Transportation Communications Newsletter: February 2010

Friday, February 26, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, February 26, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

Register Now for IBTTA’s Organization Management Workshop – April 18-20, 2010 in Austin, TX    

The toll industry is evolving at an astonishing rate. Driven by financial realities, political change, and technological innovations the industry is facing a wide range of challenges and opportunities and is being forced to respond to them at lightning speed. Join the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, April 18-20, 2010 in Austin, TX and keep your organization current on the latest industry trends toEnhance Mobility Through Innovation. Main topics will include: communications, winning with the news media, finance trends, reauthorization update, successful project implementation and more. This meeting is ideal for toll industry professionals focused in the areas of communications and marketing, human resources, finance, administration, management and advocacy. Click here for registration, hotel and travel information and to view the preliminary agenda. www.IBTTA.org

CARTOGRAPHY

1) EU Cautions Google Over Street View Photos

Link to CNET News article:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10460355-93.html

2) Missouri DOT Archives Maps Online for Public Use

Link to article in the Joplin Independent:

http://www.joplinindependent.com/display_article.php/staff1267053914

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

3) NXP and IBM Announce Results of Dutch Road Pricing Trial

Link to article in Traffic Technology International:

http://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/news.php?NewsID=19894

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Going Places

Nokia aims to make Ovi Maps a contextual platform at the center of a variety of mobile applications.

Link to article on telecoms:

http://www.telecoms.com/18399/going-places

MARITIME

5) Mobile Cameras Increase Surveillance at Los Angeles Port

Link to AP article:

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14472133

RAILROADS

6) IBM Helps Reinvent Russia’s Railroad

Link to article in IEEE Spectrum:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/it/winner-ibm-helps-reinvent-russias-railroad/1

ROADWAYS

7) Smarter Snowplows

University of Minnesota researchers enhance automated sanding and salting system for plows.

Link to article on UMNews:

http://www.cts.umn.edu/Publications/ResearchENews/2010/02/index.html#smarter

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) FCC to Seek $18 Billion for Emergency Wireless Communications Network

Link to article on NextGov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100225_4181.php

TRANSIT

9) Houston Metro Launches Probe Into Document Shredding

Link to article in the Houston Chronicle:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6883826.html

VEHICLES

10) Toyota Accused of Withholding Test and Design Data

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/27/business/27toyota.html

11) California DMV App Helps iPhone Users Avoid Long Lines

Link to article in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/747323

12) Making the Connected Car a Reality

Link to article in Telematics Update:

http://social.telematicsupdate.com/industry-insight/making-connected-car-reality

News Releases

1) Blog Presents Tips on Designing and Developing Wireless M2M Applications

Upcoming Events

Taipei International Auto Parts & Accessories Show – April 12-15 – Taipei, Taiwan

http://www.taipeiampa.com.tw/index.shtml

Friday Bonus

While I have to give credit to this transit line for not letting a little water stop service, some of these pedestrians, as well as the drivers on the bridge above, might ask them to cut back the speed a bit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzGwUhIXLDk

Today in Transportation History

1870 **140^th anniversary** An experimental pneumatic subway line opened in New York City.

http://www.shohola.com/AlfredBeach/

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit:

http://groups.google.com/group/tcnl/subscribe

If you have any difficulties please contact me at i95berniew@aol.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.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Thursday, February 25, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

Register Now for IBTTA’s Organization Management Workshop – April 18-20, 2010 in Austin, TX    

AVIATION

1) US Senate to Revive Long-Stalled FAA Bill to Modernize Air Traffic System

Link to article in The Dallas Morning News:

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/02/senate-to-revive-long-stalled.html

CAMERAS

2) Victorian Government to Use Noise Cameras from March

System designed to photograph excessively loud trucks.

Link to article in The Motor Report:

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/49893/victorian-government-to-use-noise-cameras-from-march

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) Fatal Yacht Crash Inquiry Blames GPS

Link to Australian Broadcasting Corporation story:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/25/2830316.htm

MARITIME

4) Where’s Your Ferry? Washington State Ferries Launches Real-Time ‘Vessel Watch’

Link to article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/transportation/archives/195289.asp

OTHER

5) Minister, a Monkey Could Have ‘Hacked’ Secret New South Wales Transport Site

Link to article in The Sydney Morning Herald:

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/minister-a--monkey-could-have-hacked--secret-transport-site-20100223-p085.html

6) State Departments of Transportation Lead the Way Using New Media

Link to report from AASHTO:

http://www.transportation.org/sites/publicaffairs/docs/New_Media_Research_Brief.pdf

Link to list of state DOT Twitter and Facebook sites:

http://www.transportation.org/sites/publicaffairs/docs/DOT_Twitter_Facebook_Sites.pdf

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) Human Performance, Information Systems, Simulations, and Visualization

Papers explore driver distraction issues.

Link to reports from the Transportation Research Board:

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/Human_Performance_Information_Systems_Simulation_a_163017.aspx

TRANSIT

8) DC Metro’s Mixing of Signal Part Brands Could Have Caused Crash, Maker Tells NTSB

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/24/AR2010022403006.html

VEHICLES

9) Deadline Looms to Fit All New UK Vehicles with Digital Radio

Link to article in Aftermarket News:

http://www.am-online.com/aftermarket/story/Deadline-looms-to-fit-all-new-vehicles-with-digital-radio/42901645

News Releases

1) Alaska Airlines to Offer Gogo In-flight Internet Service on All Aircraft

2) Port Authority of NY & NJ Improves Reliability of Newark Liberty International Airport Surveillance Cameras and Takes Other Measures to Upgrade Airport Security

3) FEMA Leadership Meets with National Weather Service and European Partners On Large Scale Disaster Preparedness and Ways to Ensure Effective Communication

4) Victorian Roads Get Smarter with New Network Plans

5) IBM Scientists Use Analytics to Break Traffic Gridlock with Personalized Trip Information

Upcoming Events

Aviation Outlook Middle East - North Africa – April 12-15 – Cairo

http://www.terrapinn.com/2010/aome/

Today in Transportation History

1910 **100^th anniversary** - Thomas Edison demonstrated a battery-powered trolley car in New York City.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9401E1D91539E433A25755C2A9649C946196D6CF%7C

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit:

http://groups.google.com/group/tcnl/subscribe

If you have any difficulties please contact me at i95berniew@aol.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.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

Advanced Road Weather Information System by Lufft answers the crucial need for real-time, professional/scientific grade data. Road state information is collected at multiple sites, each containing various meteorological sensors collecting weather information such as temperature (road surface, sub-surface, ambient), relative humidity, water film height, wind speed/direction, road salt concentration and ice hazard, precipitation, and visibility—which is reported to a central location for an up-to-date viewing of incoming data.

Lufft environmental sensors are user-friendly, based on open system architecture and a modular concept, permitting the connection of any combination of Lufft digital sensors, or most analog sensors available on the market today. Please contact us toll–free for more information at 886.466.4836 or visit us on the web at http://www.lufft.us

AVIATION

1) NTSB Asks to Monitor Pilots’ Talk in Cockpits

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-02-23-recorders_N.htm

CAMERAS

2) Wilmington, North Carolina Test Wi-Fi in TV ‘White Spaces’

Initial uses include traffic camera monitoring.

Link to article in Television Broadcast:

http://www.televisionbroadcast.com/article/95214

OTHER

3) Build Smarter, Not Bigger

Link to commentary in The Hill:

http://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/83441-build-smarter-not-bigger

4) State of Transportation Planning 2010

Link to document from the American Planning Association’s Transportation Planning Division:

http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/207959/cb1d472c43/

SAFETY / SECURITY

5) Hackers Expose Security Flaws with ‘Elvis Presley’ Passport

Link to CNN story and video:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/02/19/passport.security/index.html

6) Women, Transit, and the Perception of Safety

Link to interview on Planetizen:

http://www.planetizen.com/node/42878

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

7) Clear Channel Outdoor Launches Traffic Net

Billboards to provide real-time traffic information.

Link to article in Mediaweek:

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/news/out-there/digital/e3ib108b71d68d61db9a1b0f3fa2f40465b

Link to news release from Clear Channel:

http://www.clearchannel.com/Corporate/PressRelease.aspx?PressReleaseID=2613

8) New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway Spend $11 Million on Real-Time Signs

Link to article in The Star-Ledger:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/nj_turnpike_garden_state_parkw.html

News Releases

1) EMS Aviation and OuterLink to Share Aircraft Tracking Data

2) Teletrac Partners with SpeedGauge to Deliver Fully Integrated GPS and Vehicle Tracking System with Real-Time Speed Notifications

Upcoming Events

AASHTO GIS for Transportation Symposium – April 12-14 – Charleston, West Virginia

http://www.gis-t.org/

Today in Transportation History

1950 **60^th anniversary** - President Harry Truman appointed an emergency board to forestall a threatened national railway strike.

http://www.trumanlibrary.org/executiveorders/index.php?pid=113&st=&st1

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit:

http://groups.google.com/group/tcnl/subscribe

If you have any difficulties please contact me at i95berniew@aol.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.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

Discuss Federal Legislative Initiatives at IBTTA Legislative Conference – March 22-23, 2010 in Washington, DC

Join the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association on March 22-23, 2010 in Washington, DC and participate in discussions on federal legislative initiatives with leaders in the transportation policy debate. Topics will include transportation authorization, electronic tolling interoperability, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) charging, the proposed Office of Public Benefit, and other important issues affecting tolling and road pricing. Participants will spend Tuesday afternoon visiting their congressional representatives to advance tolling initiatives on Capitol Hill. This meeting is ideal for toll industry professionals interested in US Federal and transportation legislation and regulations affecting the toll industry. Visit www.IBTTA.org for registration, hotel and travel information and to view the preliminary agenda. [More…]

BICYCLES

1) California Bill Would Raise Hands-Free, Texting Fines, Extend Ban to Bicyclists

Link to article in The Sacramento Bee:

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitolalertlatest/2010/02/bill-would-rais.html

CARTOGRAPHY

2) Virtual Maps to Help in Indian Disaster Management

Link to article in The Hindu:

http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/23/stories/2010022358542000.htm

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) Jamming of GPS Signals Threatens Vital Services

Link to article in the Financial Times:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4fa1c68a-2094-11df-9775-00144feab49a.html

ROADWAYS

4) New Jersey Toll-Takers Rude, Lewd and Racist, Complaints Charge

Link to article in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/85042697.html?cmpid=15585797

5) Cities Shortening Yellow Traffic Lights for Deadly Profit

Link to commentary on AlterNet:

http://www.alternet.org/rights/145752/cities_shortening_yellow_traffic_lights_for_deadly_profit

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) Man Cited During Traffic Stop Fears His Picture Might End Up Online

Link to story and video on KENS-TV:

http://www.kens5.com/news/Do-you-realize-that-when-police-pull-you-over-for-a-citation-they-will-likely-take-your-picture--Is-that-wrong-85003517.html

7) ‘Embrace Life’ Goes Viral

PSA promoting seat belt use turns into a worldwide phenomenon.

Link to CNN video story:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2010/02/20/nr.levs.embrace.life.cnn

TRANSIT

8) Google Transit Launches in Europe

Link to IDG News Service article:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/189942/google_transit_launches_in_europe.html

9) Maryland Transit Administration Chief on How Agency Can do Better with Snow

Improved communications is at the top of his list.

Link to article in The Baltimore Sun:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/commuting/bal-md.cm.mta23feb23,0,3942742.story

10) Transit Smart Cards to be Adopted in Calgary by 2012

Link to article in the Calgary Herald:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Transit+smart+cards+adopted+2012/2601354/story.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Olympic Transportation Issues Being Dealt with as They Arise

Link to article in Pique:

http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/pique/index.php?content=Transportation

12) Dedicated Buses, 24x7 Monitoring of Transport for Commonwealth Games Athletes

Link to Sify article:

http://sify.com/news/Dedicated-buses-24X7-monitoring-of-transport-for-Games-athletes-news-National-kcxqOcbfegd.html

13) New Resources from US DOT

- Searchable Tool: Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Performance Measurement Knowledgebase

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=613

- A Domestic Scan of Congestion Pricing and Managed Lanes

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=612

- Federal Highway Administration Focus States Initiative: Traffic Incident Management Performance Measures Final Report

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=614

VEHICLES

14) Could Electronics be What’s Causing Runaway Cars?

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2010-02-23-Electromagnetic23_CV_N.htm

15) Technology Solutions Newsmaker Q&A: Michael Gile

Interview with the founder of Fuzzy Luke, creator of a vehicle diagnostic application for mobile phones.

Link to interview in Aftermarket Business:

http://aftermarketbusiness.search-autoparts.com/aftermarketbusiness/Industry+News/Technology-Solutions-Newsmaker-QampA-Michael-Gile/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/657942

News Releases

1) Inrix National Traffic Scorecard Reveals America’s Top 10 Most Congested Cities

Upcoming Events

High Speed Rail 2010 – March 4-5 – Orlando, Florida

http://www.ushsr.com/events/florida2010.html

Today in Transportation History

1940 **70^th anniversary** A squadron of British and French warships began a blockade of the north coast of Sweden, Norway and the Soviet Union.

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit:

http://groups.google.com/group/tcnl/subscribe

If you have any difficulties please contact me at i95berniew@aol.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.

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, February 26, 2010

Friday, February 26, 2010

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

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