Thursday, June 12, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter
**10TH ANNIVERSARY WEEK**

Thursday, June 12, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

Join IBTTA in Dallas for the Special Summit on Open Road Tolling – July 13-15, 2008

As more and more toll agencies are looking forward to the potential of Open Road Tolling (ORT), an associated issue in many minds is this question of “going cashless” and converting the toll operation to a pure non-cash system built upon electronic toll collection and a robust enforcement system. Hosted by the North Texas Tollway Authority, this workshop will provide valuable knowledge on the final steps to achieving all electronic free-flow tolling. For operators in Europe and other locations that must continue to allow cash on their systems, this summit will explore ways to maximize the use of ETC while still permitting cash for some transactions. Registration deadline is June 27, 2008. Download the program, find the details and register online today! www.IBTTA.org.


MARITIME

1) Maritime Technology is Great, but Old School Necessary
Too much reliance on electronics is a lost cause.
Link to column in The News-Press:
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080612/NEWS0101/806120318/1010/sports

PEDESTRIANS

2) New Web Site Aims to Get Seattleites Up and Walking
Link to story in The Seattle Times:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004472273_walkscore12m.html
Link To Walk Score: http://www.walkscore.com/

SAFETY / SECURITY

3) Arizona Legislature Kills Real ID; Critics Point to Hefty Costs
Link to story in The Arizona Republic:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0612real-id0612.html

4) Supply Chain Security: Challenges to Scanning 100 Percent of US-Bound Cargo Containers
Link to testimony by the US Government Accountability Office:
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08533t.pdf

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

5) Ford Helps to Untangle Gridlocks
Network hubs would link digital technologies to a range of transportation modes to help people find the fastest and most cost-effective ways to get around.
Link to column in the Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080612/COL06/806120430/1002/BUSINESS
Link to news release from Ford and the University of Michigan:
http://world-wire.com/news/0806110002.html

6) £90 Million UK Traffic Signs 'Waste of Money'
Hauliers say money would be better spent improving the road.
Link to story in the East Anglian Daily Times:
http://www.eadt.co.uk/content/eadt/news/story.aspx?brand=EADOnline&category=News&tBrand=EADOnline&tCategory=News&itemid=IPED11%20Jun%202008%2019%3A48%3A16%3A370

7) Too Many Signs
Link to commentary from CBS News:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/12/politics/animal/main4174707.shtml

VEHICLES

8) Autonomous Car Some Ways Off
An interview with TRW’s Peter Lake.
Link to interview on just-Auto:
http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?ID=95100&lk=dm (free registration required)


News Releases
1) Car Rental Web Site at Newark Airport Brings Travelers Closer to the Big Apple
2) Ford Earns Support of National Emergency Number Association (NENA) for New Sync 911 Assist
3) Private Crossings, New Technology, and Crossing Closures Next Focus of US DOT Action Plan to Reduce Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Collisions and Fatalities
4) US Secretary of Transportation Announces Over $133 Million in Funding to Fight Traffic in the Twin Cities


Upcoming Events
2008 Texas Ports & Waterways Conference – July 23-25 – Galveston, Texas
http://tti.tamu.edu/conferences/pw08/


Bernie’s Notes
During this week I’ve been marking the tenth anniversary of the TCN by highlighting special messages over the past decade. Of all the TCN issues I’ve put together the most difficult was the September 11, 2001 edition. For a little over ten years I worked for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, the owners of the World Trade Center. The PA also was headquartered in the WTC and there were many friends I worked with over the years who had their offices there.
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications/message/955


Today in Transportation History
1806 – John Augustus Roebling, designer of the Brooklyn Bridge, was born in Mühlhausen, Prussia.
http://www.inventionfactory.com/history/RHAgen/jarbio.html

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© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast