Thursday, November 5, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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IBTTA Summit to Explore Transformational Changes in Transportation Funding System — December 13-15, 2009 in Washington, DC
If you are responsible for funding or operating surface transportation infrastructure at the state, regional, county or municipal level, we invite you to attend IBTTA’s Transportation Policy and Finance Summit and explore the transformational changes that must take place to create a sustainable and efficient transportation funding system. CFO Roundtable on December 13, 2009: This Summit will include a special CFO roundtable for chief financial officers from toll agencies, state departments of transportation, and individuals in similar positions to share knowledge and ideas, network, and learn from one another. For registration, hotel and travel information or to view the preliminary agenda, visit www.IBTTA.org.

AVIATION

1) Administrator Says FAA Working to Adjust NextGen

Link to article in Aviation Week:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/BABB110409.xml&headline=Babbitt%20Says%20FAA%20Working%20To%20Adjust%20NextGen

2) FAA Rules LAX Runway Incursion Not Serious; New Lights Considered

Link to article in the Daily Breeze:

http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_13714671

3) EBay Gets Onboard with Delta for Free Wi-Fi Holiday Promotion

Link to article in Advertising Age:

http://adage.com/article?article_id=140315

CAMERAS

4) Shudder Speed

Rise of the stealthy traffic camera fuels drivers’ disgust.

Link to article and video in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/04/AR2009110404747.html

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

5) Ohio Turnpike’s E-ZPass is Working Smoothly, but Drivers are Confused About What to Do with the Transponder

Link to article in The Plain Dealer:

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/11/e-zpass_is_working_smoothly_bu.html

MARITIME

6) Old Bridge Bumper Technology Means Future Oil Spills Likely

San Francisco Bay pilots getting new technology to improve navigation; pleas for brighter-colored bumpers ignored.

Link to article in The Examiner:

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Old-bridge-bumper-technology-means-future-oil-spills-likely-69245927.html

RAILROADS

7) Will Blue Lights Reduce Suicides in Japan?

Link to article in BusinessWeek:

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/blog/eyeonasia/archives/2009/11/will_blue_light.html

ROADWAYS

8) Campaigners Take Steps to Make Lebanese Roads Safer at Night

Link to article in The Daily Star:

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=108361

SAFETY / SECURITY

9) Texting While Driving: The New Drunk Driving

Link to article in The Christian Science Monitor:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1105/p25s07-usgn.html

TRANSIT

10) DC Metro Power Unit Failure Cripples Communications

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/04/AR2009110404385.html

Link to news release from WMATA:

http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4132

11) Canadian Television Program to Originate from Toronto Streetcar

Link to article in Mediacaster:

http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?aid=1000346640

12) Should Home Prices Come with Warnings About Transit Costs, Too?

Link to article in the Contra Costa Times:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/growth/ci_13713631

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) Smart Tech to Aid Traffic Flow to 2010 Shanghai World Expo

Link to article in the Shanghai Daily:

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200911/20091106/article_418650.htm

14) Missouri DOT Uses Simulators to Improve Local Traffic Flow

Link to article in the Hannibal Courier-Post:

http://www.hannibal.net/news_local/x896790834/MoDOT-uses-simulators-to-improve-local-traffic-flow

VEHICLES

15) US Criticizes Toyota for ‘Misleading’ Public in Recall

Link to article in The Detroit News:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091105/AUTO01/911050362/1148/auto01/U.S.-criticizes-Toyota-for–misleading–public-in-recall

Link to news release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

http://tinyurl.com/yeka4ob

Link to news release from Toyota:

http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota-s-response-to-nhtsa-news-release.aspx

News Releases

1) San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Implements DriveCam Across Entire Fleet

2) Local Innovative, Lifesaving Roadway Safety Programs Nationally Honored

Upcoming Events

ITS California Annual Meeting – November 16-17 – Anaheim, California

http://www.itscalifornia.org/

Today in Transportation History

1909 **100^th anniversary** – The only military aircraft of the United States was damaged upon landing at College Park Airport in Maryland.

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/aviation/col.htm

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

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast