Thursday, February 14, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Thursday, February 14, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) Airport Advertising Takes Off
Link to story in The Wall Street Journal:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120296058551467765.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

2) Smile, Pay Fare? Study to Explore Video Toll System for Bay Area Bridges
Link to story in The Oakland Tribune:
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_8259378

3) Work on 3 Electronic Toll Plazas Started in Pakistan
Link to story on Unique Pakistan:
http://www.uniquepakistan.com/news/general/work-on-three-electronic-toll-plazas-started-in-pakistan-20080214.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Galileo: Star Project or Black Hole?
Link to BBC News story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7244553.stm

5) Mapping Medieval Streets Using GPS
Link to CNET News story:
http://www.news.com/Mapping-medieval-streets-using-GPS/2100-1041_3-6230604.html?tag=nefd.lede

6) GPS Spreading from Cars to Mobile Phones
Link to AFP story:
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jDDggyFTesN-71Ee-POa8gf69oPg

MARITIME

7) Online Travel Sees Offline Touch for Cruise
Link to Reuters story:
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN1338644520080213

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

8) NATSO Launches New Program Focusing on Truck Stop Safety
Link to story in Transport Topics:
http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=19185

ROADWAYS

9) Digital Billboards Could Cost Texas Taxpayers
Link to commentary in the Houston Chronicle:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/falkenberg/5540502.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) US Air Security Plans “Unacceptable,’ Says EU
Link to story on EurActiv:
http://www.euractiv.com/en/transport/us-air-security-plans-unacceptable-eu/article-170303

11) Public Safety Gets a High-Tech Boost in Virginia Emergency Hub
Link to story in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/12/AR2008021200019.html (may require free registration)

TELEMATICS

12) Having Big Brother Watching Can be a Good Thing
Telematics is increasingly popular but does all this technology really get the job done?
Link to CanWest News Service story:
http://autos.canada.com/news/story.html?id=808f3532-df23-4528-b798-0f7a527de4cf

TRANSIT

13) South Africa Seeks to Formalize Introduction of Electronic Fare Collection Soon
Link to story in Engineering News:
http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=126174

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

14) Beijing Traffic Management Center Prepares for Olympics
Link to video on KING-TV:
http://www.king5.com/video/news-index.html?nvid=217293

15) I-78 Debacle: The First Anniversary
One year after an ice storm left drivers in Pennsylvania stranded for hours, a newspaper looks at what’s improved and what still needs work.
Link to story in The Morning Call:
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-i78-feb14-08,0,5622071.story

16) Get Going on Road Hotline
Newspaper calls for New Mexico to establish 511 service.
Link to editorial in the Mountain View Telegraph:
http://www.mvtelegraph.com/mountain/opinion/285386mtnoped02-14-08.htm

VEHICLES

17) US DOT Seeks Input on Future Operations and Use of Vehicle Infrastructure Integration Testing Facility Near Detroit, Michigan
Link to story in the NTOC Newsletter:
http://www.ntoctalks.com/icdn/index.php3?PHPSESSID=463e969d7c0377c59da474d88333b1c8
Link to solicitation:
http://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOT/FHWA/OAM/DTFH61-08-RFI-21208/Synopsis.html


News Releases
1) FAA’s Chief Operating Officer Describes Runway Safety Strategies


Upcoming Events
Vehicle Dynamics Expo 2008 – May 6-8 – Meese Stuttgart, Germany
http://www.vehicledynamics-expo.com/


Today in Transportation History
1895 – Trolley workers in Brooklyn go on strike.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9A07E2DC123DE433A25756C1A9679C94649ED7CF&oref=slogin (may require free registration)

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.
© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, February 13, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) Federal Aviation Administration Pushing New Aircraft Safety Tool
Agency speeding up the certification process for electronic displays that provide commercial pilots with more detailed runway information.
Link to AP story:
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-22971169.htm

2) Radio Tags Trial for Luggage at Airports
Link to story in the Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2008/02/13/et-tags-113.xml

3) Runway Safety: Progress on Reducing Runway Incursions Impeded by Leadership, Technology, and Other Challenges
Link to testimony by the US Government Accountability Office:
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08481t.pdf

MARITIME

4) US Maritime Security and Safety Information System Being Installed in The Gambia
Link to story from the Foroyaa Newspaper:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200802111533.html

OTHER

5) Kentucky Panel OKs ‘In God We Trust’ License Plate
Link to story in the Lexington Herald-Leader:
http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/316687.html

6) Naked Venus Poster Banned from the London Tube for Fear of Offending Commuters
Link to story in the Daily Mail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=514119&in_page_id=1770

7) Chrysler Extends Sirius Contract to 2017
Link to story in AutoWeek:
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080213/FREE/33525274/1023/LATESTNEWS
Link to news release from Sirius:
http://investor.sirius.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=294145

8) February Issue of Florida DOT’s SunGuide Disseminator Online
Link to newsletter:
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/Newsletters/2008/02_2008/02_2008.htm

9) Human Performance, User Information, Simulation, and Visualization
Link to report from the Transportation Research Board:
http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8689

ROADWAYS

10) How Stripping the Streets of Lights and Signs May be a Life Saver
Link to story in The Times:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3359881.ece

SAFETY / SECURITY

11) Arizona Legislators Mount Bid to Foil Governor on Photo Radar
Link to Capitol Media Services story:
http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/224880

12) UN World Food Program, Vodafone to Work on Emergency Communication
Link to Reuters story:
http://www.news.com/WFP%2C-Vodafone-to-work-on-emergency-communication/2110-1037_3-6230365.html?tag=nefd.hed
Link to news release from the World Food Programme:
http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2768

TELEMATICS

13) No Hands, All Ears for Sound in Cars
Link to column in The Wall Street Journal:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120284497658363061.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

14) 'My 511' to Provide Custom Information in San Francisco Bay Area
Link to column in the San Jose Mercury News:http://www.mercurynews.com/traffic/ci_8247908

15) Airborne Traffic Reporters Face Uncertain Future
Link to story in the Daily Breeze:
http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_8245902

VEHICLES

16) Owner of Electronic-Billboard Truck Sues Florida, Sheriff
Link to story in the Orlando Sentinel:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-signs1308feb13,0,4599684.story


News Releases
1) Navteq Announces Agreement with Telfonica for New Mobile Traffic Product in Europe
2) US DOT Takes Action to Reduce Train Accidents Caused by Human Error - Greater Accountability Placed on Railroad Management and Employees for Safety
3) MTA New York City Transit Enhances Trip Planner - Navteq Map Data and Microsoft Virtual Earth Added to Itinerary Service


Upcoming Events
GNSS Road Technology in the Road Transport Sector – April 2-3 – Amsterdam
http://www.h3bmedia.com/networx/gnss.cfm


Today in Transportation History
1923 **85th anniversary** – Chuck Yeager, the first person to break the sound barrier, is born in Myra, West Virginia.
http://www.chuckyeager.com/

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.
© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) Amazon Collision Pilots Questioned Over Deactivated Transponder
Link to story in Flight:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/02/12/221474/amazon-collision-pilots-questioned-over-deactivated-transponder.html

2) Does that Voice on the Airport PA System Sound Familiar?
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-02-11-airport-announcements_N.htm

3) Coming to You Live from the Cockpit
The ability to listen to pilot radio communications while popular with some passengers is controversial with many pilots.
Link to column in The Wall Street Journal:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120277108037260483.html

4) New Eurocontrol Chief Sets Out Priorities
Link to story in Flight:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/02/11/221393/new-eurocontrol-chief-sets-out-priorities.html

5) Federal Aviation Administration Wants Help Becoming Cybersecurity Shared-Services Provider
Link to story in Federal Computer Week:
http://www.fcw.com/online/news/151613-1.html

ROADWAYS

6) Intelligent Transport Systems Could be Introduced in Bulgaria After 2010
Link to Focus News Agency story:
http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n133529

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) NHTSA Seeks Ways to Use Technology to Reduce Truck-Involved Fatalities
Link to story in Transport Topics:
http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=19165

8) Safety Incentives Lacking, Officials Say
Technology will radically change truck safety in coming years, with innovations likely to include wireless government truck inspections.
Link to story in Light & Medium Truck:
http://www.ttnews.com/lmt/dec07/incentives.asp

9) Travelers to Europe May Face Fingerprinting
Link to story in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/11/AR2008021102786.html

10) Haptic Feedback Research Explores Driver Cognition Issues
Link to story in The Sensor:
http://www.its.umn.edu/Publications/Sensor/2007/03/HapticFeedback.html

TELEMATICS

11) More High-Tech Invitations to Take Your Mind Off Road
Link to story in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/business/12distract.html?_r=1&ref=technology&oref=slogin (may require free registration)

TRANSIT

12) BART Planning Tickets that Resist Magnets
Link to story in the San Francisco Chronicle:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/12/BA5KV0ET9.DTL

13) Alcohol Check for Safer Transit Trips
Link to story on the Transport Information Group:
http://www.matthieudesiderio.com/?p=123

14) The Year of the Superbus
Decked out with amenities and fueled by efficiencies, local bus fleets are heading for prime time.
Link to story in Governing:
http://www.governing.com/articles/0802buses.htm

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

15) University of Wisconsin Experts Showcase Technology to Lessen Major Traffic Backups
Link to story on WISC-TV:
http://www.channel3000.com/technology/15277070/detail.html

16) Could Smart Traffic Lights Stop Motorists Fuming?
Link to NewScientist News Service story:
http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/motoring-tech/dn13306-could-smart-traffic-lights-stop-motorists-fuming.html


News Releases
1) Texas Tourism Launches New Advertising Campaign Introducing Online, Interactive ‘Trip Planner’ Tool & New Driving Tours
2) Speed Traps Worldwide Shown With Online Mapping Tool


Job Posting
- Associate Program Manager – Traffic.com – Wayne, Pennsylvania
http://navteq.com/webapps/ApplyJobServlet?jobId=1648&action=SearchDetails


Upcoming Events
European Road Pricing: Public Acceptability Forum – April 1-2 – Amsterdam
http://www.h3bmedia.com/networx/erp.cfm


Today in Transportation History
1900 – J.W. Packard receives his first automotive patent.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=7235

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.
© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast

Monday, February 11, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, February 11, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) DARPA Extends Robot Air Traffic Control Research
Link to story in Flight:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/02/11/221469/darpa-extends-robot-atc-research-for-uavs.html

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

2) Indian Commuters Not Buying Electronic Toll Tag Idea
Link to story in The Times of India:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/Commuters_not_buying_tag_idea/articleshow/2771876.cms

3) Electronic Tracking at Ohio River Bridges Means No Booths
Link to story in The Courier-Journal:
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080209/NEWS01/802090480/1008/NEWS01

4) As Toll Dodgers Get Creative, Eyes of E-ZPass are Watching
Link to story in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/nyregion/11ezpass.html?ex=1360386000&en=d557a3a21025ac90&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) LORAN Saved, but Money Questions Remain
Link to story in GPS World:
http://uc.gpsworld.com/gpsuc/Utilities+%26+Communications+News/LORAN-Saved-but-Money-Questions-Remain/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/490245?contextCategoryId=33826

6) GPS Isn’t the Only Tool for Location
It’s the most accurate, but others will stay part of the mix.
Link to story in InformationWeek:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206105934&subSection=All+Stories

7) University of Massachusetts Student Designs GPS Helmet
Would call for help if wearer is knocked unconscious.
Link to story and video report on WSHM-TV:
http://www.cbs3springfield.com/news/local/15454246.html

8) Nokia Aiming to Banish Paper Maps
Company has launched navigation tools designed to make the paper street map obsolete for pedestrians.
Link to BBC News story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7230686.stm

OTHER

9) Biometrics Registry Proposed
Standards registry would enable interagency sharing of biometrics.
Link to story in Government Computer News:
http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/45802-1.html

10) Reporter’s Access to North Carolina Board of Transportation Meeting Limited
Link to story in The News & Observer:
http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/929116.html

11) EU Commission Plans New Rules on Car Advertising - Report
Link to Thomson Financial story:
http://www.hemscott.com/news/latest-news/item.do?newsId=59886876521231

RAILROADS

12) Railways to Jump Onto Wi-Fi Bandwagon, Project to be Launched in Shatabdi, Rajdhani Trains
Link to story in The Economic Times:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Railways/Railways_to_jump_onto_Wi-Fi_bandwagon_project_to_be_launched_in_Shatabdi_Rajdhani_trains/articleshow/2774693.cms

13) Trains in Europe Offering Wi-Fi
Link to story in the International Herald Tribune:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/10/business/trains11.php

SAFETY / SECURITY

14) FCC’s Safety Spectrum May Not Get Buyer
Link to story in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/08/AR2008020803594.html (may require free registration)

15) EU Weighs Traveler Biometric Requirements
Link to story in Washington Technology:
http://www.washingtontechnology.com/online/1_1/32253-1.html

TELEMATICS

16) Perfect Partners
Automotive and electronics industries have long traveled a similar path but those paths now often converge.
Link to story in The Engineer:
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/304495/Perfect+partners.htm

17) Software Gets Smart Cars Talking
Link to story in ICT Results:
http://cordis.europa.eu/ictresults/index.cfm/section/news/tpl/article/BrowsingType/Features/ID/89520

TRANSIT

18) The Buzz is Over iBUS
Link to story in Business Line:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ew/2008/02/11/stories/2008021150070300.htm

19) Philadelphia-Area Transit Lines Seeking Smartest ‘Smart Card’
Link to story in The Philadelphia Inquirer:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20080211_Transit_lines_seeking_smartest_smart_card.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

20) High-Tech Traffic System Coming to Wichita
Link to story and video report on KSNW-TV:
http://www.ksn.com/news/local/15452811.html

21) Traffic Camera Data Gives Complex Picture
Police, Californian analysis tell different tales of collision rates.
Link to story in The Bakersfield Californian:
http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/359284.html

22) Fog Detectors Could Prevent Crashes, County Says, but Florida Budget Tight
Link to story in the Palm Beach Post:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/02/10/s1c_ROAD_FOG_0210.html

23) Researchers Try Tracking Traffic Using Cell Phone GPS
Link to story in the San Jose Mercury News:
http://www.mercurynews.com/traffic/ci_8215860

24) Commuter Feed: Track Traffic Reports with Twitter
Link to story in Wired:
http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2008/02/commuter-feed-t.html
Link to Commuter Feed: http://www.commuterfeed.com/


News Releases

1) Navteq Announces Navteq Traffic in Europe
2) SkyWay and Ford Team Up to Provide Ford Owners with Integrated Security Options
3) Motorola Launches Mobile TV Device with Advanced Navigation Capabilities
4) ITIS Starts Trial with Telefonica for Real-Time Traffic Information in Barcelona
5) CSX Transportation Launches Online Carbon Calculator
6) Sanef Consolidates Its Two Subsidiaries, Webraska and masternaut, to Build a Telematic Mobility Unit of European Dimension
7) Webraska Announces the Launch of the 1st Hybrid GPS Navigation Worldwide


Upcoming Events
TRB Webinar - Fast Lanes on the Transportation Information Superhighway: Tips for Efficient, Comprehensive Internet Research – February 27
http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8698


Today in Transportation History
1808 **200th anniversary** – Anthracite coal is first used in the US as a domestic heating fuel. In later years it was used as an important fuel for steam locomotives.
http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/inspector/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=476157

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.
© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast

Friday, February 8, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, February 8, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) Air Traffic Upgrade Costs Seen Ballooning
Link to AP story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23054029/

2) Airport Security Technology Stuck In the Pipeline
Link to story in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/07/AR2008020704067.html (may require free registration)

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

3) Having a Hard Time with E-ZPass
Baltimore’s Fort McHenry Tunnel counts cars as trucks, overcharges.
Link to story in The Baltimore Sun:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/traffic/bal-md.ezpass08feb08,0,2407690.story

4) Toll Sneaks Beware: New Cameras on Way to Bay Area
Link to story in the San Francisco Chronicle:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/08/BAGC2UUU8V.DTL

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) Researchers Test GPS-Cell Phone Navigation in San Francisco Bay Area
Link to story and video report on KNTV-TV:
http://www.nbc11.com/news/15255056/detail.html
Link to news release from Nokia:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-08-2008/0004752453&EDATE

OTHER

6) Exploring a New Congestion Pricing Concept: Focus Group Findings from Northern Virginia and Philadelphia
Link to report from the Federal Highway Administration:
http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/tolling_pricing/resources/report/cpcfocusgrp/index.htm

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

7) Wisconsin Admits Being Slow to Aid Motorists Stuck in Snowstorm
Link to AP story:
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080208/APC0101/802080724/1979
Link to news release from the Wisconsin Governor’s Office:
http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=19&prid=3151

8) San Diego Area 511 Celebrates Its First Year in Operation
Link to story in rEgion:
http://www.sandag.org/enewsletter/feature_2.html


News Releases
1) Siemens Introduces Traffic Control Systems for the Turkish Coast of the Black Sea
2) GM Asks Public to Write Its History
3) Toyota Advances Brake Assist with Navigation Link


Upcoming Events
Transit Security + Infrastructure Design 2008 Conference – April 1 – Brisbane, Australiahttp://www.transportroundtable.com.au/tsid2008/


Friday Bonus
Mmmm…If this doesn’t make you want to grab a hamburger bun, I don’t know what will.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/24/exhaust-burger-let-your-tailpipe-cook-for-you/


Today in Transportation History
1993 – General Motors sued NBC, alleging that two pickup truck crashes shown on “Dateline NBC” were rigged. The network settled the next day.
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,305709,00.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.
© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Thursday, February 7, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) US Lags World in In-Flight Phone Services
Link to story from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
http://www.airportbusiness.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=17335

GPS / NAVIGATION

2) Thunderstorms Can Disrupt GPS Devices, Researcher Warns
Link to story in the Taipei Times:
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/02/08/2003400597

SAFETY / SECURITY

3) US Transportation Security Administration Reads Blog Comments, Changes Policy
Link to Wired News story:
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/02/gov-reads-blog.html

4) US State Department and Department of Homeland Security Push ‘Passport-Lite’
Link to story in Government Computer News:
http://www.gcn.com/print/27_3/45770-1.html

5) New Laser Spectrometer Provides Instant Analysis
Link to Reuters story:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUKN0734345320080207

6) The Cyclist, Broken Streetlights and 25 E-Mails
Varying jurisdictions make a request to repair a bridge’s lights a lengthy ordeal.
Link to story in the Evening Standard:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23436113-details/The+cyclist,+broken+streetlights+and+25+emails/article.do

7) Guide to Evacuate Washington, DC Region Reveals Limitations
Link to story in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/03/AR2008020302923.html?hpid=topnews (may require free registration)

TRANSIT

8) Bulgaria’s Capital to Change to Electronic Ticketing System for Public Transport
Link to story in the Sophia Echo:
http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/bulgarias-capital-to-change-its-ticket-system-for-public-transport/id_27410/catid_66


News Releases
1) Finnish Transport Ministry to Take Charge of Congestion Charge Work
2) NASA Updates Aviation Safety Data Web Site
3) First Responders Say Advanced Technology Critical for Effectiveness
4) Washington State Airport Information System Now Available Online
5) Bermuda Demonstrates System Performance of World’s First Electronic Vehicle Registration System Using TransCore’s RFID Technology
6) FESTA’s Final Workshop – April 29
7) Telvent to Develop and Manage a Freeway System in Wichita, Kansas8) New Port Authority of NY & NJ Podcasts Provide Guides for Travelers to Download Before Boarding the AirTrains


Job Posting
- Director – Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (US DOT) – Cambridge, Massachusetts (application deadline extended to 03-31-08)
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/ftva.asp?seeker=1&JobID=66567890


Upcoming Events
ITS Georgia Monthly Chapter Meeting and Presentation – February 28 – Atlanta, Georgia
http://www.itsga.org/activities.htm#Feb


Today in Transportation History
1804 – John Deere, inventor of the steel plow and founder of a well-known tractor manufacturing company, was born in Rutland, Vermont.
http://www.deere.com/en_US/compinfo/history/johndeere.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com
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TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.
© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, February 6, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

Transportation Podcasts
Have you ever considered doing a podcast for your organization? It's a great way to tell your customers or members the latest news, give them details about an upcoming meeting or even reach out to potential new customers. With everyone so busy these days, a podcast lets you communicate your message while your audience is doing everything from commuting to jogging.

You're the expert on your business and what you want to communicate but you may not be comfortable getting behind a mic. That's where I come in. Working with you, I can help you tailor your script and add the polish of a professional voice. A big plus is that I know transportation so I'll understand what you want to say and how to most effectively say in an audio format. Please contact me at i95berniew@aol.com to learn more. Remember, I can also take on other voice projects such as phone prompts and PowerPoint narrations. You can hear samples of my work by visiting http://brwagenblast.googlepages.com/voice.


OTHER

1) SFR Launches a Car Pooling Service on Mobiles
Link to story in Transport Information Group:
http://www.matthieudesiderio.com/?p=108
Link to further information: http://www.covoiturage-campus.com/ (in French)

2) South Carolina Bill Would Outlaw Advertising in School Buses
Link to story in The Greenville News:
http://greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080205/NEWS04/80205054/1012/NEWS01

SAFETY / SECURITY

3) University of Cincinnati Agrees to Highway Sign Pact with ARTIMIS
During campus emergencies, signs will be used to alert drivers of campus closure.
Link to story in The News Record:
http://media.www.newsrecord.org/media/storage/paper693/news/2008/02/06/News/Va.Tech.Sparks.Highway.Sign.Pact-3189794.shtml

VEHICLES

4) Ford Trucks Get Business Savvy
Company introduces package of computer-based tools for its F-Series vehicles.
Link to story in the Detroit Free Press:
http://media.freep.com/f150/fordtruck.html
Link to news release from Ford:
http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/featured-stories/featured-stories-detail/ford-work-solutions


News Releases
1) HNTB Team Wins SANDAG On-Call Contract
2) New Air Traffic Tower Simulators Will Improve Controller Training
3) Acacia Subsidiary Enters into License Agreement with Cobra Electronics
4) SpeedInfo Sensors to Help Seattle-area Commuters by Providing Up-to-the-Minute Traffic Information


Solicitation
- Request for Applications – Express Lanes Demonstration Program – Federal Highway Administration
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2008_register&docid=fr04fe08-85


Upcoming Events
National Bike Summit – March 4-6 – Washington, DC
http://www.bikeleague.org/conferences/summit08/


Today in Transportation History
1978 **30th anniversary** - The CVS Samaritan Van program began service in Providence, Rhode Island.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=183405&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1105016&highlight

1998 **10th anniversary** - Washington National Airport was renamed Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
http://www.mwaa.com/national/

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe send an e-mail to: TCNL-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.
© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast