Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

Register now for the 18^th World Congress on ITS, October 16-20^th, 2011 in Orlando, Florida

The 18^th World Congress on Intelligent Transportation Systems and ITS America’s Annual Meeting is this year’s “must attend” event for advanced transportation technologies, featuring:

-over 250 sessions with industry experts and world renowned speakers;

-a broad range of technical tours featuring Florida’s state-of-the-art ITS facilities;

-more than 350,000 square feet of exhibit hall space housing the latest technology products, services, and solutions;

-an action-packed schedule of special events hosted in sunny and beautiful Orlando;

-and more than 25 live, interactive tech demonstrations in the Technology Showcase- the most dynamic way to experience the World Congress!

Register early to reserve your spot for technical tours and special events- space is limited! Visit the World Congress website at www.itsworldcongress.org.

AVIATION

1) US Orders Airlines to State Fees More Clearly

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/business/20air.html

Link to news release from US DOT:

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2011/dot5111.html

BICYCLES

2) AARP Pushing Legislation to Reduce Pedestrian, Bicyclist Fatalities in Alabama Cities

Call for new signage, lane striping and other steps.

Link to article in The Huntsville Times:

http://blog.al.com/breaking/2011/04/aarp_pushing_legislation_to_re.html

CAMERAS

3) Traffic Cameras Have Drivers Seeing Red

Link to video on NBC's Today Show:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/42586630#42586630

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) First Came iPhone’s Thunder, Now GPS Makers Ride the Lightning

Link to article in Fast Company:

http://www.fastcompany.com/1748748/faced-with-the-iphone-gps-makers-ride-the-tigers-tail

OTHER

5) ACLU: Michigan State Police Using Cellphone 'Extraction' Device

Link to story and video on WDIV-TV:

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/27564088/detail.html

Link to news release from the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan:

http://www.aclumich.org/issues/privacy-and-technology/2011-04/1542

6) States Address English-Only Driver’s License Testing

Link to article in Lane Line:

http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Apr11/041811/041911-05.shtml

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

7) Federal Report on South Carolina State Transportation Center Withheld

Link to article in The Post and Courier:

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/apr/19/federal-report-on-sc-state-withheld/

Make Public South Carolina State Probe

Link to editorial in The Post and Courier:

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/apr/20/make-public-sc-state-probe/

8) Sound Transit Hopes to Teach Students About Public Transportation

Link to article in The Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014817962_soundtransit20m.html

RAILROADS

9) Positive Train Control: Onboard PTC Technology

Link to article in Progressive Railroading:

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/pr/article.asp?id=26261

ROADWAYS

10) Lower Merion, Pennsylvania Can Keep Its Historic Street Signs

Link to article in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://articles.philly.com/2011-04-19/news/29447402_1_street-signs-new-signs-cast-iron-signs

SAFETY / SECURITY

11) Traffic Crawling? Time to Get Some Work Done

Link to McClatchy Newspapers article:

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/04/19/2810254/traffic-crawling-time-to-get-some.html

TELEMATICS

12) Three-in-Four UK Drivers Willing to Try Telematics to Save on Insurance

Link to article in Post:

http://www.postonline.co.uk/post/news/2044972/-drivers-willing-try-telematics

TRANSIT

13) Commuter Connect: New Initiative from MBTA

Link to story and video on WFXT-TV:

http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/morning/commuter-connect-new-initiative-from-mbta-20110419

14) Cincinnati Metro Looking for Feedback on Google Transit

Link to blog in the Business Courier:

http://wwwnew.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2011/04/metro-looking-for-feedback-on-google.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

15) Moscow to Upgrade ITS and Build Traffic Management Center

Link to article in The Moscow Times:

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/sitronics-gets-220m-to-fight-traffic/435465.html

VEHICLES

16) Indie Truckers: Keep Big Brother Out of My Cab

Link to story and audio on NPR's Morning Edition:

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/20/135507979/indie-truckers-keep-big-brother-out-of-my-cab

17) Buick to Launch IntelliLink on 2012 Models

Link to article in AutoWeek:

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110419/CARNEWS/110419834

18) New Technology Could Change Transportation Funding

Link to article in The Topeka Capital-Journal:

http://cjonline.com/news/2011-04-19/new-technology-could-change-transportation-funding

News Releases

1) Coalition of Business, Highway, Transit and Environmental Leaders Urge Congress to Support Smart Technologies in Transportation Reauthorization Bill

2) NTSB Opening Investigation Into Air Traffic Control Incident Involving Aircraft Carrying Michelle Obama

3) Kapsch TrafficCom IVHS and Federal Signal Corporation Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Cooperation in the ITS Markets for North America

Upcoming Events

2011 IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium – June 5-9 – Baden-Baden, Germany

http://www.mrt.uni-karlsruhe.de/iv2011/index.php

Today in Transportation History

1961 **50^th anniversary** The first untethered flight of a rocket pack was made by Harold Graham in Niagara Falls, New York.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgLvu4y-AZg

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© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast www.bwcommunications.net