Tuesday, December 1, 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, visitwww.IBTTA.org.

AVIATION

1) Comedian Records Airport Welcome

Link to BBC News story and video:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bristol/somerset/8388702.stm

BICYCLES

2) Better Bikeways: Getting Rolling with Improved Signage

Link to article in Good:

http://www.good.is/post/better-bikeways-getting-rolling-with-improved-signage/

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) What on Earth is Happening with ‘Russia’s GPS’?

Link to article in Fortune:

http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/12/01/what-on-earth-is-happening-with-russias-gps/

OTHER

4) IT to Slash Global Carbon Emissions Almost 6 Billion Tons by 2020

Wider use of information technology in transport, and other fields, could cut carbon footprint by the equivalent of annual US emissions.

Link to article on BusinessGreen:

http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2254214/huge-potential-cut-emissions

5) Latest Edition of Transport Business International Online

Link to magazine:

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?referral=mypagesuite&pnum=&refresh=4k0QT17t0yX5&EID=526db8ee-ff6c-4265-a5a6-b98132e11cb4&skip=

ROADWAYS

6) Ready, Steady, Go! Countdown Stoplight Brings Fun to Traffic Control

Link to article in Wired:

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/12/ready-steady-go-countdown-stoplight-brings-fun-to-traffic-control/

Link to further information from Yanko Design:

http://www.yankodesign.com/2009/11/30/a-better-understanding-of-stoplights/

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) 31 MetroAccess Workers Fired for Cell Phone Use Rehired

Zero-tolerance policy on cell phones violated contract, union said.

Link to article in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/30/AR2009113003745.html

TELEMATICS

8) Ford Expands Best Buy Sync Partnership

Link to article in Marketing Daily:

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=118165

TRANSIT

9) Spoof New York MTA Service ‘Announcements’ Get Big Draw on Twitter

Link to article in amNew York:

http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/spoof-mta-service-announcements-get-big-draw-on-twitter-1.1628071

Link to Fake MTA: http://twitter.com/FakeMTA

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) Engineer Who Hacked Into Los Angeles Traffic Signal Computer, Jamming Streets, Sentenced

Link to article in the Los Angeles Times:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/12/engineers-who-hacked-in-la-traffic-signal-computers-jamming-traffic-sentenced.html

11) Swiss Autoroute Warning Signs End

Link to article on GenevaLunch:

http://genevalunch.com/blog/2009/12/01/autoroute-warning-signs-end-tuesday/

12) Live Singapore Traffic Info at Your Fingertips

Link to article from The Straits Times:

http://digital.asiaone.com/Digital/Features/Story/A1Story20091130-183120.html

News Releases

1) New Hampshire Governor, DMV Unveil New Online Driver’s License Renewal System

2) AirIQ Announces Closing of Sale of US Subsidiary, Boatracs Issuance of Shares Pursuant to Private Placement

3) Jacobs Receives $99 Million Contract From the FAA for EnRoute Facilities Planning and Modernization Program Design Services

4) Waze Launches International Partner Program Enabling Local Map-Owners Worldwide to Convert Static Maps Into Live, Navigable Maps

CORRECTION: The wrong link was provided to the new Web site for West Virginia DOT in yesterday’s newsletter.  The correct link is http://www.transportation.wv.gov/.

Upcoming Events

2010 AASHTO Spring Meeting – May 19-23 – Natchez, Mississippi

http://www.transportation.org/meetings/260.aspx

Today in Transportation History

1959 **50^th anniversary** – The Norfolk & Western Railway merged with the Virginian Railway.

http://www.american-rails.com/virginian-railway.html

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© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net