Friday, October 31, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, October 31, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

Tickets Going Fast for the 15th World Congress on ITS “Night in Times Square”

Join fellow 15th World Congress on ITS participants for a truly special evening on Wednesday, November 19 as the World Congress takes over the ESPN Zone in Times Square. Tickets are selling quickly and there may be limited availability once you get to World Congress in November. Located in the heart of Times Square, the ESPN Zone is a world where sport is king. You’ll enjoy a tasty menu featuring generous portions of expertly prepared American grill food, an arena of interactive games and attractions, and an unparalleled sports viewing experience. Don’t miss this exciting networking opportunity. Tickets are $75.00 and can be purchased at www.itsworldcongress.org.


AVIATION

1) Officials: EU, US Agree on Air Cargo Screening
Link to AP story:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j50X92W5lDhP-j1lxqjitZe0xCfAD94555JG1

2) Airport Security Report Lightweight?
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-10-30-screeners_N.htm
Link to report from the US Department of Homeland Security Inspector General:
http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_08-90_Sep08.pdf

3) Maryland Medevac Crash: Controller Not Required to Know Procedure, FAA Says
Link to story in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/30/AR2008103004436.html
Link to preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board:
http://ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20081001X14522&key=1

4) Sydney-Bound Qantas Jet ‘Flying Blind’
Air New Zealand jet guides 747 with malfunctioning weather radar.
Link to story in The Sydney Morning Herald:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/news/sydneybound-qantas-jet-flying-blind/2008/10/29/1224956143124.html

CAMERAS

5) Amtrak Signs are Creating False Sense of Security, Some Residents Say
Signs advise parking lot has video surveillance, but resident says cameras don’t work and railroad won’t verify camera status.
Link to story in the Auburn Journal:
http://www.auburnjournal.com/detail/97476.html

OTHER

6) Intelligent Transportation Systems Benefits, Costs, Deployment, and Lessons Learned: 2008 Update
Link to document from US DOT:
http://www.itsdocs.fhwa.dot.gov/JPODOCS//REPTS_TE/14412.htm

RAILROADS

7) End to the Mobile Phone Bores: New ‘Quiet’ Train Carriages to Block Mobile Phone Signals
Link to story in the Daily Mail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1080866/End-mobile-phone-bores-New-quiet-train-carriages-block-mobile-phone-signals.html

ROADWAYS

8) Emergency Detour Signs to Help Battle Traffic Jams in Ontario
Link to story and video in The London Free Press:
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2008/10/31/7260946-sun.html

9) Predicting Traffic Jams
Singapore Land Transport Authority working with IBM to develop algorithm to predict traffic flow.
Link to story from The New Straits Times:
http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Story/A1Story20081031-97513.html
Link to further information from IBM:
http://domino.watson.ibm.com/comm/research.nsf/pages/r.statistics.innovation.traffic.html

TRANSIT

10) BART Wi-Fi Plan Hits Funding Skid
Link to story in The Examiner:http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/BART_Wi-Fi_plan_hits_funding_skid.html

11) Technology Pioneer Finds Its Gravy Train on Public Transit
Advertisers are hopping aboard high-tech system that lights up the dark places.
Link to story in The Globe and Mail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081031.RADHOCRACY31/TPStory/Business
Link to further information from Sidetrack Technologies:
http://www.sidetrack.ca/system.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

12) Finnra Starts Digitraffic Service
Link to story from ERTICO-ITS Europe:
http://www.ertico.com/en/news_and_events/ertico_newsroom/partner_news_finnra_starts_digitraffic_service.htm

VEHICLES

13) New Jersey Mechanics Seek the Keys to Servicing All Cars
Proposed law, a first in US, would give motorists the ability to obtain the manufacturer’s ‘codes’ necessary to diagnose, service and repair their vehicles.
Link to story in NJBIZ:
http://tinyurl.com/6eosyk


News Releases
1) ITS America Announces Finalists for the 2008 Best of ITS Awards


Upcoming Events
Intertraffic China 2009 – March 18-20 – Shanghai
http://www.china.intertraffic.com/intertrafficchina2009/e


Friday Bonuses
With today being Halloween, I have a couple of items appropriate for the occasion.
The Haunted Tugboat in Port of Milwaukee
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/33551734.html
Batman Surprises Speeders
http://www.wpbf.com/news/17841174/detail.html


Today in Transportation History
1913 **95th anniversary** - The Lincoln Highway, the first automobile road across the US, is dedicated.
http://lincolnhighway.jameslin.name/papers/examiner/1913-10-31.html

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