Thursday, October 29, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Register for IBTTA’s Toll Road Summit of the Americas — November 15-17, 2009 in São Paulo, Brazil

Join the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association at the Toll Road Summit of the Americas and examine an array of methods to design, finance, operate and maintain user financed surface transportation facilities. The second day of this meeting will be held in conjunction with TranspoQuip 2009, Latin America’s biggest event for the transportation infrastructure industries in Latin America. Featured speakers include Cesar Queiroz, Consultant, Roads and Transport Infrastructure, World Bank, and Roberto Lucas, Jr., Author and Urban Planning Consultant. Meeting hosted by ABCR and CCR. For registration, hotel, travel and visa information, or to view the preliminary agenda, visit www.IBTTA.org.

AVIATION

1) US Transportation Secretary Promises Scrutiny of ‘Distracted Flying’

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/28/AR2009102803824.html

2) FAA Reacted Slowly to Errant Jet

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125677288976914581.html

3) Aviation Expert: Flight Automation Leads to Boredom

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

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114262744

4) Panel: $11 Million Air Safety Study Not Worth Much

Link to AP article:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gCiRedzPiEzMIsP7x3Ma0zfTEdKAD9BK75B80

Link to news release from the National Research Council:

http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12795

5) European Area Control Centers Get Communication Network

Link to article in Flight International:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/29/334132/european-area-control-centres-get-communication-network.html

6) Canadian Reporters Grounded by US DOT Travel Restrictions

Link to article in the Ottawa Citizen:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Reporters+grounded+travel+restrictions/2153255/story.html

CAMERAS

7) ‘Intelligent’ Speed Cameras in UK

Link to article on Autocar:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/244374/

8) Virginia DOT Completes Installation of Traffic Cameras in Central Virginia

Link to story on WVIR-TV:

http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=11408788

GPS / NAVIGATION

9) Winking Robot Nav Head Knows Where You’re Going

Link to CNET News blog and video:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10386183-48.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

10) Education Key for Bus-Stop Safety

Link to article in the News Herald:

http://www.newsherald.com/news/parent-78639-bus-safety.html

Link to School Bus Stop Safety: http://www.schoolbusstopsafety.net/

ROADWAYS

11) Pennsylvania DOT: ‘Go Yankees’ Sign Inappropriate for Interstate

Link to story and video on WNEP-TV:

http://www.wnep.com/wnep-luz-yankees-sign-interstate-81-penndot,0,6977134.story

SAFETY / SECURITY

12) Penalties, Perks in Texting-While-Driving Bills

Link to article in PC Magazine:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2354921,00.asp

TELEMATICS

13) GM’s OnStar Live in China in December

Link to article on just-auto:

http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?id=101833

14) Students Help Ford Bring the Cloud to Cars

Link to article in Wired:

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/10/ford-michigan/

15) In-Car Wi-Fi Puts ‘Infobahn’ on the Autobahn

Link to article in Wired:

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/10/in-car-internet/

TRANSIT

16) SEPTA Guide Prepares Commuters for Possible Strike

Link to article in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20091028_SEPTA_guide_prepares_commuters_for_possible_strike.html

Link to news release from SEPTA:

http://www.septa.com/news/press_releases/20091028_plan.html

17) Re-Stalinization of Moscow Subway Sparks Debate

Link to AP article:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gTpm5znGibnm2u7dOkN1DrK-rhBQD9BJKR3O1

18) More on DART: Sometimes an Explanation Isn’t Enough

Transit agency needs to better acknowledge service problems.

Link to blog in The Dallas Morning News:

http://transportationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/10/more-on-dart-and-the-texas-ou.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

19) Traffic Management: New Internet Coming to Your Local Roads

Link to article on ZDNet:

http://government.zdnet.com/?p=5920

20) Electronic Signboards in Kuala Lumpur Not Serving Their Purpose

Link to article in The Star:

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/10/29/central/4994573&sec=central

21) Smart Signs Being Wasted in Queensland

Link to commentary in The Gympie Times:

http://www.gympietimes.com.au/story/2009/10/30/still-waiting-safety-message-hold/

22) ASEAN Meeting Focuses on ‘Harmonious’ Transport Links

Need to use technology to improve mobility.

Link to article in The Brunei Times:

http://www.bt.com.bn/en/news-national/2009/10/29/asean-meet-focus-harmonious-transport-links

VEHICLES

23) Institute Researchers Develop New Way to Test Tires

Link to article in the Boston Herald:

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view/20091029institute_researchers_develop_new_way_to_test_tires/srvc=home&position=recent

News Releases

1) Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore Receives Inaugural CAPA Air Navigation Services Provider of the Year Award

2) NASA App Now Available from App Store

3) Berg Insight Says Over 3.5 Million Cars in Europe Have a Telematics Device

4) American Airlines and Lexus Team Up to Offer Free Wi-Fi in the Sky

5) IBM Global Trucking Study: Fuel Efficiency, High-Tech Features More Important than Brand Name

6) Navigation Market Leader Telmap Brings Navigation to iPhone with Navteq

Upcoming Events

Webinar: Talking Operations Performance Journalism: Improving Your Ability to Build Operations Program – November 10

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=586

Today in Transportation History

1969 **40^th anniversary** – The first computer-to-computer message was sent over ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:First-arpanet-imp-log.jpg

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© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast