Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Tuesday, February 8, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Discuss Federal Legislative Initiatives at IBTTA Legislative Conference – March 7-8, Washington, DC

The interest in new business approaches from all-electronic tolling to distance-based road charging will require new relationships and collaboration as well as new legislative and regulatory support. Attend IBTTA’s Legislative Conference to better understand and influence federal and state policymaking. Delegates will have the opportunity to visit with members of Congress during a reception at the U.S. Capitol. Visit www.IBTTA.org to view the preliminary agenda, register, and learn about sponsorship opportunities. To view IBTTA’s entire 2011 Education Series, click here.

OTHER

1) ITS Market Snapshot: ITS Spending – A New Model

Link to further information from Katz Strategy:

http://www.katzstrategy.com/report.html

ROADWAYS

2) Bangalore Police Receive Award for Effective Traffic Management

Agency recognized for having the most modern technology-driven traffic enforcement system in India.

Link to article on DNA:

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_bangalore-police-lauded-for-effective-traffic-management_1504820

SAFETY / SECURITY

3) Bill Proposed in US Senate to Protect Airport Body Scan Images

Link to article in Computerworld:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9208651/Sens._Schumer_Nelson_propose_bill_to_protect_airport_body_scan_images

Link to news release from Senator Ben Nelson:

http://bennelson.senate.gov/press/press_releases/Inappropriate-Release-Of-Body-Scan-Images-Should-Be-A-Felony.cfm

TELEMATICS

4) Every Move You Make

The logistics industry has adopted a passive attitude toward GPS.

Link to article in LogisticsWeek:

http://logisticsweek.com/feature/2011/02/every-move-you-make/

TRANSIT

5) Refusal of Seattle Bus Ads Came on Fear of Attacks

Link to article in The Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014158893_busads08m.html

6) Melbourne SmartBus Fails IQ Test

Faulty electronic timetables are confusing passengers.

Link to article in the Banyule & Nillumbik Weekly:

http://www.banyuleandnillumbikweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/smartbus-fails-iq-test/2069869.aspx

7) Opening the Loop with Transit Programs

Bank-issued cards remove transit agencies from issuance game.

Link to article in ContactlessNews:

http://www.contactlessnews.com/2011/02/08/opening-the-loop-with-transit-programs

8) The Good Wait – What Those Subway Countdown Clocks do to Your Brain

Link to article in New York:

http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/70983/

9) MBTA General Manager: 'We Must Do a Better Job'

Following month filled with snow, GM says agency must do a better job of communicating with riders.

Link to blog in The Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/02/mbta_general_ma_1.html

10) Online 'Map Movies': Useful?

Link to blog on Human Transit:

http://www.humantransit.org/2011/02/online-map-movies-useful.html

Link to map movie from Rotherham Metro Borough Council:

http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/info/10082/public_transport-information_and_advice/1614/rotherham_map_movie

11) DC Metro Trackwork Announcements Take Tentative Step Forward

Link to blog on Greater Greater Washington:

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9066/metro-trackwork-announcements-take-tentative-step-forward/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

12) Storm Points to Significance of South Dakota 511 System Changes

Link to editorial in the Argus Leader:

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20110208/VOICES01/102080314/-1/voices01/Editorial-Storm-points-significance-511-system-changes

VEHICLES

13) Electronic Flaws Did Not Cause Toyota Problems, US Says

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/business/09auto.html

Link to news release from NHTSA:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2011/U.S.+Department+of+Transportation+Releases+Results+from+NHTSA-NASA+Study+of+Unintended+Acceleration+in+Toyota+Vehicles

14) EPA Digs Up Way to Collect In-Use Emissions Data from Construction Vehicles

Link to article in Off Highway Engineering:

http://www.sae.org/mags/SOHE/9258

News Releases

1) Michigan DOT Posts Winter Safety Message on YouTube

2) Northrop Grumman Delivers Europe's First Runway Status Light Control System at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris

3) City of Stockholm Calls for Intelligent Transport Solutions

4) GEWI Newsletter – January/February 2011 Edition

5) Waze Launches First Real-Time Community Voice Alerts to Warn Fellow iPhone Drivers of Road Hazards Ahead

6) Transit Buzz TV Reaches 30-Million Monthly Viewers

7) High-Resolution Cameras Now Standard for Transit and Rail Video Surveillance System

8) Global Alert Network and AccuWeather.com Partner to Launch National Location-Based Weather Alert System for Mobile Phones

9) Ford Launches National High School Safe Driving Tour

10) Wi-Fi Usage at Boston Logan Jumps 400% in 2010

Solicitation

- Request for Procurement – Test Data Sets to Support Dynamic Mobility Applications Development – FHWA

http://www.its.dot.gov/procurements/procurement_announcement.htm

Upcoming Events

10^th Annual UK & European Rail Stations Conference – March 1 – London

http://landor.co.uk/railstations

Today in Transportation History

1971 **40^th anniversary** South Vietnamese forces enter Laos in an effort to disrupt logistics on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,876899,00.html

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© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast www.bwcommunications.net