Transportation Communications Newsletter: Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

Register Now for IBTTA's Operating and Maintaining Your Toll Facility Meeting -- October 3-5, 2010 in Raleigh, NC

Join IBTTA Delegates for the final meeting of IBTTA's 2010 Education Series: “Operating and Maintaining Your Toll Facility – Where the Rubber Meets the Road," October 3-5 in Raleigh, North Carolina. We’ll explore how engineering, design, maintenance, operations, and security roles have come together to address the challenges of operating modern, sustainable, technologically advanced and economically viable toll facilities. Hotel cut-off is September 10, 2010. View the preliminary agenda, make your hotel reservations at the Raleigh Marriott City Center and register today! www.ibtta.org

AVIATION

1) Why Dubai Airport has Adopted the Silent Treatment

Airport reduces the number of public address announcements by 70%.

Link to article in Arabian Supply Chain:

http://www.arabiansupplychain.com/article-4943-why-dubai-airport-has-adopted-the-silent-treatment/

BUSES

2) BoltBus, RedCoach, Other Bus Lines Go for Business Travelers with Wi-Fi, Other Amenities

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2010-09-21-businesstravel21_CV_N.htm

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) Next Generation of GPS Satellites Threatened by Lack of Coordination, GAO Says

Link to article in Government Computer News:

http://gcn.com/articles/2010/09/21/gps-next-gen-challenges.aspx

OTHER

4) Cambridge, Massachusetts 'Yoga' Parking Tickets Have Drivers in a Twist

Link to article in the Boston Herald:

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20100921cambridge_yoga_parking_tickets_have_drivers_in_a_twist_bending_over_backwards/

ROADWAYS

5) Bad Sign for Motorists

Georgia highway sign fails on a couple of counts.

Link to article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press:

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/sep/21/bad-sign-motorists/

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) Summit Calls for Reduction in Distracted Driving

Link to AP article:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Summit-calls-for-reduction-in-apf-3571629783.html?x=0&.v=14

7) Proposal Bans Texting by Hazmat Truck Drivers

Link to AP article:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/7210615.html

TRANSIT

8) DC, Baltimore Transit Cards to Work Across Systems

Link to story on WTOP Radio:

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=598&sid=2058121

9) Pay Phones May Soon Disappear from Chicago Bus and Train Stops

Link to story on WBEZ Radio:

http://www.wbez.org/Content.aspx?audioID=44516

10) Wireless Video Feeds Suggested as Way to Reduce Subway Track Deaths in New York

Link to article in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/09/21/2010-09-21_warning_systems_eyed_to_reduce_track_deaths.html

11) Smart Buses Could be Coming to Guelph, Ontario Streets

Link to article in the Guelph Mercury:

http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/690773

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

12) Springfield, Missouri Starts Work to Improve Traffic Tracking

Link to story and video on KYTV-TV:

http://www.ky3.com/news/ky3-springfield-upgrades-traffic-system-09202010,0,5424678.story

13) Voice of Vietnam's Traffic Information Channel to be Launched Nationwide

Link to VOV News story:

http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/VOVs-national-traffic-information-channel-to-be-launched-nationwide/20109/119767.vov

14) Efforts Made to Assist Drivers in Korea Over Chuseok

Smart phone traffic app and text-message answering service aim to keep motorists advised.

Link to story on Arirang:

http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=107160&code=Ne2&category=2

15) To Tame Traffic, Go with the Flow

Lights should respond to cars, a study concludes, not the other way around.

Link to article in ScienceNews:

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/63481/title/To_tame_traffic%2C_go_with_the_flow

16) Temple University Professor Studies 'Phantom' Traffic Jams

Link to article in The Temple News:

http://bit.ly/8X0ieS

17) Aggressive and Timid Drivers Cause Traffic Jams, Scientists Discover

Link to article in The Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8011029/Aggressive-and-timid-drivers-cause-traffic-jams-scientists-discover.html

VEHICLES

18) US Transportation Secretary Scolds Automakers for Adding Distracting Features to Cars

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/21/AR2010092102270.html

News Releases

1) Intelligent Transportation Society of Georgia Announces Election of Directors

2) Visa Opens Doors for Mass Transit Riders in New York and Los Angeles with Mobile Phone Application

3) Partnership to Save Highway Communities Launches Facebook Page

Bernie's Notes

I plan to be in the Burlington, Vermont area this Friday and Saturday. If you'd like to get together please let me know at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

Upcoming Events

17^th World Congress on ITS – October 25-29 – Busan, South Korea

http://www.itsworldcongress.kr

Today in Transportation History

1910 **100^th anniversary** Two interurban cars crashed near Kingsland, Indiana killing 42 people.

http://madisonrails.railfan.net/grant/page6.html

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Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast atbernie@bwcommunications.net.