Thursday, March 15, 2012

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Thursday, March 15, 2012 – ISSN 1529-1057


Register for IBTTA Symposium on Mileage-Based User Fees and Transportation Finance Summit, April 29-May 1, 2012 in Jersey City, New Jersey

This conference combines the best features of IBTTA's Transportation Finance Summit with the depth of content from the Symposium on Mileage-Based User Fees organized by the Texas Transportation Institute and the University of Minnesota in 2009-2011. Sessions will explore the latest studies and pilot programs in mileage-based user fees and the diverse range of financing tools available to toll agencies, state DOTs and local governments. Conference Partners: Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota; Texas Transportation Institute and TRB. Co-Sponsors: I-95 Corridor Coalition, Mileage-Based User Fee Alliance and the Reason Foundation. View the preliminary agenda, make your hotel and travel reservations, and register today! Registration deadline is April 20, 2012. www.ibtta.org/jerseycity


AVIATION

1) Errors by Air Traffic Controllers Up Only Slightly in 2011

Link to article in USA Today:

http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2012-03-14/Error-in-nations-air-traffic-control-up-only-slightly/53538682/1

2) FAA Says New 'Safety Culture' Will Stress Solutions, Not Blame

Link to story on CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/14/travel/faa-nonpunitive-reporting/index.html

3) FAA Discontinuing Paper Medical Forms

Link to article in Flying:

http://www.flyingmag.com/news/faa-discontinuing-paper-medical-forms

4) weatherTAP zoom Brings Aviation-Grade Weather Info to iPhone

Link to review on The Mac Observer:

http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/review/weathertap_zoom_brings_aviation-grade_weather_info_to_iphone/

CAMERAS

5) Stop Sign Cameras Ticket 70,000 in Los Angeles Parks

Link to article in LA Weekly:

http://www.laweekly.com/2012-03-15/news/stop-sign-camera-traps-MRCA/

6) Plan Calls for Cameras at UK Petrol Stations to Automatically Stop Uninsured Cars from Being Filled with Fuel

Link to article in the Mirror:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cctv-at-petrol-stations-will-automatically-stop-758518

7) Traffic Camera Cutoffs Raising Eyebrows in New Mexico

Link to story on KRQE-TV:

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/local/central/camera-cutoffs-raising-eyebrows

OTHER

8) The PR Disaster of London's Olympic Traffic Lanes

Link to blog on The Atlantic Cities:

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/politics/2012/03/pr-disaster-londons-olympic-lanes/1486/

PEDESTRIANS

9) Blind Pedestrianism, as a Video Game

Link to article on The Atlantic Cities:

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/03/blind-pedestrianism-video-game/1497/

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

10) Drunk Driving Enforcement Campaign Targets Tech-Savvy Motorists

Link to story on WWJ Radio:

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/03/15/drunk-driving-enforcement-campaign-targets-tech-savvy-motorists/

Link to news release from the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association: http://goo.gl/FUdbB

11) Three Insights for Transportation Communicators from Today's Newsroom Editors

Link to Talking Transportation blog:

http://talkingtransportation.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/three-insights-for-transportation-communicators-from-todays-newsroom-editors/

RAILROADS

12) Commissioning of ERTMS Technology on Madrid's Suburban Train Network

Link to article on Spanish Railway News:

http://www.spanishrailwaysnews.com/noticias.asp?not=211

ROADWAYS

13) Electronic Signs in Scotland Detect Speeding Motorcyclists and Warn them to Slow Down

Link to BBC News story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-17383128

SAFETY / SECURITY

14) 'Distracted Walking' Across Utah Rails Could Bring Fines

Link to article in The Salt Lake Tribune:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53717316-78/uta-distracted-trax-pedestrians.html.csp

15) Group Urges Crackdown on Distractions to Protect Pedestrians in Washington, DC

Link to article in The Examiner:

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/transportation/2012/03/group-urges-dc-crack-down-scofflaws-protect-pedestrians/371871

Link to report from the Council for Court Excellence: http://goo.gl/nIEIU

16) Kentucky Supreme Court Hears Amish Buggy Sign Case

Link to AP article:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Ky-Supreme-Court-hears-Amish-buggy-sign-case-3408317.php

TELEMATICS

17) 'I'll Take Telematics with that Truck'

Link to blog in Fleet Owner:

http://fleetowner.com/blog/i-ll-take-telematics-truck

TRANSIT

18) Chicago Transit Authority to Accept Alcohol Ads

Link to AP article:

http://www.bnd.com/2012/03/15/2100438/chicago-transit-authority-to-accept.html

19) New York City Transit Art Gets New App

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304692804577282001908498994.html

20) Virgin Media Wins London Underground Wi-Fi Contract

Link to BBC News story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17373523

Link to news release from the City of London: http://goo.gl/tjRBA

21) A New Target for Tech Patent Trolls: Cash-Strapped American Cities

Bus-tracking systems are said to infringe on patent of ArrivalStar.

Link to article on Ars Technica:

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2012/03/a-new-low-for-patent-trolls-targeting-cash-strapped-cities.ars

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

22) Galway's Big Brother Traffic Control Center Almost Ready to Roll

Link to article in the Galway Advertiser:

http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/50266/citys-big-brother-traffic-control-centre-almost-ready-to-roll-says-crowe

News Releases

1) The 'Twilight Zone' of Traffic Costs Lives at Stoplight Intersections Says Study at Oregon State

2) New Website for the Port of Antwerp

3) Frost & Sullivan Sparks Lively Discussion on the Future of the Driverless Car at Oxford University's Saïd Business School

4) Telvent Introduces SmartMobility Technology in the City of Quito

5) ITS United Kingdom Makes Awards for Excellence in Intelligent Transport Systems

6) Telematics Car Insurance Set to be a Pretty Big Deal in UK

7) Transas Marine Awarded Contract for Danube River Information System Upgrade

8) Colorado Unveils Computerized 'Wait Less' Project at Division of Motor Vehicles

Job Posting

- Director, Center for Safety Management Systems – Research and Innovative Technology Administration – Cambridge, Massachusetts

http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/311508000

Solicitations

- Pre-solicitation Notice – Technical Support and Tasks for the Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory – FHWA

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=cb13001f197e5a72db5d400c4ab22527

- Request for Information – Automatic Passenger Counting Systems for High-Occupancy Vehicle Enforcement Applications – San Diego Association of Governments

http://www.sandag.org/contracts

Upcoming Events

International Conference on Winter Maintenance and Surface Transportation Weather – April 30-May 3 – Coralville, Iowa

http://www.cvent.com/events/international-conference-on-winter-maintenance-and-surface-transportation-weather/event-summary-ede2378d032d48289a2ca510de2a6b97.aspx

Today in Transportation History

1962 **50th anniversary** Astronaut Deke Slayton was grounded from flying on America's fourth space flight due to an erratic heart rate.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nnJQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1BAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5673%2C2639611

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