Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety System (IVBSS) Field Operation Ends April 30, 2010: Over 800,000 Miles of Naturalistic Driving Data Collected

The IVBSS program is a cooperative research agreement between the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) to conduct field tests of advanced integrated safety systems on passenger vehicles and heavy-duty trucks.  The prototype crash warning systems included forward collision, lane departure, lane change, and curve speed warnings and were tested using a fleet of 16 passenger cars and 10 heavy-duty trucks. 

The heavy truck final report will be publicly available in July. More information and current reports are available at http://www.its.dot.gov/ivbss/index.htm

AVIATION

1) e-Media for Aviation

A look at Web-based customer service and marketing solutions.

Link to article in Airport Business:

http://www.airportbusiness.com/print/Airport-Business-Magazine/e-Media/1$36413

2) Mystery Airport

Lack of signage makes reaching, navigating through and leaving airport a challenge.

Link to blog in Airport Business:

http://www.airportbusiness.com/interactive/2010/05/03/mystery-airport/

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

3) New York E-ZPass Call Center Spanish Language Frustrations

Link to story and video on WNYW-TV:

http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/nyc/e-zpass-call-center-spanish-language-frustrations-20100511

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Updated Bing App Brings Free Voice Navigation to Windows Phones

Link to blog on CNET:

http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-20004684-85.html

MARITIME

5) US Satellites Shadow China's Submarines

Link to article in the Asia Times:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/LE13Ad01.html

OTHER

6) Four US Senators Introduce Bill to Create Online Database of Earmarks

Link to article on Nextgov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100511_5726.php

7) Joint CEN/ETSI Report on ITS Delivered to European Commission

Link to article from ERTICO:

http://www.ertico.com/en/news/ertico_newsroom/eu_news_joint_cenetsi_report_on_its_delivered.htm

8) US DOT at ITS America Annual Meeting

-  Secretary Ray LaHood Remarks as Prepared for ITS America Annual Meeting

http://www.its.dot.gov/presentations/LaHood_itsamerica2010.htm

 -  US DOT Presentations at the ITS America Annual Meeting 2010

http://www.its.dot.gov/presentations/its_2010.htm

PEDESTRIANS

9) University of Adelaide Study Suggests Pedestrians be Breath Tested

Link to article in The Advertiser:

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/study-suggests-pedestrians-be-breath-tested/story-e6frea83-1225862262483

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) Only US Airlines Called as Times Square Bombing Suspect was Sought

Link to Reuters article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1168163120100511

11) Senators Demand Tighter Rules on No-Fly List and Addition to Terror Group List

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/world/americas/12investigate.html

TRANSIT

12) Finally, Presto Lives Up to the Name

Smartcard begins a roll-out in the Toronto area.

Link to article in the Toronto Star:

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transportation/article/807407--finally-presto-lives-up-to-the-name

13) Oshkosh, Wisconsin Bus Crash Caught on Cameras

Link to story and video on WBAY-TV:

http://www.wbay.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=4774785

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

14) Nevada DOT Offers New Phone, E-mail Alerts

Link to story and video report on KTVN-TV:

http://www.ktvn.com/Global/story.asp?S=12464428

15) Upgrades Will Allow Drivers to Check Issaquah, Washington Traffic Images Online

Link to article in the Issaquah Press:

http://www.issaquahpress.com/2010/05/11/upgrades-will-allow-drivers-to-check-traffic-images-online/

VEHICLES

16) Cars to Warn of Obstacles and Jams, and Talk to Each Other

Link to article in The Dallas Morning News:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/transportation/stories/DN-smartcar_12met.ART.State.Edition1.4cf99ad.html

17) Futurecar 2025: The All-Seeing, All-Knowing Indestructible Vehicle

Link to story on Fox News:

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/05/12/futurecar-indestructible-vehicle/

News Releases

1) Now, Text 'CooCoo' for Long Island Rail Road Fare Info

2) Telvent to Install a Tunnel Management System in Spain

3) Drivers Can Outsmart Traffic: Lifetime Traffic Updates Now Available from Total Traffic Network and TomTom

4) First Interstate Ramp Meters Slated for Louisiana; Safety, Congestion to Improve

5) California DMV Launches New Sharing the Road Safety Video

6) US Transportation Secretary Announces Members of Future of Aviation Advisory Committee; First Meeting is May 25

Upcoming Events

Talking Operations Webinar: An Overview of the 2009 Edition of the MUTCD – May 20

http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/viewconference.aspx?webconfid=20410

Today in Transportation History    

1910 **100^th anniversary** The USS Florida, a US Navy battleship, was launched in Camden, New Jersey.

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-f/bb30.htm

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