Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

---

Register Now for IBTTA’s Upcoming Summit: The Future of Tolling – Going Mainstream

Through ORT and Interoperability, May 23-25, 2010 in Boston, MA




Join the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association in Boston for the fourth Summit in a series of workshops focused on the hot topics of ORT and Interoperability. This Summit will bring together transportation experts who will focus on lessons learned, case studies, business rules and future decision-making about all-electronic toll collection, interoperability, violation enforcement, and implications for vehicle miles traveled charging. Breakout sessions are divided into four main categories – On the Road and in the Car; Technology and Backroom Issues; Road Pricing and Financial Issues and In the Public and Policy Forum. IBTTA is exploring opportunities to involve university students and faculty from the Boston area in research connected with the main topics of this Summit. Click here for registration, hotel and travel information and to view the preliminary agenda.www.IBTTA.org

AVIATION

1) IBM, FAA Team Up to Tackle Severe Security Risks to Flight Data

Link to column in The Hill:

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/89689-faa-ibm-team-up-to-tackle-severe-security-risks-to-agencys-computer-systems

CAMERAS

2) Smile! Local Officers Quietly Snap Photos During Traffic Stops

Link to article in The Monitor:

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/smile-36924-local-snap.html

CARTOGRAPHY

3) Boom! Tweets and Maps Swarm to Pinpoint a Mysterious Explosion

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2010/03/29/29readwriteweb-boom-tweets--maps-swarm-to-pinpoint-a-myste-34026.html

OTHER

4) Georgia Senate OKs Bill Targeting Non-English-Speaking Drivers

Link to article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/senate-oks-bill-targeting-419647.html

ROADWAYS

5) How Good Asphalt Helps Visibility in the Rain

Link to column in the San Jose Mercury News:

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_14779911

6) Federal Sign Language Tests Local Budgets

Link to article in The Daily Reporter:

http://dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/03/29/federal-sign-language-tests-local-budgets/

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) Pennsylvania DOT to Change Policy on Release of Driving-Record Information for Prospective School Bus Drivers

Link to article in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/89491252.html

8) Study: Only 2.5% Can Safely Drive and Phone

Link to CBS News story:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/30/tech/main6346963.shtml

TRANSIT

9) Lack of Video Slows Hunt for a Killer in the New York Subway

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/nyregion/30subway.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) Oklahoma City’s Traffic Link Project Gets a Green Light Again

Link to article and video in The Oklahoman:

http://www.newsok.com/oklahoma-citys-traffic-link-project-gets-a-green-light-again/article/3449849?custom_click=pod_headline_politics

11) High-Tech Data Collection to Aid Lower Manhattan’s Traffic Jams

Link to story and video on NY1 News:

http://www.ny1.com/8-queens-news-content/ny1_living/116093/high-tech-data-collection-to-aid-lower-manhattan-s-traffic-jams

12) Wireless Does Community Service

Behind-the-scenes municipal applications help urban traffic flow.

Link to article in Network World:

http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/wireless/2010/032910wireless2.html

VEHICLES

13) NASA to Test Toyota Electronics in Safety Probe

Link to Reuters article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62T0V620100330

14) Toyota Announces Safety Initiatives

Among steps, company will expand use of event data recorders and increase use of remote communications functions.

Link to article on just-auto:

http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?id=103853

15) Toyota’s PR ‘Lessons to be Learned’

Link to article on just-auto:

http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?id=103856&lk=dm

News Releases

1) One in Four Have Listened to an iPod or Other MP3 Player While Connected to a Car Stereo

2) Intelligent and Efficient Travel Management for European Cities - First In-Time Forum – Fine Tuning the Pilot Phase

3) CN Web Site Makes It Easier for Customers to Calculate Carbon Savings When Shipping by Rail

4) EGNOS Portal Launched for Europe’s Satellite Navigation Application Developers

5) US Airways Takes to the Sky with Gogo Inflight Internet

Upcoming Events

TRB Webinar: Knowledge Is Power: How TRB's Databases Improve Access to Transportation Research – April 19

http://www.trb.org/Calendar/Blurbs/TRB_Webinar_Knowledge_Is_Power_How_TRBs_Databases_163080.aspx

Today in Transportation History    

1945 **65^th anniversary** - A German Messerschmitt Me 262, the world’s first operational combat jet aircraft, was flown to flown to an American-held air base.

http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com/Images/Me262/ME262PILOTDEBRIEF.pdf

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

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.    

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net