Transportation Communications Newsletter: Friday, February 5, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, February 5, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

Bernie Wagenblast Voice Services

There may be plenty of voice-over artists but how many have worked in the transportation field for over 30-years? With my experience you not only get a professional, personable voice but someone who knows the terminology and the demands of the transportation business. I’ve provided the voice for numerous transportation applications including Virginia DOT’s Smart Tag customer service phone system, highway advisory radio on the New York State Thruway, platform announcements throughout the PATH system, and NYC Transit’s new Public Address/Customer Information System. If you’re a regular reader of the TCN you know I’m reliable coming through with an editionevery weekday. I bring that same professionalism to my voice projects. To learn more and to hear samples of my work, please visitwww.bwcommunications.net. Let me know how I can help on your next project.

AVIATION

1) FAA Administrator Says Flight 253 Pilots Were Left in Dark

A communications gap kept the pilots unaware of the serious situation on Christmas Day.

Link to article in The Detroit News:

http://detnews.com/article/20100205/METRO/2050388/FAA-official-says-Flight-253-pilots-were-left-in-dark

2) What Noise Annoys a Passenger in an Airport?

Link to commentary in Passenger Terminal Today:

http://www.passengerterminaltoday.com/opinion.php?BlogID=324

CAMERAS

3) Stop-Light Cameras Cut Violations a Lot, Wrecks a Little, New Louisiana Study Says

Link to article in The Times Picayune:

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/new_study_says_stop-light_came.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Is Navigation Nokia’s Road to Riches?

Link to article in Mobile News:

http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/Opinion/410978/cutting_room_is_navigation_nokias_road_to_riches.html

OTHER

5) New York City Names Winners of Apps Contest

One app allows users to find the closest subway entrance, another permits comments on cabs.

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/nyc-announces-winners-of-local-apps-contest/

6) Viral Element Spins Toyota Events Out of Control

Link to article in the Financial Times:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ee2126fa-1281-11df-a611-00144feab49a.html

7) Toyota Builds DC Crisis Team

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703894304575047283289835448.html

ROADWAYS

8) California Governor Gearing Up to Sell Ads on Freeway Electronic Signs

Link to article in The Sacramento Bee:

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2514901.html

9) Storm to Test Improved West Virginia ‘Pike Emergency Plan

Link to article in The Register-Herald:

http://www.register-herald.com/local/local_story_035230226.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) US DOT Secretary Fears Spread of In-Car Technology

Link to article in The Detroit News:

http://detnews.com/article/20100204/AUTO01/2040353/1148/auto01/LaHood-fears-spread-of-in-car-technology

11) Virtual USA Enters Second Phase of Regional Operating Pilot

Program seeks to give first responders a real-time view of what’s happening.

Link to story on WFED Radio:

http://federalnewsradio.com/?nid=19&sid=1880255

VEHICLES

12) The Dozens of Computers that Make Modern Cars Go (and Stop)

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/technology/05electronics.html

News Releases

1) IRD Announces Hawaii Traffic Data Collection Award

2) Wisconsin DOT Ensures the Web Meets the Road – US 41 Project

3) Penn State Teams with Volvo as Academic Partner in Areas Including ITS and Safety Systems

Job Postings

- Project Controls and Quality Assurance Coordinator – ITS/All Electronic Tolling (AET) – MTA Bridges & Tunnels – New York, NY

http://www.mta.info/bandt/employ/jobp999_r879.html

Upcoming Events

ITS Heartland Annual Meeting – March 29-31 – Omaha, Nebraska

http://matc.unl.edu/itsheartland/annualmeeting.php

Friday Bonus

Here are a few reasons states should think twice about closing their highway tourist information centers.

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/stupidest-travel-questions-shocking-mistakes-travelers-make-road/story?id=9516535

Today in Transportation History

1900 **110^th anniversary** The first Hays-Pauncefote Treaty was signed by the US and the UK. The treaty gave the US the exclusive right to build and maintain a canal in Central America.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C06E5DF1339E733A25755C1A9649C946197D6CF

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Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.