Transportation Communications Newsletter: Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, February 9, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

Deadline Approaching to Submit Papers for the ITS World Congress in Orlando

ITS America is issuing a final invitation to transportation researchers, practitioners, policy experts and other interested parties to submit a paper for consideration for presentation at the 18^th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems and Annual Meeting convening October 16-20, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. Papers must be submitted online this week no later than February 11, 2011. Paper presentations are an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your expertise, showcase research results, and advance ideas focused on ITS topics such as high-tech transit solutions, real-time traveler information, performance measurement, intermodal systems integration, advanced traffic management systems, commercial vehicle operations, electronic toll/fare collection, telematics, new consumer applications, and other ITS-related fields. The program committee is also seeking the most relevant and thought-provoking papers pertinent to the conference theme: Keeping the Economy Moving. For more information on paper topics or submission guidelines, please visit the World Congress website at www.itsworldcongress.org or contact Nicole Oliphant of ITS America at papers@itsa.org or 202-721-4215.

AVIATION

1) US Government Considering Rolling Back Rule Allowing Private Planes to Keep Flights Secret

Link to article on ProPublica:

http://www.propublica.org/article/faa-considering-rolling-back-rule-allowing-private-planes-to-keep-flights

2) Head of FAA Managers Association Criticizes New Safety Program

Link to AP article:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=133620758

3) Aviation Photographer Aims to 'Capture the Feeling of Each Flight'

Link to article in The San Diego Union-Tribune:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/07/aviation-photographer-aims-to-capture-the-feeling/

CAMERAS

4) Baltimore County, Maryland Council Target of PR Campaign by Speed Camera Vendor

Link to article in The Baltimore Sun:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/bs-md-co-speed-camera-public-20110208,0,6018693.story

5) Web Site Accused of Imitating Forum for Those Opposed to Missouri Red Light Cameras

Link to article in the Riverfront Times:

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2011/02/fake_website_cameras_missouri_wrong_on_red.php

Link to sites:

Wrong on Red: http://www.wrongonred.com/

Wrong About Red: http://wrongonred.org/

GPS / NAVIGATION

6) Our Twisted Relationship with the GPS

Having an appliance that talks — but doesn't listen — drives some people around the bend. Others enjoy having someone in the car to argue with. It's all about the voice, an expert says.

Link to column in the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-adv-gps-20110209,0,6245503.story

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

7) UK Press Watchdog Rules Tweets are Public Information

Ruling comes after newspaper quotes Department of Transport bureaucrat's tweets.

Link to article in Wired:

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/02/uk-tweets-are-public-info/

RAILROADS

8) New Senate Bill Would Reduce Route Miles Requiring Positive Train Control Installation

Link to article in Progressive Railroading:

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/prdailynews/news.asp?id=25747

ROADWAYS

9) Speed Trap Alerts: Cape Town, South Africa Weighs Charges

Link to article in the Cape Argus:

http://www.capeargus.co.za/speed-trap-alerts-city-weighs-charges-1.1023683

10) Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Latest to Target Excessive Stop Signs

Link to article in the National Post:

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Charlottetown+latest+target+excessive+stop+signs/4247145/story.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

11) FEMA Will Use Social Media Through All Stages of a Disaster

Link to article on Nextgov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110208_4142.php

12) 'Inexcusable' Delay on TSA Body-Scanner Safety Reports

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2011-02-09-tsa09_ST_N.htm

TRANSIT

13) Battle Over Mideast Transit Ads Heating Up Across US

Link to article from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency:

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/02/08/2742900/battle-over-mideast-transit-ads-heating-up-across-the-country

14) Haiku Boosts Transit / City Contest Raises Ire / Critics in a Flap

Link to article in the Edmonton Journal:

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/travel/Haiku+boosts+transit+City+contest+raises+Critics+flap/4249109/story.html

15) Commuter Advertising to Sell Audio Ads on Pace Buses in Chicago Area

Link to article in the Dayton Business Journal:

http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2011/02/08/commuter-advertising-signs-chicago-deal.html

Link to more information about Commuter Advertising:

http://www.commuter-advertising.com/

16) Transit CEO Turns the Page on Public Sector Management

Mark Aesch of the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority hopes his new management book, 'Driving Excellence,' will inspire other transit systems to perform at a higher level.

Link to article on TransitTalent.com:

http://www.transittalent.com/articles/index.cfm?story=markaesch2

Link to additional information from Hyperion:

http://www.hyperionbooks.com/book/driving-excellence/

VEHICLES

17) Court of Appeal Throws Out Warrantless Search of Car's Data Recorder

Link to article in the Metropolitan News-Enterprise:

http://www.metnews.com/articles/2011/xino020911.htm

Link to ruling:

http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?xmldoc=In%20CACO%2020110208046.xml&docbase=CSLWAR3-2007-CURR

News Releases

1) Air Transport Association to Congress: Leverage NextGen to Help Grow the US Economy Through New Jobs and Increased Exports