Thursday, July 15, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Thursday, July 15, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Surfing Web in the Sky for Free? It Could Happen as Soon as Next Year: Analyst

Link to CP article:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iCSYZukBQbni8iiU5ReAeYwxjmuQ

2) Skies Become Friendlier for In-Flight Wi-Fi

Link to story and audio report on NPR's All Things Considered:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128487369

3) Airport Cooperative Research Program Addresses Many Needs but Could Enhance Transparency and Clarify Scope of Research Role

Link to report from the Government Accountability Office:

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10729.pdf

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) New Toll Signs Welcome All Texas Tags

Link to story on KXAN-TV:

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/toll-tag-sign-unveiling

OTHER

5) Signs of the Stimulus

Some call it transparency, others another example of government waste.

Link to story and video ABC's World News:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/signs-stimulus/story?id=11163180

6) Labor Union: Stimulus Signs Create Jobs

Link to story from CBS News:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20010692-503544.html

7) Tech Advances Improving Transportation Efficiency

Link to article in Industry Market Trends:

http://news.thomasnet.com/IMT/archives/2010/07/technology-advances-improveing-transportation-efficiency.html

8) Missouri DOT Reports Barrel Bob Kidnapping

Link to blog in the Kansas City Business Journal:

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/blog/2010/07/missouri_department_of_transportation_reports_barrel_bob_kidnapping.html

PEDESTRIANS

9) Zebras, Puffins, Pelicans or Hawks for Pedestrians?

Debate over the most effective markings and signs for roadway crossings.

Link to blog on The City Fix:

http://thecityfix.com/zebras-puffins-pelicans-or-hawks-for-pedestrians/

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

10) Florida Agency, Publisher at Odds Over Driver Handbook

Company prints and distributes handbook at no cost to state but includes ads for its driving school.

Link to article in The Miami Herald:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/15/1731071/state-agency-publisher-at-odds.html

RAILROADS

11) Wi-Fi on Trains

Link to podcast in The New York Times:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/tech-talk-podcast-wi-fi-on-trains-and-usb-3-0/

ROADWAYS

12) Debate Continues on Installing CCTV to Prevent Suicides at Scottish Bridge

Link to article in the Clydebank Post:

http://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/news/thisweek/articles/2010/07/14/402336-erskine-bridge-action-plea/

TELEMATICS

13) Cesar Satellite: The (Financial) Crisis Helped Restructure the Telematics Services Market in Russia

Link to interview in Telematics Update:

http://social.telematicsupdate.com/executive-viewpoint/cesar-satellite-financial-crisis-helped-restructure-telematics-services-market-r

14) Ford, Nuance Make Sync More Conversational

Link to blog on ZDNet:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/ford-nuance-make-sync-more-conversational/36753

Link to news release from Ford and Nuance:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Ford-and-Nuance-Advance-Voice-prnews-2942132379.html?x=0&.v=1

Link to video from Ford:

http://www.thestreet.com/video/index.html?bcpid=1459183594&bctid=115492151001

TRANSIT

15) Four Rural South Carolina Bus Routes Go Wireless

Link to article in The Post and Courier:

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jul/12/4-tricounty-link-routes-go-wireless/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

16) Data-Crunchers Ready to Predict Traffic Tie-Ups

Link to article from The New York Times:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100715/METRO05/7150346/1001/Data-crunchers-ready-to-predict-traffic-tie-ups

17) FHWA Releases 2010 Traffic Incident Management Handbook Update

Link to further information:

http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/eto_tim_pse/publications/timhandbook/index.htm

News Releases

1) US DOT Announces IntelliDrive User Needs Workshops

2) Lockheed Martin to Evaluate Wireless Network Architecture for US Department of Transportation

3) TomTom Launches Custom Travel Times at the 2010 ESRI International User Conference

4) Pilots Need Accurate Crosswind Information

5) Navteq Reports 70% of Consumers Want the Most Current Road Information in Their GPS Device

6) SuperWebGIS Builds National Traffic Information System on Taiwan

Solicitation

- Letters of Interest – Proactive Use of Social Media in Public Transportation – Transportation Research Board

http://144.171.11.40/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=2992

Upcoming Events

International Road Federation Third Latin America Regional Congress – December 14-16 – Bogotá, Colombia

http://www.irfnews.org/news-events/event-detail/third-latin-american-regional-congress/

Today in Transportation History

1975 **35^th anniversary** Soyuz 19 blasted off. It participated in the first docking of spacecraft launched from different nations.

http://www.astronautix.com/flights/soy9astp.htm

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