Thursday, December 4, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Thursday, December 4, 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) Boarding Helps You Find Other Stranded Passengers
Link to CNET News story:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10112491-2.html
Link to Boarding Project: http://www.blogitexpress.com/boarding.to

2) Malcolm Gladwell on Culture, Cockpit Communication and Plane Crashes
Link to blog from The Wall Street Journal:
http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2008/12/04/malcolm-gladwell-on-culture-cockpit-communication-and-plane-crashes/

CAMERAS

3) Dallas Judge’s Ruling Calls Texas Red Light Camera Fines Into Question
Link to story in The Dallas Morning News:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/crime/stories/120308dnmetredlight.28d4d43d.html

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) Crescent City Connection Audit Recommends Dumping Toll Booths for Electronic Tags
Link to story in The Times-Picayune:
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/crescent_city_connection_audit.html

RAILROADS

5) Federal Officials May Sign Off on New Metrolink Safety System
Link to story in The Press-Enterprise:
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_train03.45ea2bb.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) Copper Thieves Threaten US Infrastructure, FBI Says
Link to story in Wired:
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/12/copper-thieves.html
Link to FBI report:
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/majorthefts/coppertheft_120308b.htm

TELEMATICS

7) eCall is Possible – Nearly Free of Charge – Continental Presents New eCall Business Models
Link to story on The Auto Channel:
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2008/12/03/277947.html

TRANSIT

8) Will the Los Angeles MTA Get On Board with Google Transit? Maybe, Officials Say
Link to story in the Los Angeles Times:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/12/view-larger-map.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

9) Michigan DOT Explores High-Tech Ways of Tracking Congestion
Link to story in the Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/article/20081204/NEWS10/81204026

10) Tips on How Skiers Can Beat Traffic Snarls on Colorado’s I-70
Link to story in the Rocky Mountain News:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/03/cdot-offers-skiers-i-70-little-online-help/

VEHICLES

11) Big 3’s Woes Hurting Car Stereo and Navigation Suppliers
Link to story from Aftermarket Business:
http://aftermarketbusiness.search-autoparts.com/aftermarketbusiness/Distribution/Big-3rsquos-woes-hurting-car-stereo-and-navigation/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/569384?ref=25


News Releases
1) TomTom Announces Online Route Planner
2) FAA Breaks Ground for New Air Traffic Control System Command Center
3) European Commission Proposes New Rights for Bus and Maritime Passengers
4) Washington Metro Unveils New Web Site


Job Postings
- GIS Planner/Analyst II/III – Metropolitan Transportation Commission – Oakland, California
http://www.transittalent.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=5720
- Senior Program Director – AECOM – Oakland, California
http://www.transittalent.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=5703
- School of Engineering Junior Faculty Position in Transportation – Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Cambridge, Massachusetts
https://school-of-engineering-faculty-search.mit.edu/soe-transportation.adp


Upcoming Events
Webinar: Mobile Technology for Public Works Use – March 12
http://www.apwa.net/Events/eventdetail.asp?ID=5153


Today in Transportation History
1918 **90th anniversary** - US President Woodrow Wilson sails for France on the USS George Washington, becoming the first president to travel to Europe while in office.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-g/id3018.htm

=============================================================================================
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