Monday, December 15, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, December 15, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

Off-the-shelf TIC from GEWI Provides Highly Configurable 511 Solutions

With worldwide experience in over 100 projects, GEWI’s off-the-shelf TIC provides proven and highly configurable solutions which can be deployed faster, more affordably, and with less risk than build-your-own solutions. Data can be created by users or collected from service providers. Data can be automatically selected and personalized before being sent as information and alerts. Data can be distributed to web sites, IVR, mobile phone text, navigation devices, and even radio stations for time-scrolled announcements. Data can include speed & flow, traffic events, roadside camera images, weather, travel & tourism information, sponsorships, parking availability, fuel prices, and more. With the new TIC3 architecture, the only limitation… is your imagination! Visit www.gewi.com to download a brochure and specific use-case leaflets, or contact jim.oneill@gewi.com to discuss your requirements.


AVIATION

1) Delta to Introduce Wi-Fi on Some Shuttle Flights
Link to story in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/14/AR2008121401935.html
Link to news release from Delta:
http://news.delta.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=11196

CAMERAS

2) Brookline, Massachusetts Wary of Surveillance Cameras
Residents resist installation push while police say they would be used to manage traffic and investigate crime.
Link to story in The Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/12/15/brookline_wary_of_surveillance_cameras/

OTHER

3) Grass-roots Transportation Organization Taking Root in Northeast Missouri
Link to story in the Hannibal Courier-Post:
http://www.hannibal.net/news/x1435858223/Grass-roots-transportation-organization-taking-root-in-Northeast-Missouri
Link to additional information on the Missouri Transportation Alliance:
http://www.missouritransportation.org/

4) Legislation Would Turn New Jersey School Buses Into Billboards
Link to story in The Press of Atlantic City:
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/186/story/346375.html

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

5) Video Explains Changes to Traffic Signs in Livonia, Michigan
Link to story in the Observer & Eccentric:
http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20081214/NEWS10/812140548
Link to video:
http://www.ci.livonia.mi.us/bins/site/content/LivoniaVideo/VideoScripts/safety_first_traffic_signs.asx

ROADWAYS

6) Engineering New Traffic Patterns, and New Lingo for Them
Link to story in IEEE Spectrum:
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/print/6981

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) Government Accountability Office: US Departments of Homeland Security, Justice and Treasury Drop Major Joint Radio Project
Link to story in Federal Computer Week:
http://www.fcw.com/online/news/154683-1.html

8) EU Emergency Number 112 Now Works in All EU Member States
Link to story in Government Technology:
http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/570939

9) FEMA Looks Ahead on Emergency Warning System
Link to story in Federal Computer Week:
http://www.fcw.com/online/news/154685-1.html

10) Macau Traffic Safety Info Center Receives Active Support from Schools
Link to story in the Macau Daily Times:
http://www.macaudailytimesnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20407&Itemid=28

TRANSIT

11) Washington Metro Closes Doors on Google Transit
Link to story on WRC-TV:
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Metro-Rebuffs-Link-to-Google-Transit.html

12) New Metrolink Safety Plan is Unveiled
Improved internal communication as well as better analysis and tracking of safety violations among recommendations.
Link to story in the Burbank Leader:
http://burbankleader.com/articles/2008/12/13/politics/blr-metrolink13.txt

13) Internet Access Expanding on Massachusetts Commuter Rails
Link to AP story:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iU9_t4WFAIa5jJEMCfcEzl-GqP1gD95392P80

14) South Carolina’s Coast Regional Transportation Authority to Fix ‘Disaster’ on Web
Link to story in The Sun News:
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/story/708962.html
Link to Coast RTA site: http://www.coastrta.com

15) New Image for Washington Metro Web Site
Link to review in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/13/AR2008121301680.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

16) Gauteng Intelligent Transport System Undergoes Final Testing
Link to story in Engineering News:
http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/gauteng-intellgent-transport-system-undergoes-final-testing-2008-12-12
Link to additional information on Gauteng ITS project:
http://www.nra.co.za/live/content.php?Category_ID=57

17) Speed Slashed on Scotland Motorways to Beat Gridlock
Link to story in Scotland on Sunday:
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/scotland/Speed-slashed-to-beat-gridlock.4791597.jp
Link to additional information on the Strategic Transport Projects Review from Transport Scotland:
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/projects/strategic-transport-projects-review

18) ‘Radio Roadworks’ to Guide Drivers Through Edinburgh Trams ChaosLink to story in the Edinburgh Evening News:
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/39Radio-Roadworks39--to-.4791042.jp

19) New Publication: Integrating Weather in TMC Operations
Link to further information from the Federal Highway Administration:
http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=488


News Releases
1) Hotels at Denver Airport Center First in US to Adopt National Incident Management System
2) SkyTeam Unveils Sleek New Web Site


Upcoming Events
4th Annual FHWA/AASHTO Partnering Webinar – January 15
http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webConfID=15495


Today in Transportation History
1978 **30th anniversary** - Anik B1, a Canadian communications satellite, was launched.
http://www.telesatusa.com/satellites/gallery/gallery2-e.asp

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© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast