Thursday, June 25, 2009

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Thursday, June 25, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

Register Now for IBTTA’s Workshop — Incident Management, Safety and Security, July 19-21, 2009, Denver, CO

Join the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association in Denver, CO to learn about best practices from around the world in Incident Management and Emergency Response. Gain valuable knowledge on the most effective tools and communication methods available to promote toll facility safety and security, maintain operations in the face of disruption, and effectively communicate with customers during all phases of an incident – from prevention to recovery. Meeting highlights include a technical tour of E-470 Public Highway’s Tools and Technology followed by Northwest Parkway’s 5.9GHz DSRC Multi-Application Demonstration, a networking event at INVESCO Field at Mile High, and a fundraising golf tournament to support the IBTTA Foundation. Hotel cut-off extended until July 1st. To register or view the preliminary agenda, visit IBTTA’s website today!


AVIATION

1) Truck Driver Who Crossed Active Logan Airport Runway Unaware It was Open
National Transportation Safety Board investigating communications with construction crews.
Link to story in The Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/06/25/driver_in_close_call_was_unaware_logan_runway_was_closed/
Link to preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board:http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?id=OPS09IA008&rpt=p

2) Delta Brings Back Red Coats to Help with Customer Service
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-06-24-delta-red-coats-service_N.htm

3) Better Data Sought on Web Sites for Flights
Senator Charles Schumer wants ID of airline fully clear.
Link to story in The Buffalo News:
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/712895.html

CAMERAS

4) Suit Claims Washington State Drivers Charged Excessive Traffic Camera Fines
Link to story on KING-TV:
http://www.nwcn.com/topstories/stories/NW_062409WAB-traffic-camera-fine-lawsuit-TP.1acd870.html

ROADWAYS

5) Dallas North Tollway Wrong-Way Crashes Prompt Look at Deterrents
Link to story in The Dallas Morning News:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/062509dnmetwrongway.403a811.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) Boston Mayor to Ban City Workers from Texting
Also planning ad campaign with Safe Roads Alliance to warn of dangers of texting and driving.
Link to story in the Boston Herald:
http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20090625keep_your_eyes_on_the_road_mayor_to_ban_city_workers_from_texting

7) New York MTA: Lockheed Martin Screwed Up on Subway Security
Transit agency says company bungled program to link 2,000 cameras capable of ‘intelligent video’ to huge surveillance command centers.
Link to story in the New York Post:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06242009/news/regionalnews/mta__lockheed_martin_screwed_up_on_subwa_175907.htm

8) Texting While Driving: How Dangerous is It?
Link to story in Car and Driver:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/features_classic_cars/texting_while_driving_how_dangerous_is_it_feature

TRANSIT

9) DC Metro Reviewing All Train Signaling Circuits in Wake of Accident
Link to story in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/25/AR2009062501073.html

10) One Emerging Angle: Was the Fire Department Properly Notified of Metro Crash?
Link to story in the Washington City Paper:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/06/23/one-emerging-angle-was-the-fire-department-properly-notified-of-metro-crash/

11) Philadelphia, NJ Transit Officials Try to Reduce Chances of Train Crashes
Link to AP story:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/train_transit_officials_try_to.html

12) Wisdom-Dispensing London Tube Drivers Take Riders on a Journey from A to B, via E Equals MC2
Subway drivers have been given a book of profound sayings, which they are being encouraged to dispense over the intercom.
Link to AP story:
http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-eu-britain-underground-enlightenment,0,4568289.story

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) Florida DOT Launches New Bilingual 511 System
Link to story on WALA-TV:
http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/florida/Fla_DOT_Launches_New_511_System

VEHICLES

14) ‘Smart’ Airbags Too Often Fooled
Link to story from MotorMatters:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/19/smart-airbags-too-often-fooled/


News Releases
1) Nationwide Network of Green Flight Paths a World First
2) Travelers Marketing Announces a New Safety/Service Patrol Sponsorship Program
3) Launch of the Trilingual Vocabulary of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)


Upcoming Events
European Parking Association Congress – September 23-25 – Vienna
http://www.epacongress.eu/


Today in Transportation History
1954 **55th anniversary** - The US began Project Orbiter with the goal of placing a satellite in orbit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Orbiter

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© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast