Monday, February 28, 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, February 28, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057


"Best of ITS" Awards Honor the Best and the Brightest: Nominate Your Practice, Service, Product or Application Today

One of the highlights of ITS America’s Annual Meeting is the "Best of ITS" Awards, which recognize organizations that have produced the most innovative products and services in the intelligent transportation systems industry. ITS America is excited to honor the best the industry has to offer and encourages ITS America members, including private corporations, research institutions and public agencies to showcase their best work by submitting a nomination by May 31, 2011. Winners will have the opportunity to have their work celebrated in front of thousands of transportation professionals and policymakers at the 18th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems in Orlando, Florida October 16-18. The nomination process is quick and easy! For a complete list of guidelines and more information on the awards program, please visit http://www.itsworldcongress.org/awards.html.

AVIATION

1) FAA Sees Surge in Reports of Air Traffic Errors

Link to story on Fox News:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/02/25/faa-sees-surge-reports-air-traffic-errors/

2) Agencies Spar Over Air Safety Data

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704430304576170663433402614.html

3) FAA: NextGen to Guide You 'Gate-to-Gate'

Link to article on AOPA Online:

http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/articles/2011/110228nextgen_to_guide_you_gate_to_gate.html

BICYCLES

4) Edinburgh Cyclists Launch Interactive 'Innertube' Map

Link to story and video from BBC News:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-12578308

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) Russia Launches Navigation System Satellite

Link to Reuters article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/26/us-russia-satellite-launch-idUSTRE71P0R920110226

6) Adirondacks Puzzle GPS

Link to article in the Times Union:

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Adirondacks-puzzle-GPS-1032617.php

7) GLONASS Starts Operation on Vladivostok Municipal Transport

Link to Itar-Tass article:

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=15995241

MARITIME

8) Ghana to Get Vessel Traffic Management Information System

Link to article on Ghana Business News:

http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2011/02/28/ghana-to-get-vessel-traffic-management-information-system/

OTHER

9) Research E-News from the Center for Transportation Studies – February 2011

- Traffic Planning in Response to Emergencies: Insights from the I-35W Bridge Collapse

- Improving Traffic Signal Timing Based on Approaching Speed and Density

- New Warning System Alerts Drivers at Limited-Sight Intersections

Link to newsletter:

http://goo.gl/ZBSF5

ROADWAYS

10) Some Colorado Drivers Fed Up with Distracting Messages

Link to story and video on KUSA-TV:

http://www.9news.com/news/article/183535/188/Some-drivers-fed-up-with-distracting-messages

11) Number of Traffic Lights on British Roads Up by 30%

Link to article in the Express & Star:

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/02/28/number-of-traffic-lights-up-by-30-per-cent/

SAFETY / SECURITY

12) Plan Would Create SENTRI Lanes from US to Mexico

Participants undergo background check and use RFID card for quicker border crossings.

Link to article in the Nogales International:

http://www.nogalesinternational.com/articles/2011/02/25/news/doc4d67cb2c99a1b631962106.txt

13) Taiwan President Urges Monthly Safety Drills on Suhua Highway

Link to article in the Taipei Times:

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/02/27/2003496922

14) Multiband Radios are Put to the NASCAR Test

Pilot program in Phoenix continues Department of Homeland Security project to help responders improve communications.

Link to article in Government Computer News:

http://gcn.com/articles/2011/02/25/multiband-radios-tested-at-nascar-race.aspx

15) US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Issues Final Rule Limiting Use of Electronic Devices

Link to notice from the Federal Register:

http://cryptome.org/0003/phmsa022811.htm

16) Have You Driven a Smart Phone Lately?

Link to commentary in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/opinion/27dowd.html

17) First Issue of The SOL eMagazine Online

Publication of SOL (Save Our Lives) Project for a comprehensive road safety strategy for Central Europe.

Link to magazine:

http://www.sol-project.eu/index.php?id=2586&ID1=2586

TRANSIT

18) Problems for Sydney Bus Text Service

Link to article in The Sydney Morning Herald:

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/problems-for-bus-text-service-20110228-1bbsa.html

19) The Colorful Buses of Seoul

South Korean capital color-codes its buses to provide information on the type of service offered and where it's going.

Link to article in re:place:

http://regardingplace.com/?p=11085

20) Oregon's TriMet Misses the Bus on Social Media

Link to column in The Oregonian:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2011/02/trimet_misses_the_bus_on_socia.html

21) Honesty in Transit Marketing: Deliver on Your Promises

Link to blog on The City Fix:

http://thecityfix.com/honesty-in-transit-marketing-deliver-on-your-promises/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

22) Delhi Cops Think Big with Intelligent Traffic Management Plan

Link to article in The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Cops-think-big-with-intelligent-traffic-management-plan/articleshow/7598291.cms

23) Traffic Cameras in Augusta, Georgia Area Will Go Public

Link to article in The Augusta Chronicle:

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/government/2011-02-25/traffic-cameras-will-go-public

24) Traffic Forecasting: Does It Really Work?

Link to video on KING-TV:

http://www.king5.com/news/up-front/Traffic-forecasting-does-it-really-work-117007993.html

25) Can Destination Apps Take the Place of Guidebooks?

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2011-02-28-smartphone-apps_N.htm

VEHICLES

26) NHTSA Seeks to Delay In-Vehicle Camera Regulations

Link to article in The Detroit News:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110227/AUTO01/102270321/1148/AUTO/NHTSA+seeks+to+delay+in-vehicle+camera+regulations

27) The Future of the Connected Car

Link to article on Mashable:

http://mashable.com/2011/02/26/connected-car/

28) Connected Cars – When Reality Supersedes Sci-Fi

Link to blog from BMW:

http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/02/27/editorial-connected-cars-when-reality-superceedes-sci-fi/

News Releases

1) Malaysia Airlines Allows Booking, Check-In and Sharing on Facebook Platform

2) South Africa Declares War on Road Accidents

3) Ford Announces European Launch of Sync in 2012

4) Ford Sync to be More Multilingual as Vocabulary Expands to Industry-Leading 19 Languages

5) Booz Allen Wins US DOT Contract to Support Intelligent Transportation Efforts

6) Sensis Adds Integrated Chat Functionality to Aerobahn's Collaborative Decision-Making Platform

7) Swiss Federal Railways Creates a Smarter Railroad with IBM and Alcatel-Lucent

8) Alcatel-Lucent and PowerTrunk Complete TETRA LMR Trial in US with NJ Transit

9) BMW Beats Ford Sync and GM OnStar to Top of New ABI Research OEM Telematics Vendor Matrix Ranking

10) Renault Trucks Now on iPhone and Android with Exclusive Heavy Duty Vehicle GPS and Location Device

11) Hyundai Signs Agreements with Vodafone to Develop Telematics Opportunities in Europe

12) Memorial Web Site for Minnesota Crash Victims Launches

Upcoming Events

Webinar: TISA – The Traveller Information Services Association – March 17

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/196842080

Today in Transportation History

1961 **50th anniversary** The Saarlouis, Germany tramway ended service.

http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0901/kvs12.jpg

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

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

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast www.bwcommunications.net



Friday, February 25, 2011

Friday, February 25, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, February 25, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057


ELECTRONIC TOLLING

1) Pakistan National Highway Authority to Install Electronic Toll and Traffic Management System at All Toll Plazas

Link to article in the Daily Times:

http://goo.gl/wgQV8

MARITIME

2) SatCom Solutions – Answering the Call

What to look for in the future of ship-to-shore communications.

Link to article in Maritime Reporter:

http://www.digitalwavepublishing.com/pubs/nwm/maritimereporter/201102/ (page 44)

OTHER

3) News from ERTICO

- ITS United Kingdom Publishes ITS Practitioners' Guide to Europe

http://www.ertico.com/its-united-kingdom-publishes-eu-guide/

- Update from ITS Japan

http://www.ertico.com/its-japan-news-governments-encourage-clean-energy-vehicles-industry-gears-up-for-ev/

- HAVEit Consortium Launches Two Events

http://www.ertico.com/haveit-launches-two-events/

RAILROADS

4) Rollout Plans for ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System)

Link to article in The Rail Engineer:

http://www.rail.co/2011/02/25/rollout-plans-for-ertms/

5) Amtrak Now Stops at a YouTube Channel

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/amtrak-now-stops-at-a-youtube-channel/?src=twrhp

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) Colorado Debates Warnings on Security Scanners

Link to AP article:

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_17472986

TRANSIT

7) DC Metro Police: Youth Sparking Fights for Video

Link to story and video on WTTG-TV:

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/traffic/metro_news/metro-police-youth-sparking-fights-for-video-022411

8) Passenger Group Wants SEPTA to Test 'Smart Cards' Before Buying System

Link to article in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20110225_Passenger_group_wants_SEPTA_to_test__smart_cards__before_buying_system.html

9) An Interview with an Engineer Involved with Building the Radio System in the New York City Subway System

Link to video on Sun News Now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNcCrLGOvp4

10) Evaluation of Camera-Based Systems to Reduce Transit Bus Side Collisions

Link to report from the National Center for Transit Research:

http://www.nctr.usf.edu/abstracts/77905.htm

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Ireland's M50 Signage to Update Drivers on Journey Times

System uses automatic plate recognition to track vehicles and calculate times.

Link to article in The Irish Times:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0225/1224290840093.html

12) Danube Bridge on Bulgaria-Romania Border Will be Equipped with Electronic Information Panels

Project will also create digital map in the Russe and Giurgiu regions with traffic information.

Link to article on publics.bg:

http://www.publics.bg/en/news/3871/Danube_Bridge_will_be_equipped_with_electronic_information_panels.html

Link to article on dir.bg:

http://ruse.dir.bg/2011/02/24/news8071885.html (in Bulgarian)

News Releases

1) ACS Announces Update to TripPak MOBILE Smart Phone Application

2) Zurich Financial Services Group Supports Rinspeed in Developing New Community Platform to Understand Future Mobility Needs

Upcoming Events

National Transportation Product Evaluation Program Annual Meeting – April 18-22 – San Antonio, Texas

http://www.ntpep.org/ContentManagement/PageBody.asp?PAGE_ID=34

Friday Bonus

This would add many new concerns about distracted driving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDV_62QoHjY

Today in Transportation History

1901 **110th anniversary** The United States Steel Corporation was incorporated.

http://www.uss.com/corp/company/profile/history.asp

1961 **50th anniversary** NASCAR driver Davey Allison was born in Hollywood, Florida.

http://www.daveyallison.net/dastory.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

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

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast www.bwcommunications.net



Thursday, February 24, 2011

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Thursday, February 24, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057


AVIATION

1) San Jose Considers Adding 'Silicon Valley' to Struggling Airport's Lengthy Name

Link to article in the San Jose Mercury News:

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17465946

2) Southwest Airlines Partners with Apple's iTunes

Link to article in Variety:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118032639

Link to further information from Southwest Airlines:

http://www.southwest.com/html/travel-extras/inairtainment.html

CARTOGRAPHY

3) Google Asks Swiss Court to Lift Street View Curbs

Link to AP article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/24/AR2011022401715.html

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) Hidden Charges Have New Meaning at Invisible Tollbooths

Link to column in The News-Press:

http://www.news-press.com/article/20110224/COLUMNISTS40/102240382/Tell-Mel-Hidden-charges-new-meaning-invisible-tollbooths

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) Garmin Seeks New Routes as PNDs Lose Direction

Link to Reuters article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/23/garmin-idUSL3E7DN17N20110223

ROADWAYS

6) Hectoring Highway Signs in Ontario

Link to blog on CKTB Radio:

http://www.610cktb.com/blogs/tmcconnell/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10208648

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) Earthquake Early Warning System a Reality in California

Link to story on Fox News:

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/02/23/quake-early-warning-reality-california/

TRANSIT

8) Transport for London to Upgrade Travel Card Readers

Link to article in The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/government-computing-network/2011/feb/24/tfl-to-upgrade-travel-card-readers

9) NJ Transit to Unveil 'Scorecard' that Will Provide Performance Data Online

Link to article in the Daily Record:

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20110223/NJNEWS10/102230320/1002/NJSPORTS/NJ-Transit-unveil-scorecard-will-provide-performance-data-online

10) Articles from the Current Issue of Mass Transit

- Great Communicator - An Interview with the President and CEO of San Antonio's VIA

http://www.masstransitmag.com/publication/article.jsp?pubId=1&id=13731

- New Media Marketing

http://www.masstransitmag.com/publication/article.jsp?pubId=1&id=13729

- Sound Advice for Agencies

http://www.masstransitmag.com/publication/article.jsp?pubId=1&id=13728

- Top Transit Tech Innovations

http://www.masstransitmag.com/publication/article.jsp?pubId=1&id=13730

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Smart Corridors System Offers San Mateo County, California Motorists Relief from Major Crashes

Link to article in The Examiner:

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/transportation/2011/02/high-tech-system-offers-motorists-relief-major-crashes

12) Calling All Cars: Cell Phone Networks and the Future of Traffic

Link to article on Ars Technica:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2011/02/calling-all-cars-measuring-traffic-using-cell-phone-data.ars

13) Real-Time Data Improves Traffic Flow on Seattle Streets

Link to blog from the Seattle Department of Transportation:

http://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2011/02/23/real-time-data-improves-traffic-flow-on-city-streets/

News Releases

1) More Missourians Go Online for Road Condition Information

2) Ford Explains Extensive New Technologies in Ford Focus to Global Consumers Using New Advertising, Techniques

3) TomTom and Beacon Software Team Up to Help Towing Fleets Manage Operations Efficiently

Upcoming Events

National Association of County Engineers Annual Conference – April 17-21 – Minneapolis, Minnesota

http://www.countyengineers.org/events/annualconf/Pages/NACE2010-ConferenceOverview.aspx

Today in Transportation History

1961 **50th anniversary** Iran Air was created with the merger of Iranian Airways and Pars Airways.

http://www.iranair.com/site/305/default.aspx

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

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

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast www.bwcommunications.net