Monday, July 26, 2010

Monday, July 26, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, July 26, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057


Upcoming Visit to Hanover, New Hampshire-White River Junction, Vermont Area

One of the things I like to do when traveling is meet TCN readers. I'll soon be making a visit to the Upper Connecticut River Valley and would welcome the opportunity to meet any TCN readers who are in the area. Please drop me a note atbernie@bwcommunications.net and let's see if we can get together.

AVIATION

1) 'Greener Skies' Project Lowers Flight Emissions by 35%

Use of NextGen flight procedures allows more efficient landings.

Link to article in Fast Company:

http://www.fastcompany.com/1673599/greener-skies-project-lowers-flight-emissions-by-35

Link to news release from Alaska Airlines:

http://www.alaskasworld.com/newsroom/asnews/asstories/AS_20100723_075652.asp

2) Spain Approves Plan to Liberalize Air Traffic Control Services

Link to article in the Latin American Herald Tribune:

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=361045&CategoryId=12395

3) Atlanta Hartsfield Airport Puts Aerobahn Plane Locator to Use

System uses sensors to track all aircraft on the ground and those circling within ten miles.

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2010-07-26-airportcheckin26_ST_N.htm

4) English Skills Taking Off Among Pilots

Link to AP article:

http://www.jamestownsun.com/event/apArticle/id/D9H691I80/

5) US Air Force Wants Drones to Sense Other Planes' 'Intent'

Link to article from Wired:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/07/23/drones.sense.planes.wired/

CAMERAS

6) The £2 Million Traffic Camera Which has Snared 16,123 Drivers in Three Months

Confusing signs partially blamed for large number of fines.

Link to article in The Daily Mail:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1297432/The-2m-traffic-camera-snared-16-123-drivers-months.html

OTHER

7) Indian Transport Minister Wants Mysore to be a Model Transport City

Announces system to deliver real-time bus information; says latest technologies should be in city.

Link to article in The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Ashoka-wants-Mysore-to-be-a-model-transport-city/articleshow/6211721.cms

8) Dial-an-Auto Picks Up Speed in Pune, Registered Autorickshaws to Get GSM Soon

Link to article in Indian Express:

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Dial-an-Auto-picks-up-speed-in-city--registered-autos-to-get-GSM-soon/651359

9) Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles Installs TVs to Help Divert Waiting Motorists

Link to article in The Providence Journal:

http://www.projo.com/news/content/DMV_TV_07-24-10_NIJ9KD5_v28.3a66641.html

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

10) Washington, DC DOT FOIA Officer Wasting Time Stonewalling Request?

Link to commentary in The Washington Post:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-opinions/2010/07/foia_officer_wasting_time_ston.html

ROADWAYS

11) North Dakota DOT's Road Work Goes High-Tech

Link to article in The Bismarck Tribune:

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/local/article_1d00177e-96df-11df-a10e-001cc4c03286.html

TRANSIT

12) Still Not Perfect, but Myki Makes Full Debut in Melbourne – at Last

Link to article in The Age:

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/still-not-perfect-but-myki-makes-full-debut--at-last-20100725-10qkw.html

13) Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Official Pushes TVs for Buses

Link to article in the Journal Sentinel:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/99209473.html

14) Cell Service, Wi-Fi Coming to a Subway Near You

New York MTA deal with Transit Wireless back on track.

Link to article in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/07/26/2010-07-26_a_hard_cell_but_mtas_finally_sold.html

15) TriMet Driver Offers Mea Culpa, Explains 'Kill This Bicyclist' Post

Link to article in The Oregonian:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2010/07/trimet_driver_offers_mea_culpa.html

Link to Bus Driver Blog post:

http://sonnetoptics.net/bus-driver-blog/2010/7/22/mea-culpa.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

16) Eyes on the Highway

Staff at Texas DOT's TransVision headquarters in Fort Worth monitor conditions and inform drivers.

Link to video in the Star-Telegram:

http://www.star-telegram.com/videos/#vmix_media_id=16592715

17) Funds Slated for Intelligent Traffic System for Commonwealth Games Will Not be Installed in Time

Link to article in The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/New-signals-run-into-delay-despite-fund-allocation/articleshow/6207269.cms

VEHICLES

18) Concept of Commuting is Approaching a Turning Point

In-vehicle technology is already changing how we drive.

Link to article in the Star-Telegram:

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/24/2358702/concept-of-commuting-is-approaching.html

19) Ads on License Plates Could be Trend of the Future

Link to article on AOL Autos:

http://autos.aol.com/article/license-plates-ads/

News Releases

1) New Blog Tracks Intelligent, Cooperative Vehicle Technologies

2) NASA Astronaut Sends First Message in American Sign Language from Orbit

3) Pilot My-Casta iPhone App Includes Aviation Fuel Prices and Charts

4) Qualcomm Tops New ABI Research Commercial Telematics In-Cab Hardware Vendor Matrix Ranking

Upcoming Events

13th International IEEE Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems – September 19-22 – Madeira Island, Portugal

http://itsc2010.isr.uc.pt/site/

Today in Transportation History

1990 **20th anniversary** The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law.http://www.fta.dot.gov/civilrights/civil_rights_2360.html

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

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

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

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast www.bwcommunications.net



Friday, July 23, 2010

Friday, July 23, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, July 23, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057


IVBSS Program Public Meeting October 20, 2010 in Ypsilanti, MI

U.S. DOT will host a one-day public meeting on October 20, 2010 to provide a report on results from the Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety Systems (IVBSS) field operational test to members of the vehicle safety research community and other interested parties.

The IVBSS program is a five-year cooperative research agreement to combine several crash warning subsystems -- including forward collision, lane departure, lane change, and curve speed warning -- into a single, integrated concept to enhance the safety of both passenger vehicles and heavy trucks. Field tests using a fleet of light vehicles and heavy trucks were recently completed and the resulting reports are being finalized. The Key Findings report for the Heavy Truck field test will be available by the end of August.

Click here for registration and additional information. Online registration deadline is October 15.

AVIATION

1) Cockpit Technology Aids Aviation Efficiency Drive

Link to AP article:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iKhxp6vDTHraffIz83P8E-y3vk_QD9H43NV80

2) FAA Naming Group to Study ADS-B in Requirements

Link to article in Aviation International News:

http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/faa-naming-group-to-study-ads-b-in-requirements-25599/

3) Naverus Offers Precise Pathway in the Sky

Link to article and video in The Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/boeingliveeventcoverage/2012430805_kent_company_now_part_of_ge_offers_a_precise_pathway_in_the_sky.html

4) Business Aviation Celebrates Social Media Day

Link to program on Blog Talk Radio:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-weekly-of-business-aviation/2010/06/30/business-aviation-celebrates-social-media-day

BICYCLES

5) Washington, DC DOT Unveils New Bike-Sharing Map

Link to story and video on WJLA-TV:

http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0710/757776.html

Link to District DOT news release:

http://ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/About+DDOT/News+Room/DDOT+Releases+Proposed+District+Bikesharing+Locations

CAMERAS

6) Arizona Cancels Study of Speed Enforcement Cameras' Impact on Safety

Link to AP article:

http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=12861286

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) Drivers to be Warned of Oncoming Trains

Wireless technology would broadcast an audio and visual warning to vehicles approaching crossings when a train is expected.

Link to AAP article:

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/drivers-to-be-warned-of-oncoming-trains-20100723-10ntt.html

Link to video release from La Trobe University:

http://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/videos/saving-lives-at-rail-crossings

8) Deepwater Horizon Alarms Were Switched Off 'to Help Workers Sleep'

Link to article in The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/23/deepwater-horizon-oil-rig-alarms

9) Hill Opposition Grows to FCC Spectrum Auction Plan

Link to article on Nextgov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100722_3275.php

SPACE

10) Teachable Moments from NASA's Social Media Project, Spacebook

Link to article in Federal Computer Week:

http://fcw.com/articles/2010/07/23/nasa-learns-lessons-from-spacebook-social-media-project.aspx

TRANSIT

11) Moving to Broadband on Public Transport

Link to column in Mass Transit:

http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2010/07/20/moving-to-broadband-on-public-transport/

12) Toronto Subway System Briefly Shut Down on Control Center Failure

Link to article in The Globe and Mail:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/toronto-subway-system-briefly-shut-down-on-control-centre-failure/article1648314/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) Man in Charge of Traffic Management for Rugby World Cup Talks About His Plans

Link to article in The Aucklander:

http://www.theaucklander.co.nz/local/news/go-with-the-flow/3917581/

14) Company Adds Surprise Fee to Lifetime Agreement

TrafficGauge says $9.95 'annual network access fee' is now required.

Link to column in the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20100723,0,1687635.column

VEHICLES

15) Windows Embedded Car Hits the Road

Link to article on OnWindows.com:

http://www.onwindows.com/Articles/Windows-Embedded-car-hits-the-road/5124/Default.aspx

News Releases

1) ITS America Applauds FREIGHT Act's Focus on Innovative Technology Solutions

2) Southern California Transit Training Consortium (SCRTTC) Announces New University Affiliate Member

Upcoming Events

First GSC Workshop – September 14 – Brussels

http://www.ertico.com/en/events/20100512_01.htm

Friday Bonus

Ever been in a situation where you just can't get the voice-recognition system to understand you? Well, it could be worse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FFRoYhTJQQ

Today in Transportation History

1945 **65th anniversary** The first Vista Dome railcar car was put into service on the Twin Cities Zephyr.

http://www.vistadome.com/dome_tour/dome_postcard.html

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

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

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

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast www.bwcommunications.net



Thursday, July 22, 2010

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Thursday, July 22, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057


IBTTA 78th Annual Meeting & Exhibition — Register Today! Early Bird Discount Ends August 22, 2010


Come to San Diego, September 12-15, 2010, for IBTTA’s 78th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, the year’s most highly-anticipated learning and networking event -- attracting more than 700 toll industry experts and decision makers from across the globe. Under the theme, Sustainable Transportation, the technical program offers tracks focused on innovation, policy, the economy, and the California tolling experience. Hosted by the California Toll Operators Committee (CTOC), this event features interactive seminars, influential speakers, technical tours and special events, informative exhibits and more! Customized sponsorship and exhibitor packages are available. Visit IBTTA’s website for details.

AVIATION

1) Flight Data Recorders Could Go Online

Link to article in Aviation Week:

http://bit.ly/boLTfE

CAMERAS

2) Saher Traffic Camera System to be Launched in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Soon

Link to article in the Saudi Gazette:

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010072278864

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

3) Will Your Transponder Rat You Out for Speeding? That's Where the Toll Road Advocates are Taking Us

Link to column in The Star-Ledger:

http://blog.nj.com/njv_paul_mulshine/2010/07/will_your_transponder_rat_you.html

PARKING

4) Boston T's New Electronic Parking System Attracts Users Before Debut

Link to blog in the Boston Herald:

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/on_the_t/index.php/2010/07/21/ts-new-electronic-parking-system-attracts-users-before-debut/

TELEMATICS

5) GM's OnStar: There's an App for That

Smartphone application will allow remote locking of doors and starting of engine.

Link to article on CNNMoney.com:

http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/21/autos/onstar_app/

TRANSIT

6) Public Transit CIOs Form Consortium

Link to article in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/766597

7) Chicago Evaluating Magazine Vending Machines for Stations

Link to article in Metro:

http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2010/07/CTA-evaluating-magazine-vending-machines.aspx

8) Where the H____ is My Bus? New York City Tries to Answer

Link to blog on Transportation Nation:

http://transportationnation.org/2010/07/21/where-the-h_-is-my-bus-nyc-tries-to-answer/

VEHICLES

9) Volvo's Intruder Heartbeat Detector Option Going Bye-Bye

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2010-07-22-gadget22_ST_N.htm

10) Why Didn't the Media Do a Better Job on Toyota?

Link to commentary in Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2010/0809/opinions-toyota-cars-acceleration-brakes-93-and-counting.html

News Releases

1) Intelligent Transportation Developers and Managers to Gather Near Jacksonville to Share Innovative Ideas

2) Amtrak and Concur Provide Business Travelers with Access to Nationwide Rail Content

3) Illinois DOT Deploys BlueTOAD by TrafficCast to Monitor Road Speeds on Eisenhower Expressway

Upcoming Events

Social Media in the Transportation Industry: Implications for Change – July 27 – Newark, New Jersey

http://www.njtpa.org/Involved/events/SocialMediaSymposium.aspx

Today in Transportation History

1810 **200th anniversary** The Spanish merchant ship Aftrivedo was wrecked off Anegada Island.

http://www.blytmann.com/wrecks1.htm

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

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

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

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast www.bwcommunications.net



Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057


Please Help Increase Circulation of TCN

Whether you're getting the TCN delivered to you directly, or have a copy forwarded to you, you hopefully find the newsletter a welcome source of news and information. Currently, 7,300 people around the world receive the TCN directly. Unknown numbers get forwarded copies or read it online. I'd welcome your help in letting others know about the TCN. If there are people you work with who you think might find these daily updates helpful, please pass along a copy and invite them to subscribe. As always, the TCN is and will remain free. Folks can subscribe by sending an e-mail to me atbernie@bwcommunications.net. Thanks!

AVIATION

1) David Warren, Aircraft 'Black Box' Inventor Dies in Australia

Link to AFP article:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gGqP_CbWB1Lumbch6B0xdt-zKUfA

2) Aerospace Industry Seeks Air Traffic Collaboration

Link to Reuters article:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE66J4YA20100720

CAMERAS

3) Birmingham, Alabama-Area Traffic Cameras, Highway Message Boards Apparently Shut Down by Vandals

Link to article in The Birmingham News:

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/07/apparent_vandalism_breaks_link.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Russia May Mandate Compatibility with Russian Variant of GPS

Link to article on cellular-news:

http://www.cellular-news.com/story/44385.php

OTHER

5) Changing the Car Culture Down Under

Australia is using an educational marketing program and first-rate bike-pedestrian facilities to talk commuters out of their cars.

Link to article in InTransition:

http://www.intransitionmag.org/Spring-Summer_2010/australia_travelsmart.aspx

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

6) Boise, Idaho Approves $60,000 for Airport Bond 'Educational Outreach'

Link to story and video on KTVB-TV:

http://www.ktvb.com/news/Boise-approves-60000-for-airport-bond-educational-outreach-98890319.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) EU Proposes 'Black Boxes' for Buses and Taxis

Link to article in The Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7901250/EU-proposes-black-boxes-for-buses-and-taxis.html

8) Safety-Driven Software Aims to Block Texting While Driving

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/2010-07-21-1Atexting21_ST_N.htm

9) Progress Report: Interoperability

Link to article in Emergency Management:

http://media.emergencymgmt.com/documents/EM_Mag_Jul10.pdf (page 48)

10) Taking Photos in Public Places is Not a Crime: Analysis

Link to commentary in Popular Mechanics:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how-to/computer-security/taking-photos-in-public-places-is-not-a-crime

TELEMATICS

11) What? Ford's Sync Voice System Turns Deaf Ear to Women

Link to column in USA Today:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/07/fords-voice-recognition-software-still-has-flaws/1

12) eCall Legislation – To Care or Not to Care?

Link to commentary in GPS Business News:

http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/eCall-Legislation--To-Care-or-not-to-Care_a2372.html

TRANSIT

13) UK Rail Passengers 'Shun Confusing Ticket Machines'

Link to BBC News story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10701953

Link to news release from Passenger Focus:

http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/news-and-publications/press-release.asp?dsid=4236

Link to report:

http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/news-and-publications/document-search/document.asp?dsid=4237

14) Where's the Astoria Riverfront Trolley?

GPS allows antique vehicles to be tracked online.

Link to article in The Daily Astorian:

http://www.dailyastorian.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=72058

15) TriMet Embraces Open Source with 'Open Trip Planner'

Link to blog on BikePortland.org:

http://bikeportland.org/2010/07/21/trimet-embraces-open-source-with-open-trip-planner/

16) When Transportation and Religion Collide: Muslim Ads on the Bus

Link to blog on The Infrastructurist:

http://www.infrastructurist.com/2010/07/20/when-transportation-and-religion-collide-muslim-ads-on-the-bus/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

17) New Travel Information Standards for European Digital Radio Platforms

Link to article in Radio:

http://radiomagonline.com/digital_radio/travel-info-europe-0721/

Upcoming Events

Insurance Telematics USA 2010 – September 13-14 – Chicago

http://www.telematicsupdate.com/insurance-telematics/index.shtml

Today in Transportation History

1925 **85th anniversary** Malcolm Campbell became the first person to break the 150 mph land-speed barrier.

http://www.sirmalcolmcampbell.com/sir25.html

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

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

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

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast www.bwcommunications.net