Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 -- ISSN 1529-1057

TIC from GEWI means Proven Interoperability

Whether you need to share, view, collect, aggregate, or distribute data between agencies, offices, control centers, districts, counties, states, or even countries, TIC can be configured to your interoperability requirements using this highly-flexible commercial off-the-shelf solution (COTS). TIC has a 12 year track record and is proven worldwide, such as by the European Road Information Center (ERIC) which provides 100% live data interoperability between 22 countries in seven different languages. TIC is already operating in over 100 projects worldwide and can be deployed faster, more affordably, and with less risk than build-your-own solutions. Why reinvent the wheel?To download a brochure and leaflets, please visit www.gewi.com. To discuss your questions and requirements, please contact jim.oneill@gewi.com.


AVIATION

1) US Airways CEO Got Early Flight 1549 Info Via TV
Airline’s operations center used later to coordinate response.
Link to AP story:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/US-Airways-CEO-got-some-apf-14734819.html

2) Onboard Device Could Offer Clue to Montana Crash
Link to story in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/25/us/25crash.html

RAILROADS

3) IBM Hops Aboard High-Speed Rail
Link to CNET News story:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10203013-54.html

4) CSX Upgrades Signals – End of Era
Railroad is replacing semaphores with wireless communications in Indiana counties.
Link to story in the Journal & Courier:
http://www.jconline.com/article/20090325/NEWS/903250334

ROADWAYS

5) New Brunswick Tourism Signs Stir Debate
$450,000 redesign of scenic drive markers hailed as improvement, criticized as confusing.
Link to story in the Times & Transcript:
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/614131

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) US Homeland Security Chief May Eliminate Color-Coded Alerts System: It’s of ‘Marginal Utility’
Link to story in the Daily News:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/03/24/2009-03-24_homeland_security_chief_may_eliminate_co.html

7) States See IT, Other Delays Costing Them on Real ID
Link to story in Federal Computer Week:
http://fcw.com/articles/2009/03/25/states-see-prohibitive-costs-from-real-id-act.aspx

8) Inspector General: Transportation Security Administration Known Shipper Management System Database Behind Schedule
Link to story in Federal Computer Week:
http://fcw.com/articles/2009/03/25/tsa-known-shipper-database-behind-schedule.aspx
Link to report: http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIGr_09-35_Mar09.pdf

TRANSIT

9) MIT Tries to Bring NFC to Everyday Life
Link to story on ContactlessNews:
http://www.contactlessnews.com/2009/03/24/mit-tries-to-bring-nfc-to-every-day-life

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) Urban Partnership Agreements: Congestion Relief Initiative Holds Promise; Some Improvements Needed in Selection Process
Link to report from the US Government Accountability Office:http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-154

VEHICLES

11) Road Sense
Intelligent driving system allows vehicle to drive itself.
Link to story in The Engineer:
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/310568/Road+sense.htm


News Releases
1) DC Metro ‘Tweets’ Rail Service Delay Information
2) The European Commission Welcomes Today's Decision of the European Parliament to Support the Single European Sky Package
3) American Airlines Offers New AA.com/women Online Content


Job Posting
- Transportation Program Specialist – Federal Transit Administration, US DOT – Washington, DC
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=80051214&AVSDM=2009%2D03%2D23+00%3A03%3A01&Logo=0&jbf574=TD09&FedEmp=N&sort=rv&vw=d&ss=0&brd=3876&FedPub=Y&caller=/agency_search.asp&SUBMIT1.x=107&SUBMIT1.y=13


Upcoming Events
International Satellite Navigation Forum – May 12-15 – Moscow
http://www.glonass-forum.ru/eng/


Today in Transportation History
1634 **375th anniversary** - The first European settlers came ashore in Maryland.
http://www.marylandtheseventhstate.com/article1001.html

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© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast