Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057


Thank You!

I want to thank all of you who contributed to the TCN during my May fundraising drive. Your support is greatly appreciated. I also want to thank those who show their support simply by being a subscriber. Without you, there would be no reason to put the newsletter together each weekday. I hope it continues to be a valued part of your day and, in its own small way, helps to improve transport around the world through the sharing of information. If you would still like to contribute, please see the information below.


AVIATION

1) Digital Cameras and Bluetooth Ease Travel Through Houston Airports

Link to article in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/transportation/Digital-Cameras-Bluetooth-Houston-Airports.html

OTHER

2) Thinking Highways (Europe/RoW) – June/July 2011

Link to magazine:

http://thinkinghighways.com/Pages/View-issue.aspx?id=a2044452-5b53-465e-891c-0eb60c1a47fe

PEDESTRIANS

3) Award-Winning Website a Place to Find Tips and Trails in Maine

Link to article in The Portland Press Herald:

http://www.pressherald.com/news/award-winning-website-a-place-to-find-tips-and-trails_2011-05-31.html

Link to site: http://mainetrailfinder.com/

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

4) Metlink vs. Fare-Evading 'Pariahs' in New TV Spot

Link to article and video in B&T:

http://www.bandt.com.au/news/breaking-campaign--metlink-vs-fare-evading--pariah

TRANSIT

5) Canadian Conference Promotes User-Friendly Transit

Link to article in the Leader-Post:

http://www.leaderpost.com/Conference+promotes+user+friendly+transit/4865475/story.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

6) Houston TranStar Creates Traffic Monitoring System to Avoid Rita-Type Logjam

Link to story and audio on KUHF Radio:

http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/1306785030-Never-Again-Rita-type-Logjam.html

7) Recording and Presentations from May 3 Webinar on Developing Successful Transportation Management Plans Now Available

Link to further information from US DOT:

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=737

News Releases

1) Alaska Airlines Pilots Go Lean and Green with iPads

2) Idaho Transportation Department Debuts Online Meeting Forum in Early June to Improve Public's Access to Information

3) Innovative Transportation Safety Leader Takes Helm at HELP Incorporated

TCN Donations

Checks or money orders may be mailed to:

Bernie Wagenblast

1 Aberdeen CT

Cranford, NJ USA 07016-2911

You may also donate online with a credit card via PayPal at:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=10069680

Upcoming Events

Webinar: Situational Awareness – A Holistic Approach to Reducing Driver Distraction – June 16

http://www.eetimes.com/electrical-engineers/education-training/webinars/4216389/Situational-Awareness--A-Holistic-Approach-to-Reducing-Driver-Distraction

Today in Transportation History

1911 **100th anniversary** The RMS Titanic was launched in Belfast.

http://www.titanic-titanic.com/titanic_launch.shtml

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast www.bwcommunications.net

Monday, May 30, 2011

Monday, May 30, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, May 30, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057


Last Two Days to Donate to the TCN!

Actually, you can donate anytime, but these are the last two days until November when I'll be asking for contributions. The TCN is here Monday through Friday to keep you up-to-date on the latest news and information about transportation communications. The news comes from global sources and since it's written by people from a variety of perspectives you get many points of view. You can donate to the TCN by mailing a check or money order or with a credit card via PayPal. The details can be found below.

To all who have donated, many thanks. It means a lot! If you haven't donated, a big thank you, also. Having you as a reader is why I do this every day.


AVIATION

1) Private Plane Owners Can't Keep Flight Plan Secret, FAA Says

Link to Bloomberg article:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-27/private-plane-flight-plans-must-be-public-faa.html

Link to news release from the FAA:

http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=12743

2) Sky's No Limit for Aviation Software Firm

Link to article in Business Day:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/5071174/Skys-no-limit-for-aviation-software-firm

Link to Superstructure Group: http://www.superstructuregroup.com/

BICYCLES

3) New York City Cyclists Use Internet to Track Ticket-Blitz Hot Spots

Link to article in the New York Post:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/scofflaw_cyclists_share_tix_blitz_j1TYOh33mzyrc5r0m8ZbbL

Link to map from WNYC Radio:

http://www.google.com/fusiontables/DataSource?snapid=S199405-Iup

CAMERAS

4) Tennessee Governor to Sign Traffic Camera Bill Into Law

Bill aims to eliminate their use as speed traps and reduce vendors' influence on their location.

Link to article in The Daily News Journal:

http://www.dnj.com/article/20110528/NEWS05/110528007/Haslam-sign-Tenn-traffic-camera-bill-into-law

5) License Plate Scanners Locate Vehicle Sought After New York City Hit and Run

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/28/license-plate-scanners-locate-vehicle-sought-after-hit-and-run/

MARITIME

6) Wisconsin Shipbuilding Interests Launch Website

Link to story and video on WFRV-TV:

http://www.wfrv.com/news/local/Marine-Alliance-launches-website-122768739.html

Link to North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance site:

http://northcoastmma.org/

ROADWAYS

7) Dallas/Fort Worth HOV Lanes Confusing for Drivers

Link to article in the Star-Telegram:

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/05/28/3111663/dallas-fort-worth-hov-lanes-confusing.html

8) Rapid City, South Dakota Residents to Get Chance to Vote on Limiting Billboards

Link to article and video in the Rapid City Journal:

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_78134950-89b0-11e0-ae44-001cc4c002e0.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

9) Electronic Highway Signs in Oklahoma May be Used for Tornado Warnings

Link to story and video on KOTV-TV:

http://www.newson6.com/story/14745414/electronic-highway-signs-in-oklahoma-may-be-used-as-tornado-warnings

10) Dubai Police Streamline Access to Distress Calls

Visitors can dial home country emergency numbers for assistance.

Link to article in Gulf News:

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/emergencies/dubai-police-streamline-access-to-distress-calls-1.813927

TELEMATICS

11) Vodafone Germany Hosts Car-to-Car Telematics Trial Using LTE

Link to article on FierceWireless:

http://www.fiercewireless.com/europe/story/vodafone-germany-hosts-car-car-telematics-trial-using-lte/2011-05-27

TRANSIT

12) TriMet Stops Audio Warning System on Buses

Link to story and video on KGW-TV:

http://www.kgw.com/news/local/TriMet-stops-audio-warning-system-122729624.html

Link to news release:

http://trimet.org/news/releases/may27-ped-warning-canceled.htm

13) Israeli Public Transportation Companies Under Fire for Not Making Buses Blind-Friendly

Link to article in Haaretz:

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-public-transportation-companies-under-fire-for-not-making-buses-blind-friendly-1.364743

14) Bus-Tracking Technology Comes to Los Angeles County

Link to article in the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-nextrip-20110530,0,2558041.story

Link to Metro Nextrip: http://www.metro.net/service/nextrip/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

15) California Officials Hope to Avert Traffic Nightmare During I-405 Closure

Link to article in the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-405-closure-20110529,0,1494507.story

Link to project website: http://www.metro.net/projects/i-405/full-freeway-closures/

VEHICLES

16) Smart Cars Drive Savings, Safety and Environmental Benefits

Link to article on Smarter Technology:

http://www.smartertechnology.com/c/a/Technology-For-Change/Smart-Cars-Drive-Savings-Safety-and-Environmental-Benefits/

17) RIM Hopes Cars Drive PlayBook Sales

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304066504576349763614933844.html

Link to further information on BlackBerry PlayBook:

http://us.blackberry.com/playbook-tablet/

18) US DOT Employs QR Codes on New Fuel Labels

Link to article in BizReport:

http://www.bizreport.com/2011/05/us-dept-of-transportation-employs-qr-codes.html

News Releases

1) Report on Global Intelligent Transportation Systems Industry

TCN Donations

Checks or money orders may be mailed to:

Bernie Wagenblast

1 Aberdeen CT

Cranford, NJ USA 07016-2911

You may also donate online with a credit card via PayPal at:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=10069680

Upcoming Events

9th Road Safety Forum International Congress – June 30 – London

http://www.roadsafetyforum.org/events/annualconference.aspx

Today in Transportation History

1911 **100th anniversary** The first Indianapolis 500 was held.

http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/history/35521-History/

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast www.bwcommunications.net

Friday, May 27, 2011

Friday, May 27, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, May 27, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057


Deadline extended to next Friday, June 3rd to submit entries for ITS America’s Best of ITS Awards

Good news for the Memorial Day weekend! The deadline has been extended to next Friday, June 3rd for ITS America's highly competitive Best of ITS Awards. Enter in either the Best New Innovative Product, Service or Application category or Best New Innovative Practice. Finalists will be recognized and the winners announced during a special awards ceremony and reception on Monday, Oct. 17 at the 18th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. For a complete list of guidelines and more information on the awards program, please visit http://www.itsworldcongress.org/awards.html. Don’t miss this opportunity to be showcased as the best and brightest in the ITS industry!


AVIATION

1) Multi-Purpose, High-Tech Passenger Kiosks for Airports

Link to article on Tnooz:

http://www.tnooz.com/2011/05/26/news/multi-purpose-hi-tech-passenger-kiosks-for-airports

2) Air Traffic Control Reform Newsletter – May 2011

Link to newsletter from the Reason Foundation:

http://reason.org/news/show/air-traffic-control-reform-news-83

CARTOGRAPHY

3) Google Maps Adds Buttons, Gets Foursquare Feel

Link to article in PC World:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/228721/google_maps_adds_buttons_gets_foursquare_feel.html

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) American Roads Company Rolls Out Mobile Phone App for Tolls at Gated Facilities

Link to article on TOLLROADSnews:

http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/5321

OTHER

5) News from ERTICO

- ERTICO Interviews Brian Simpson, MEP and Chair of EP Transport and Tourism Committee

http://www.ertico.com/the-second-ertico-may-2011-interview/

- Report on Second Meeting of the Safety Observers Network

http://www.ertico.com/second-meeting-of-the-esafety-observers-network/

- Report on ITS Network Meeting

http://www.ertico.com/its-network-meeting-takes-place-in-brussels/

- Traveller Information Services Association and ESG5 Cooperate to Deliver Coherent Traffic Information

http://www.ertico.com/tisa-and-easyway-esg5-cooperate-to-deliver-coherent-traffic-information/

6) Roundtable Informs Wireless Innovation for Transportation

Link to blog from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/05/27/roundtable-informs-wireless-innovation-transportation

ROADWAYS

7) Open to Closure

State-of-the-art in work zone safety in the US.

Link to article in ITS International:

http://www.itsinternational.co.uk/2011/05/26/open-to-closure-2

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) Elk Warnings Created for Smartphones

Link to YLE story:

http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2011/05/elk_warnings_created_for_smartphones_2625760.html

Link to news release from Liikenneturva:

http://www.liikenneturva.fi/www/fi/index.php?we_objectID=7849 (in Finnish)

9) US Helping Mexico Set Up Amber Alert System

Link to story and video on KGTV-TV:

http://www.10news.com/news/28042265/detail.html

TRANSIT

10) New New York City Transit Site Easier to Use, Unless You're Mobile

Link to article on Transportation Nation:

http://transportationnation.org/2011/05/26/new-nyc-transit-site-clearer-but-has-glitches/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Quebec Defends Millions for All-Traffic Radio Stations

Link to article in The Gazette:

http://www.montrealgazette.com/Province+defends+cash+traffic+radio/4846645/story.html

VEHICLES

12) 'Black Boxes' in All Cars Proposed

Link to article in The Detroit News:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110527/AUTO01/105270343/1148/%E2%80%98Black-boxes%E2%80%99-in-all-cars-proposed

13) Remote Diagnostics, Premium Audio, Connectivity Top Consumers' Wish List

Link to article in Automotive News:

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110527/OEM06/110529899/1493

Link to news release from J.D. Power and Associates:

http://www.jdpower.com/news/pressRelease.aspx?ID=2011074

14) Forget the iPhone. Your Car is the Ultimate Mobile Device – But How Far Should That Go?

Link to article on Xconomy:

http://www.xconomy.com/detroit/2011/05/27/forget-the-iphone-your-car-is-the-ultimate-mobile-device-but-how-far-should-that-go/

News Releases

1) Bombardier Transportation Wins Two Awards for Promotional Films at 2011 World Media Festival

2) 'Better Bus Ride' Presented with 2011 Transport Achievement Award

3) Goodyear Blimps Assist Tornado Relief Efforts with Messages on Electronic Signs

Job Postings

- Special Services Coordinator – Central Maryland Regional Transit – Laurel, Maryland

http://www.transittalent.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=20854

Upcoming Events

NYU Conference on Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technologies – June 14 – New York City

http://wagner.nyu.edu/rudincenter/conferences/

Friday Bonus

Thinking of the perfect gift for your favorite traffic geek?

http://www.borisbally.com/ (click on any of the sections for unique traffic items)

Today in Transportation History

1941 **70th anniversary** The German battleship, Bismarck, was sunk in the North Atlantic. Of a crew of approximately 2,200, 1,995 died.

http://www.kbismarck.com/

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast www.bwcommunications.net