Monday, November 23, 2009

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, November 23, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Airline Web Sites Battle for Fewer Customers

Link to article on MarketWatch:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/airline-web-sites-battle-for-fewer-customers-2009-11-20

2) United’s LineBusters Keep Lines Moving

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-11-20-airportcheckin23_ST_N.htm

OTHER

3) Lack of Backup Foils Virginia's New IT System

State DMV and DOT suffer numerous outages.

Link to article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/local/article/DMVV21_20091120-222606/307063/

RAILROADS

4) Marketing Helps Vermont Train Ridership

Link to article in the Burlington Free Press:

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20091121/NEWS02/911210307/Marketing-helps-Vermont-train-ridership

Link to further information from Vermont Rail Action Network: http://www.railvermont.org/

SAFETY / SECURITY

5) High-Tech Babysitters Get Drivers Off Phone

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/technology/22distracted.html

6) Intelligent Transportation System Hits Roadblock in Kansas

Link to story and video on KAKE-TV:

http://www.kake.com/news/headlines/70679812.html

7) Shortage Slows a Program to Detect Nuclear Bombs

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/us/23helium.html

8) New Web Site Launched for Forth Road Bridge

Link to article in Queensferry Today:

http://www.queensferrygazette.co.uk/news/New-website-launched-for-Forth.5844719.jp

Link to site: http://www.feta.gov.uk/

TRANSIT

9) Overland Trains to Accept Oyster Card

Link to BBC News story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8373913.stm

Link to news release from the City of London:

http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=24359

10) Zambian Transporters Urged to Display RTSA Number to Facilitate Passenger Communication

Link to article in the Times of Zambia:

http://www.times.co.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=6&id=1258954716

11) The Days May be Grim, but Here’s a Good Word to Put In Your Pocket

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/20/nyregion/20metrocard.html

Link to further information from the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority:

http://www.mta.info/mta/aft/about/optimism.html

12) Eyes on the Street: Is This Our Stop? Signage Shortcomings on Muni Metro

Link to blog on Streetsblog San Francisco:

http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/11/23/eyes-on-the-street-is-this-our-stop-signage-shortcomings-on-muni-metro/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) Dublin Firm Starts Ireland’s First Real-Time Traffic Information System

Link to article in The Sunday Business Post:

http://www.sbpost.ie/news/ireland/get-traffic-info-by-text-45803.html

Link to further information from iTraffic:

http://itraffic.ie/ProductsPageMED.html

14) Australian Government to Begin ‘Smart Infrastructure’ Inquiry

Link to article in the Queensland Business Review:

http://www.qbr.com.au/news/articleid/61171.aspx

VEHICLES

15) How Crash Tests Help Bring Traffic Deaths Down

Link to story and audio report on NPR’s Morning Edition:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120628434

16) New Custom Texas Car Plates Offer Range of Colors, Themes

Link to article in the Star-Telegram:

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/1773760.html

Link to news release from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles:

http://www.myplates.com/Press20091029.aspx

News Releases

1) Successful eCall Demonstration by Qualcomm and Hughes Telematics

2) NOAA Installs System to Improve Safety and Efficiency of Ships along the Cherry Point Reach in Washington State

3) FAA Takes Aim at Icing with New Ice Protection Proposal

4) Beat the Traffic Announces New BlackBerry Application

5) Web Site Spells Relief for Holiday Travelers on the East Coast

6) United Airlines Introduces Try-Before-You-Buy Wi-Fi Promotion

7) Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Introduces Online Noise and Flight Tracking Tool

8) GE Aviation Acquires Leader in Performance-Based Navigation

Solicitation

- Request for Proposals – Safety Patrol – E-470 Public Highway Authority

http://www.e-470.com/Default.aspx?pn=Requests%20For%20Proposals

Upcoming Events

Consumer Telematics Seminar 2010 – January 6 – Las Vegas

http://www.telematicsupdate.com/cts/

Today in Transportation History

1809 **200^th anniversary** - Pirate Edward Jordan was hung in Nova Scotia.

http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mma/events/pirates.html

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© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast