Monday, December 28, 2009

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, December 28, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

---

Registration Opens for ITS America's 20^th Annual Meeting & Exposition, May 3-5, 2010, Houston, Texas

ITS America's 20^th Annual Meeting & Exposition, May 3-5, 2010 in Houston, Texas, will bring together a diverse community of transportation professionals, business leaders, elected officials, and federal and state public agency representatives for three days of thought leadership in the debate over the nation's transportation future. We invite you to take this opportunity to make business connections, experience the most comprehensive exhibition of smart technologies, earn Professional Development Hours, and take home best practices from leading ITS professionals. Special rates are available for public sector employees and first-time attendees. To register, go to www.itsa.org/amregistration.html.

AVIATION

1) US Officials Keeping New Air Security Strategy Intentionally Vague

Link to article from the International Herald Tribune:

http://www.airportbusiness.com/publication/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=33204

2) New, Terrifying, No-Electronics US Flight Security Rules?

Link to CNET News blog:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10422091-1.html

CAMERAS

3) Big Brother's Watching You...Undress

UK traffic camera pointed toward bedroom.

Link to article in The Sun:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2784654/Mum-CCTV-spied-on-bedroom.html

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) Golden Gate Tolls May Go Digital

Link to article in the San Francisco Examiner:

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Golden-Gate-tolls-may-go-digital-80182482.html

OTHER

5) Arizona Lawmaker Wants Tax Info on Gas Pumps

Link to Capitol Media Services article:

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/148844

6) Judge Allows Public Access to New York City Transit-Related Hearings

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/28/judge-allows-public-access-to-transit-related-hearings/

7) Cities Embrace Mobile Apps, ‘Gov 2.0’

Link to CNN story:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/28/government.web.apps/

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) DC Transit Agency Often Slow to Act on Safety Recommendations

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/25/AR2009122501882.html

9) Drink, Drive, Get Blasted on Twitter

Link to story and video on KIAH-TV:

http://www.39online.com/news/local/kiah-dwi-montgomery-story,0,6424023.story

10) 2004 Tsunami Spurred Development of NOAA Warning System

Link to article in Government Computer News:

http://gcn.com/articles/2009/12/28/tsunami-tech.aspx

TELEMATICS

11) 'Car IT Will be Adapted Soon in India'

Link to article in The Economic Times:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/Car-IT-will-be-adapted-soon-in-India/articleshow/5380139.cms

TRANSIT

12) Metrolink Looks to Track Down Federal Money for New Rail Safety System

Link to story and audio report on KPCC Radio:

http://www.scpr.org/news/2009/12/24/ptc-metrolink/

13) A Stated Preference Analysis of Real-Time Public Transit Stop Information

Link to article in the Journal of Public Transportation:

http://www.nctr.usf.edu/jpt/pdf/JPT12-3Caulfield.pdf

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

14) Traffic Reports a Friendly, Informed Voice for Drivers

Link to article in the Chicago Sun-Times:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/1960945,CST-NWS-ride28.article

News Releases

1) CamTran Offers Live Tracking of Buses

2) New Virgin Atlantic Initiative Connects Passengers to Share Airport Taxi Journeys

Upcoming Events

American Traffic Safety Services Association Annual Convention & Traffic Expo – February 14-18 – San Antonio, Texas

http://www.atssa.com/cs/atssa_2010_traffic_expo

Today in Transportation History

1879 **130^th anniversary** - The Tay Bridge Disaster took place when a rail bridge in Scotland collapsed. Seventy-five people died.

http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BoT_TayInquiry1880.pdf

2009 – The Champlain Bridge, which connected West Addison, Vermont and Crown Point, New York, was demolished.

http://www.wcax.com/global/video.asp?clipId=4416474

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: i95berniew@aol.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.

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast www.bwcommunications.net