Monday, April 20, 2009

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, April 20, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

CAMERAS

1) Chattanooga: Cashing in on Car Cameras
Link to story in the Chattanooga Times Free Press:
http://timesfreepress.com/news/2009/apr/20/chattanooga-cashing-car-cameras/

2) Maryland Speed Camera Law Could Go to Voters
Link to story in The Washington Times:
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/19/speed-camera-law-could-go-to-voters/

3) Bangkok to Install 10,000 CCTV Cameras for Added Security and to Monitor Traffic
Link to Thai News Agency story:
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=9579

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) Six South Florida Expressways to Collect All Tolls Electronically
Link to story in The Miami Herald:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/story/1007893.html

5) E-ZPass Records Offer Key Evidence
Nearly half of subpoenas to New York Thruway are rejected.
Link to story in the Times Herald-Record:
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090419/NEWS/904190316/-1/NEWS

6) Warning Letters Decrease Speeding at New Hampshire Tolls
Link to story in Foster's Daily Democrat:
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090418/GJNEWS_01/704189917

MARITIME

7) Virginia DOT Limiting On-Ferry Activities
Memo prohibits passenger distribution of flyers following information on possible service cuts.
Link to story in the Smithfield Times:http://www.smithfieldtimes.com/index.php/news/25-top-stories/80-vdot-limiting-on-ferry-activities

OTHER

8) New York City Taxis May Get Internet Access on Back-Seat TVs
Link to story in the Business Mirror:
http://businessmirror.com.ph/component/content/article/52-technology/9013-new-york-city-taxis-may-get-internet-access-on-back-seat-tvs.html

9) April Issue of IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Society Newsletter Online
Link to newsletter:
http://www.ieeeitss.org/v11n2.pdf

RAILROADS

10) Follow Historic Train Trip on Twitter
Link to AP story:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2009-04-20-twitter-train-tour_N.htm

ROADWAYS

11) Virginia DOT Tries Paint to Promote Road SafetyZigzag pattern used on approach to trail crossing.
Link to column in The Washington Post:http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2009/04/vdot_tries_paint_to_promote_sa.html

12) Safety Behind New Mile Marker Signs on Massachusetts Highways
Link to story from The Standard-Times:
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090418/NEWS/904180350

SAFETY / SECURITY

13) Legislator Says Virginia DOT Wasting Money on Police Radios
Says units, which allow highway crews to communicate directly with state police, are unnecessary.
Link to story in The Northern Virginia Daily:
http://www.nvdaily.com/news/2009/04/gilbert-vdot-wasting-funds-on-police-rad.html

14) University of Michigan Launches Field Testing of Safety System for Passenger Cars
Link to story on WWJ Radio:
http://www.wwj.com/UM-Launches-Field-Testing-Of-Safety-System-For-Pas/4235192

TRANSIT

15) Seattle-Area Transit Agencies Unveil All-Purpose Pass
Link to story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
http://www.seattlepi.com/transportation/405269_ORCA18.html

16) Fredericton Transit Bus Fleet May Go High-Tech
Internet, webcams, wireless access down the road?
Link to story in The Daily Gleaner:
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/front/article/640542

17) (Fake) Signs of Bad Times for the New York MTA
Web site allows riders to print notices that look like the real thing.
Link to story in the Daily News:
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/04/18/2009-04-18_fake_signs_of_bad_times_for_the_mta.html
Link to site: http://www.whereandy.com/

18) Economy, Standards Stand in the Way of Near Field Communications
Link to story in ContactlessNews:
http://www.contactlessnews.com/2009/04/20/economy-standards-stand-in-the-way-of-nfc

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

19) Traffic Monitoring Center Set Up in Malaysia
Link to story in The Star:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/18/nation/3723588&sec=nation

20) LG Telecom to Launch Free Traffic Information to Mobile Phone Subscribers in Korea
Link to story in The Chosun Ilbo:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/04/20/2009042000788.html

21) Hands On with Ford Sirius Travel Link
Link to review on autoinsane:
http://www.autoinsane.com/2009/04/20/news/tech/hands-on-with-ford-sirius-travel-link/


News Releases
1) Broadcaster Traffic Consortium Expands with New Broadcasting Partners, More RDS and HD Radio Broadcasting Market Coverage


Upcoming Events
The History of Sleeping Cars 150th Anniversary Symposium – April 23-26 – Chicago
http://www.trainweb.org/pths/symposium.html


Today in Transportation History
1534 **475th anniversary** - Jacques Cartier began a journey which brought him to present day Labrador and Prince Edward Island.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/goweezer/canada/z00cartier1.htm

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© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast