Friday, December 5, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, December 5, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

IBTTA to Offer Live Webcast of the 2008 Transportation Finance Summit, December 8-9, 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. LIVE WEBCAST: during this meeting, IBTTA will be broadcasting an interactive simulcast webinar. If you are unable to join the Summit in person, be a virtual participant! Featured presenters include: Mary Peters, Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation; and Richard Gephardt, President & CEO, Gephardt Group and Former Majority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives. Visit IBTTA’s website to download the program, and register for the webcast or register to attend in person. Reserve your seat today!


AVIATION

1) Three Airlines Drop Self-Reporting Safety Program
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-12-04-airsafety_N.htm

2) Continental Installs Video on Demand in 757 Fleet
Link to AP story:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Continental-installs-video-on-apf-13757523.html

CAMERAS

3) Two Plan Arizona Initiative to Ban Tickets by Speed Cameras
Link to story in The Arizona Republic:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/12/05/20081205cameraschallenge1205.html

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) Florida Toll Authorities Adding Points to Licenses Retroactively
Link to story on WFTV-TV:
http://www.wftv.com/news/18213970/detail.html

5) Electronic Toll Collection in India
Link to story in Express Computer:
http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20081208/technology01.shtml

OTHER

6) NOAA, NASA Upgrade Weather Satellites
Link to story in Government Computer News:
http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/47687-1.html

RAILROADS

7) Railroad Wires Get a European Checkup
Link to story in The Advocate:
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11144423

ROADWAYS

8) Maintaining Signs Keeps North Dakota, County Workers Busy
Link to story in the Minot Daily News:
http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/521697.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

9) More Problems for Major Post-9/11 Security Program
Link to AP story:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jIamqyZEQR62GMgBUJInyZALOKKwD94S40Q00

10) Driving While Using a Cell Phone Shown to Quadruple Crash Risk
Study says it doesn’t matter if a hands-free device is used.
Link to story in The Baltimore Sun:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.cell05dec05,0,6790417.story
Link to report from AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:
http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/CellPhonesandDrivingReport.pdf

11) Priests Join Efforts to Improve Road Safety in Russia
Link to RIA Novosti story:
http://www.mnweekly.ru/national/20081205/55359975.html

12) Vermont State Police Test Amber Alert System, Find Some Problems
Link to story on WFFF-TV:
http://www.fox44.net/Global/story.asp?S=9461242

TRANSIT

13) Company Puts Ads on the Move
Link to story in The Advocate:
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/ci_11144425

VEHICLES

14) Safety Trends in Automotive Electronics
Link to story on evertiq:
http://www.evertiq.com/news/read.do?news=12948

15) Smile, Wink, Frown: Cool, but How Does It Say ‘Back Off’?
Car Window Emoticon can be used to send a message to drivers behind you.
Link to column in The Oregonian:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2008/12/smile_wink_frown_cool_but_how.html


Upcoming Events
New York National Boat Show – December 13-21 – New York City
http://www.nyboatshow.com


Friday Bonus
I thought the drop in fuel prices might bring some relief, but one airline has expanded the fees they charge.
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/american_airlines_now_charging


Today in Transportation History
1958 **50th anniversary** - The Preston Bypass, the UK’s first motorway, opened.
http://www.cbrd.co.uk/histories/openingbooklets/pdf/prestonbypass.pdf

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