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:
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:
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:
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:
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
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