Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 -- ISSN 1529-1057

BUSES

1) Ahmedabed BRT – A Public Transport System that Thinks
Link to story in The Times of India:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/BRT-_A_public_transport_system_that_thinks_/articleshow/3948862.cms

GPS / NAVIGATION

2) Garmin Introduces Lifetime Map-Update Program
Link to CNET News story:
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-19167_1-10134854-100.html
Link to news release from Garmin:
http://garmin.blogs.com/pr/2009/01/garmin-offers-n.html

ROADWAYS

3) Sensors Monitor Vermont Highway Conditions
Link to story in the Burlington Free Press:
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090107/NEWS02/90106048

4) All-Weather Pavement Marking System Ready for Test
Link to story in Innovator:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/innovator/issue10.cfm#a3

5) Florida DOT’s SMART Moves Newsletter Online
Link to newsletter:
http://www.smartsunguide.com/pdf/SMART%20Moves%20December%20Issue%20FINAL.pdf

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) Management Knew About Train Engineer’s Texting, Lawyers Say
Link to story in the Los Angeles Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-metrolink-crash7-2009jan07,0,385265.story

TELEMATICS

7) Toyota to Launch OnStar Competitor in US
Link to Reuters story:
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE5065GH20090107

8) Airbiquity Shows New Telematics Platform, Including Song Tagging
Link to blog in The Seattle Times:
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/brierdudley/2009/01/06/ces_airbiquity_shows_new_telem.html
Link to news release from Airbiquity:
http://www.airbiquity.com/newspress/pr/pr_010709f.html

9) Convergence is the Name of the Game with In-Car Electronics
Link to story in Consumer Reports:
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/01/in-car-electron.html

TRANSIT

10) TriMet, Portland Not Communicating During Storm, Review FindsLink to story in The Oregonian:
http://www.oregonlive.com/weather/index.ssf/2009/01/trimet_city_not_communicating.html

11) Clean, On Time and Empty. ‘Ghost Bus’ to Spare Ministers’ Blushes
Once a week bus runs to avoid public consultations on discontinued rail service.
Link to story in The Times:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5462099.ece

12) SEPTA to Test ‘Quiet Cars’ on Rush-Hour Trains
Link to story in The Philadelphia Inquirer:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/business/20090107_applegate_SEPTA_to_test__quot_quiet_cars_quot__on_rush-hour_trains.html

13) Chicago Transit Authority, Car Sharing Company Debut Joint Smart Card
Link to story in Metro Magazine:
http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2009/01/CTA-car-sharing-co-debut-joint-smart-card.aspx

14) iGov
How government, including transportation agencies, are opening up on the Web.
Link to story in The Atlantic:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200901/technology-government

15) Transit: Marketing; Bus and Paratransit
Link to papers from the Transportation Research Board:
http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9868

VEHICLES

16) Nissan Recalling More than 240,000 Trucks
Potential damage to crash zone sensor could affect air bags.
Link to AP story:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jRRBuOtCT4REIxcQjCctEgycWVtAD95IDI5G0

17) Christian License Plate Backers Vow to Prevail
Link to story in The Greenville News:
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090107/NEWS01/901070356&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

18) Arizona License Plates to Have Anti-abortion Message Option Soon
Link to Capitol Media Services story:
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/274796


News Releases
1) Northrop Grumman Receives Nationwide Automatic Identification System Contract from US Coast Guard
2) Hughes Telematics Becomes First in Industry to Implement Next Generation Telematics Architecture
3) ecoRoute from Garmin Helps Drivers Save Gas and Money Through Fuel-Efficient Paths, Smarter Driving Habits
4) Garmin’s nüvi 885T Combines Voice Activation, Lane Assist with Junction View and Enhanced MSN Direct Services
5) Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Announces Dual-Brand Telematics Programs: Lexus Enform and Safety Connect Available in 2009
6) Nissan Participates in ITS-Safety 2010 Industry-Wide Test
7) Trafficmaster Launches Its National Digital Traffic Broadcast Service in the UK
8) Get to Work (and Home) on Time with Trafficmaster’s Route Guard


Job Posting
- Transportation Specialist, GS-2101- 15 DP – Federal Highway Administration – Washington, DC
http://tinyurl.com/8pp8fv


Upcoming Events
Mid-America Trucking Show – March 19-21 – Louisville, Kentucky
http://www.truckingshow.com/


Today in Transportation History
1904 **105th anniversary** - The call “C.Q.D.” was announced by the Marconi Company as a distress signal for ships at sea.
http://www.earlyradiohistory.us/1913dist.htm

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© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast