUTOSAR Environment
Link to story in Automotive DesignLine Europe:
http://www.automotivedesign-europe.com/howto/212200051;jsessionid=1MORREYJU4GDWQSNDLOSKHSCJUNN2JVN


News Releases
1) FAA Gives Green Light to NextGen Satellite System
2) Government of Canada Coordinates Joint Transit Security Exercise
3) New Generation of GPS Smart Phones Generating Renewed Momentum for the LBS Infrastructure Industry
4) Traveling with American Airlines’ New Mobile Boarding Pass
5) Commuters Report Pressure from the Boss and a Desire to Stay Connected as Top Reasons for Reading E-Mail While Driving, New Study Finds
6) Gatso USA Introduces Industry's First Amber Alert Photo Enforcement Camera -- Helping Police Stop Child Abductions


Upcoming Events
Talking Freight Webinar: Establishment Surveys in Freight Transportation – December 10
https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webConfID=15724


Today in Transportation History
1943 **65th anniversary** - The USS Liscome Bay was torpedoed and sunk near Tarawa with a loss of 646 men.
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l7/liscome_bay.htm

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