Friday, December 12, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, December 12, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) FAA Moves to Avoid Confusion During Delta-Northwest Integration
New phraseology rules issued for identification of Northwest and Delta flights.
Link to story in Flight International:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/12/11/320059/faa-moves-to-avoid-confusion-during-delta-northwest.html

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

2) US Secretary of Transportation Calls for End to Cash Tolling by 2014, Discussion of $-Crisis at IBTTA
Link to story in TollRoads News:
http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/3879

MARITIME

3) US Coast Guard Faulted in Handling of Accident
Communications breakdown may have contributed to fisherman’s death.
Link to story in the San Francisco Chronicle:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/12/BAHC14LRKA.DTL

OTHER

4) Judge Halts South Carolina’s ‘I Believe’ License Plates
Link to story in The State:
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/618428.html

5) Obama: Think Smart Cards
Smart cards and other access technologies can help the president-elect overhaul the nation's infrastructure.
Link to commentary in Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/12/11/smart-cards-obama-tech-enter-cx_sm_1212smartcards.html

6) December Issue of Florida DOT’s SunGuide Disseminator
Link to newsletter:
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/Newsletters/2008/2008-012-Dec.pdf

RAILROADS

7) Norfolk Southern to Develop 3-D Map of Entire Infrastructure
Link to story in Progressive Railroading:
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=19034

8) Norfolk Southern New Media Team Exploring New Ways to Communicate
Link to story in NS Newsbreak:
http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Employees/NS%20Newsbreak/2008/newsbreak1208.pdf (page 2)

ROADWAYS

9) Manchester-Area Voters Reject Congestion Charge
Link to BBC News story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7778110.stm

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) Obama Administration to Inherit a Real Mess on Real ID
Link to story in Computerworld:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9123259&intsrc=hm_list

TRANSIT

11) Metrolink Crash’s Roots Lie 20 Years in the Past
The commuter line's founders gambled that the line could operate without an automatic braking system, interviews with safety experts and documents show.
Link to story in the Los Angeles Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-metrolink12-2008dec12,0,7397696.story

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

12) Bulgarian Traffic Police to Provide Updates
Link to Focus Information Agency story:
http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n162863


News Releases
1) Roadway Safety Foundation Announces Technical Assistance Winners for Public Information and Education Campaign
2) Enhancements Make Idaho 511 Traveler Services More Responsive, Easier to Use
3) Idaho 511 Now Accessible Through Mobile Web Devices
4) Launch of HelloFlight.com Makes Real-Time FAA Flight Data Available to US Travelers
5) Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to Use Pay-by-Phone Service for Parking at Select Stations


Solicitation
- Members Sought for NOAA Science Advisory Board’s Environmental Information Services Working Group
http://www.sab.noaa.gov/Working_Groups/standing/docs/2008/EISWG_FRN_for_membership_11_25_08.pdf


Upcoming Events
AirCargo 2009 – March 8-10 – Las Vegas
http://www.aemca.org/2008_conference/Welcome_08.html


Friday Bonus
Uh, Chief….there’s a bit of a problem with the police helicopter.
http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_11202264


Today in Transportation History
1988 **20th anniversary** - Three trains collided at Clapham Junction in south London killing 35 people.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/12/newsid_2547000/2547561.stm

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© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast