Transportation Communications Newsletter: March 2011

Register today for IBTTA’s Organization Management Workshop and keep current on the latest industry trends in building a better organization. If you are responsible for the communications, marketing, HR, finance, and administration in your organization, this meeting is for you! This popular workshop will focus on emerging issues and practical solutions related to advancing your organization and keeping stakeholders satisfied. Meeting highlights include Gerard Braud, Keynote Speaker and Crisis Communications Expert; general session on regional mobility challenges featuring a power panel of transportation executives and commissioners; communications open house, and more. Visit www.IBTTA.org/JERSEYCITY to view the brochure, register, and learn about sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities. To view IBTTA’s entire 2011 Education Series, click here.

AVIATION

1) Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air Presidents Post Video Apology for Computer Problems

Link to blog and video on seattlepi.com:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/aerospace/2011/03/28/alaska-horizon-presidents-post-video-apology-for-delays/

CAMERAS

2) Florida MPO: Hit 'Record' Button on I-75 Cameras

Link to article in the Bradenton Herald:

http://www.bradenton.com/2011/03/29/3068917/mpo-hit-record-button-on-i-75.html

CARTOGRAPHY

3) Can and Should Online Mapping Services Match the Paper Map?

Link to podcast in Directions Magazine:

http://www.directionsmag.com/podcasts/podcast-can-and-should-online-mapping-services-match-the-paper-map/171624

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) More Than 200 Trucking Companies Sued for GPS Patent Infringement

Link to article in Commercial Carrier Journal:

http://www.ccjdigital.com/more-than-200-carriers-sued-for-patent-infringement/

5) Men Don't Trust GPS, Study Finds

Link to article in the Calgary Herald:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/trust+study+finds/4521592/story.html

Link to news release from Swinton:

http://www.swinton.co.uk/press/article/default.aspx?articleid=573

OTHER

6) Florida DOT, Transportation Consultants Get an Earful Over Fiber Optics Access at MPO Meeting

Link to article in The Bradenton Times:

http://www.thebradentontimes.com/news/2011/03/29/local_government/state_transportation_consultants_get_an_earful_over_fiber_optics_access_at_mpo_meeting/

7) Maryland Rail Deal Would Put Holocaust Records Online, MARC Contractor Would Have to Disclose Ties

Link to AP article:

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/69781bcfcd434cb984ccf4d6ce76452e/MD-XGR--Holocaust-Train-Records/

8) Family of Ambassador Bridge Owner Leads Image Redo

Link to article and video in The Detroit News:

http://detnews.com/article/20110329/METRO/103290369/Bridge-ambassadors--Moroun%E2%80%99s-family-leads-image-redo

RAILROADS

9) Indian Railways to Use Satellite-Based System for Tracking Trains

Information will be provided to customers through a variety of means.

Link to article in The Economic Times:

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-03-27/news/29194787_1_freight-trains-stations-satellite

10) Intercity Passenger and Freight Rail: Better Data and Communication of Uncertainties Can Help Decision Makers Understand Benefits and Trade-offs of Programs and Policies

Link to report from the US Government Accountability Office:

http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-290

ROADWAYS

11) Know Your Traffic Signs with iOS Apps

Programs provide directory of road signs in US and UK.

Link to review on Product Reviews:

http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/03/29/know-your-traffic-signs-with-ios-apps/

SAFETY / SECURITY

12) A New Twist on Disaster Response

An earthquake simulation demonstrated how government could harness social media in an emergency.

Link to article in Federal Computer Week:

http://fcw.com/articles/2011/03/28/feature-bressler-george-customs-and-border-protection.aspx

TRANSIT

13) New Colorectal Cancer Awareness Transit Ads Hit Roadblocks in Canada

Link to article in Marketing Magazine:

http://www.marketingmag.ca/news/marketer-news/new-colorectal-cancer-awareness-transit-ads-hit-roadblocks-25099

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

14) New Hampshire Hangs Up on Its 511 System

Link to article in The Telegraph:

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/913898-196/state-hangs-up-on-its-511-system.html

15) Keeping an Eye on the Traffic in York County, Pennsylvania

Link to article in the York Daily Record:

http://www.ydr.com/ci_17721124

16) First Look at Columbia County, Georgia's New Traffic Control Center

Link to story and video on WJBF-TV:

http://www2.wjbf.com/news/2011/mar/29/first-look-columbia-countys-new-traffic-control-ce-ar-1644590/

17) Delivering Critical Information to Drivers

Utilized correctly, new technology can provide timely info, reduce driver distraction.

Link to white paper from HNTB:

http://www.hntb.com/sites/default/files/issues/MobileTrafficTechnology_2011.pdf

VEHICLES

18) Ford's Focus on Technology

Link to commentary on just-auto:

http://www.just-auto.com/comment/fords-focus-on-technology_id109965.aspx

News Releases

1) Amtrak to Notify Northeast Corridor Passengers of Major Service Disruptions via Twitter

2) American Express Announces Serve, the Next Generation Digital Payment Platform

3) DART RideShare Delaware Launches Interactive Ridesharing and Commute-Tracking System

4) Roadify Adds a Social Side to Transit and Traffic Reports to Create New York City's First Dynamic Commuting Platform

5) TrafficLand Launches First Unified Traffic Camera Coverage of St. Louis Market

6) Texas DOT Warns Texans: Talk. Text. Crash.

Upcoming Events

Center for Transportation Studies Transportation Research Conference – May 24-25 – St. Paul, Minnesota

http://www.cts.umn.edu/Events/ResearchConf/

Today in Transportation History

1941 **70^th anniversary** The Royal British and Royal Australian navies sank or severely damaged several ship of the Italian Regina Marina in a World War II battle off Greece's Peloponnesian peninsula.

http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-cape-matapan-world-war-ii-italian-naval-massacre.htm

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Monday, March 28, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, March 28, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

Experience the Ultimate in Technology at the 18^th World Congress on ITS this October

Cutting-edge ITS technology solutions will come to life in real time at the 18^th World Congress on ITS and ITS America’s Annual Meeting on October 16-20, 2011 in Orlando. Set up in the large parking lot adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center, the Technology Showcase consists of live demonstrations by leading transportation agencies, including the U.S. Department of Transportation, and private sector companies like Toyota and Econolite. This year, the Technology Showcase is organized by themes or “villages” that highlight a specific use or application: Safety, Mobility, Environment/Sustainability, and Pricing. It will position central Florida as a “National Test Bed” for connected vehicles, people and infrastructure, with a large-scale demonstration using roadside devices along Orlando’s major corridors and a fleet of test vehicles. The Technology Showcase is the most dynamic way to experience the World Congress—make plans now to attend! For more information and to register visitwww.itsworldcongress.org.

AVIATION

1) Airport Apps Guide Travelers from Security to Takeoff

Link to article in USA Today:

http://travel.usatoday.com/digitaltraveler/story/2011/03/Airport-apps-guide-travelers-from-security-to-takeoff/45417268/1

MARITIME

2) Port and Terminal Operating Systems Coordinate Services

Link to article in Port Strategy:

http://www.portstrategy.com/features101/port-operations/planning-and-design/tos-vs-pos/all-systems-go

OTHER

3) Automobile Magazine Founder David E. Davis, Jr. Dies

Link to AP article:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Auto-magazine-founder-David-E-apf-559078173.html?x=0&.v=6

ROADWAYS

4) I-75 in Florida in Line for 'Smart' Upgrade

Link to article in the Bradenton Herald:

http://www.bradenton.com/2011/03/27/3064935/i-75-in-line-for-smart-upgrade.html

5) FHWA MUTCD Manual Needs to Modernize 'Freeway' and 'Expressway' Definitions

Link to commentary on TOLLROADSnews:

http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/5225

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) Public Safety Experts Gather in Phoenix for Lifesavers Conference

Link to story and video on KTVK-TV:

http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/Public-safety-experts-gather-in-Phoenix-for-Lifesavers-conference-118788364.html

7) Technology Key to Road Safety

Link to editorial in The Arizona Republic:

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2011/03/28/20110328mon1-28-road-safety.html

TRANSIT

8) UK Readies Underground Wi-Fi for 2012 Olympics

Link to article in PCWorld:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/223428/uk_readies_underground_wifi_for_2012_olympics.html

9) Google Sets Role in Mobile Payment

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703576204576226722412152678.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) A COMPASS to Divert Drivers Through Traffic

High-tech traffic management system helps guide drivers in Toronto area.

Link to article in The Globe and Mail:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-tips/safety/a-compass-to-direct-drivers-through-traffic/article1955312/

11) High-Tech Solutions Sought for Auckland Traffic

ITS summit takes place in New Zealand.

Link to article in The National Business Review:

http://www.techday.co.nz/netguide/news/high-tech-solution-sought-for-auckland-traffi/19725/1/

VEHICLES

12) Wi-Fi Cars are Hitting the Information Superhighway

Link to AFP article:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iLhMIDcyzJ-mZI28N4j5AR6oIwLA?docId=CNG.82fce0d1e069b2865b114176f57c0264.d41

13) Ten Golden Rules for Happier Drivers

Netherland's agency comes up with rules to help drivers use the road network.

Link to commentary in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/10-golden-rules-for-happier-drivers/2011/03/23/AF1ZbKfB_story.html

14) Tax per Gallon, or per Mile?

Link to blog on CNET:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20047354-48.html

News Releases

1) SITA and Copenhagen Airport Launch World's First Indoor Augmented Reality Application

2) Torrance Transit Joins Google Transit to Offer Patrons Better Trip Planning Tool

3) University of New Hampshire Gets OK for Real-Time Transit Information Project

4) AAA's Free App Helps Motorists Compare Gas Prices Close to Home and on the Road

5) TRANSCAER Rolling Out Nationwide Safety Training Tour

6) TagMaster Announces Collaboration with Siemens Mobility on Selective Vehicle Detection in Traffic Management Systems

Job Postings

- Post-Graduate Internship: EcoMobility – ICLEI – Bonn, Germany

http://www.iclei.org/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Global/About_ICLEI/vacancies/Call_for_internship_ecomobility_2011.pdf

- Operations Director – State Road & Tollway Authority – Atlanta, Georgia

https://www.careers.ga.gov/jobsearch/jobdetail.asp?ReqNum=927-A0117ag

Upcoming Events

2011 International Transportation Economic Development Conference – May 1-3 – Charleston, West Virginia

http://www.ited2011.org