Monday, September 14, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

CAMERAS

1) San Francisco Muni to Conduct Routine Inspections of Cameras

Previously, problems only discovered following incidents.

Link to article in the San Francisco Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/12/MNI519LUE4.DTL

2) Arizona Driver Dons Monkey Masks to Elude Tickets

Link to AP article:

http://www.komonews.com/news/national/59172847.html

CARTOGRAPHY

3) GIS is the Big Winner in Push for Open Government

Link to analysis in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/722260

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Let Your iPhone Drive You

A review of driving-directions applications.

Link to article in PC Magazine:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2352763,00.asp

MARITIME

5) Washington State Considers Selling Company Naming Right on Ferries

Link to article in The Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009850506_ferrynaming12m.html

OTHER

6) Latest Edition of Thinking Highways Online

Link to magazine:

http://www.thinkinghighways.com/#/224 (Europe/Rest of World Edition)

ROADWAYS

7) Scottish Political Party: Ministers Should Red Light ‘Unnecessary’ Road Signs

Link to STV News story:

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/122601-lib-dems-ministers-should-red-light-unnecessary-road-signs/

8) Minnesota Engineers Take a New Line on Road Safety

Wider stripes, reflective tape part of effort to reduce fatalities on rural roads.

Link to story on Minnesota Public Radio:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/09/13/highway-safety/

9) Billboards Spur a Fight in New York City – Free Speech vs. Beauty

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/nyregion/14billboards.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

10) Interstate Highway Signs in Chicago-Area Leave Drivers Guessing

Link to column in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/autocorner/chi-getting-around-14-sep14,0,3208128.column

SAFETY / SECURITY

11) How Can We Improve Transportation Security?

Link to comments on the National Journal Transportation Expert Blog:

http://transportation.nationaljournal.com/2009/09/how-can-we-improve-transportat.php

TRANSIT

12) Despite Hiccups, New Metra Web Site Records Record Numbers

Link to story on WBBM Radio:

http://www.wbbm780.com/Depsite-hiccups–new-Metra-Web-site-records-record/5203043

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) Revamped Florida 511 Service Leaves Drivers with Phone Rage

Link to article in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/sfl-511-travel-information-b091309,0,3324106.story

14) UK Highways Agency Fast Lane Traffic Monitoring Scheme Worth £200 Million

Link to article in CIO UK:

http://www.cio.co.uk/news/3201767/highways-agency-fast-lane-traffic-monitoring-scheme-worth-200m/

15) US 50 Sensors Gauge Ocean City, Maryland Beach Traffic

Link to article in The Daily Times:

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090908/NEWS/90908006/U.S.+50+sensors+gauge+O.C.+beach+traffic

16) India’s Union Ministry Frames Service Benchmark for Public Transport, Including ITS, for JNNURM Cities

Link to article in The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/pune/Union-ministry-frames-service-benchmark-for-public-transport-for-JNNURM-cities/articleshow/5007069.cms

17) New Study Show Bay Area Drivers Upset at Congestion, but Unlikely to Change

Information that predicts traffic congestion would help.

Link to article in The Examiner:

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/New-study-shows-Bay-Area-drivers-upset-at-congestion-but-unlikely-to-change-59080342.html

VEHICLES

18) Disclosure Sought on ‘Opt Out’ for Side Airbags

Link to article in The Detroit News:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20090914/AUTO01/909140371/1148/Disclosure+sought+on++opt+out++for+side+airbags

19) Now, Technology is Job One

Ford shows off new gadgets, power motor.

Link to commentary on MarketWatch:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ford-shows-off-new-gadgets-powerful-motor-2009-09-11

20) Car Harnesses Fighter Jet Technology

Link to BBC News story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8249530.stm

News Releases

1) uLocate Launches Pioneering Mobile Traffic Service Nationwide Helping Drivers Save Time and Money

2) New Co-operative Detection System Developed by VTT

3) Tel Aviv University Invents a Digital ‘White Stick’ for the Visually Impaired

4) TransCore Broadens Portfolio of RFID Technology, Introduces Three New Toll Transponders and 5.9 GHz Adaptable Encompass 6 Reader

5) Unlimited Personalization with BMW ConnectedDrive

6) Telvent to Implement the First Open Road Tolling System in New Hampshire

Upcoming Events

Webinar: Aligning ITS Projects and Programs with Your Agency’s Strategic Goals – September 17

http://www.itsrm.org/events.htm

Today in Transportation History

1959 **50^th anniversary** – Luna 2, a Soviet spacecraft, became the first man-made object to reach the Moon.

http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1959-014A

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Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast