Transportation Communications Newsletter: Monday, August 30, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, August 30, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

Countdown to IBTTA’s 78th Annual Meeting & Exhibition — September 12-15th in San Diego, CA – Register Today!

Join your colleagues in San Diego, September 12-15, 2010, for IBTTA’s 78th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, the year’s most highly-anticipated learning and networking event -- attracting more than 700 toll industry experts and decision makers from across the globe. Under the theme, Sustainable Transportation, the technical program offers tracks focused on innovation, policy, the economy, and the California tolling experience. Hosted by the California Toll Operators Committee (CTOC), this event features interactive seminars, influential speakers, technical tours and special events, informative exhibits and more! Register and make your hotel reservations today! Visit IBTTA’s website for details.

AVIATION

1) British Airways Flight Scares Passengers After Emergency Crash Message Plays By Mistake

Link to story and video on ABC News' World News Tonight:

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/british-airways-flight-bound-hong-kong-scares-passengers/story?id=11496766

2) Transport Canada Bans Coverage of Float Plane Safety Workshop

Link to article in The Vancouver Sun:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Transport+Canada+bans+coverage+workshop/3459288/story.html

CAMERAS

3) More Traffic Cameras for Pennsylvania's Highways

Link to story on KYW Radio:

http://kyw.cbslocal.com/2010/08/29/more-traffic-cams-for-pa-s-highways/

CARTOGRAPHY

4) Stylish Maps that are Chatty

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/stylish-maps-that-are-chatty/

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

5) For New I-85 Toll Lane in Georgia, Signs Might Not Help Much

Link to article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/for-new-i-85-600843.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

6) Newest in Construction Technology: GPS on Earthmovers

Link to article in the Deseret News:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700060879/Newest-in-construction-technology-GPS-on-earth-movers.html

7) GPS Vehicle Tracking Systems Help Drivers Go Green

Link to blog on Eco Institution:

http://www.ecoinstitution.com/green-news/gps-vehicle-tracking-systems-help-drivers-go-green/

OTHER

8) More US Travelers are Using Smartphones

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/2010-08-30-smartphone-travel_N.htm

9) New System to Simplify Traffic Fine Collection in Turkey

Link to Anatolia News Agency article:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=new-system-to-ease-the-collection-of-traffic-fines-2010-08-30

10) The Inconvenient Truth About Traffic Math: Progress is Slow

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703959704575453921039632134.html

11) ITS Turbo Architecture Version 5.0 is Now Available

Link to further information from the Research and Innovative Technology Administration:

http://www.its.dot.gov/press/2010/arch_turbo5.htm

PARKING

12) New Electronic Signs Will Help Find Parking in Seattle

Link to article on seattlepi.com:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/transportation/archives/219586.asp

ROADWAYS

13) Highway Poles Listen to Glean Traffic Data from Road Noise

Link to article in The Journal News:

http://www.lohud.com/article/20100829/NEWS01/8290380/-1/newsfront/Highway-poles-listen-to-glean-traffic-data-from-road-noise

SAFETY / SECURITY

14) Metra Conductors Bar Riders Who Ignore Gates, Lights

Hand commuters cards warning of dangers and possibility of fine.

Link to article in the Chicago Sun-Times:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/2651500,CST-NWS-rideside30.article

TELEMATICS

15) GM: OnStar Upgrade Bypassed Dealers

Link to CNET blog:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20015055-48.html

TRANSIT

16) Virginia Tech Teams with Transit to Launch VT Bus Tracker

Link to article in Metro:

http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2010/08/Virginia-Tech-Blacksburg-Transit-launch-VT-Bus-Tracker.aspx

Link to VT Bus Tracker: http://www.bustracker.org/

17) Do You Have an App for That?

Link to column in Metro:

http://www.metro-magazine.com/Blog/Transit-Dispatches/Story/2010/08/Do-you-have-an-app-for-that-.aspx

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

18) Highway Police Web Site Launched in India

Link to Express News Service article:

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Highway-police-website-launched/673921

19) 511 Traffic Advisory Service Proposed for Santa Cruz, California Region

Link to article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel:

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_15936847

20) Washington State DOT Launches Traffic App

Link to blog in The Stranger:

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/08/30/early-adopters-scoff-at-new-wsdot-traffic-app

21) Smarter Commuting Starts with Analytics, Visualization

Link to blog on SmartData Collective:

http://smartdatacollective.com/brett-stupakevich/26847/smarter-commuting-starts-analytics-visualization

VEHICLES

22) Dude, Where's My Apple iCar?

While Apple is wasting its time on TV, Microsoft drives away with the automobile market.

Link to commentary in Computerworld:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9182459/Dude_where_s_my_Apple_iCar_

23) Crash-Proof Cars?

Link to article in Fleet Owner:

http://blog.fleetowner.com/trucks_at_work/2010/08/30/crash-proof-cars/

24) Sweet Talking Your Computer

How should computers in vehicles interact with drivers?

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703959704575453411132636080.html

25) Untangling the Wireless Car

Link to article on cellular-news:

http://www.cellular-news.com/story/45083.php

News Releases

1) i95travelinfo.net Spells Relief for Holiday Travelers on the East Coast

2) DC Metro Transit Police Use Tag Readers to Identify Stolen Cars and Car Thieves

3) OnStar Celebrates Patents During National Inventor's Month

4) Shuttle GPS Devices Aid Mississippi State University Student Commuters

5) IEEE Members Globally Work on the Development of Intelligent, Vehicular Transport Systems for Smarter, Safer Travel

6) Winning Transportation Projects Saving Lives, Time, and Money

Upcoming Events

Webinar: Biodiesel Policies and Mandates: What's Really Involved? – September 16

http://www.dieselforum.org/multimedia/webinars

Today in Transportation History

1985 **25^th anniversary** President Reagan signed an executive order to create an emergency board to investigate a dispute between the United Transportation Union and various railroads.

http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1985/83085c.htm

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