Tuesday, December 15, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Deadline Extended: Call for Papers for ITS America’s 20^th Annual Meeting & Exposition

ITS America’s 20^th Annual Meeting & Exposition, May 3-5, 2010, Houston, Texas will provide transportation leaders with effective tools and strategies to create smart cities and communities that are safer, cleaner, more livable and less congested.  Don’t miss out on the opportunity to submit a paper or submit a session proposal to this major ITS event!  The deadline has been extended to Dec. 29, 2009.  For a list of topics, key dates, guidelines, and to submit your paper online, visit www.itsa.org/amprogram.html.

AVIATION

1) Federal Officals Say FAA Technical Center’s Mission Will Expand

Link to article in The Press of Atlantic City:

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/article_4678ce94-e900-11de-bb05-001cc4c002e0.html

2) At University of North Dakota, Unmanned Aircraft Program Takes Off

Link to story and audio report on Minnesota Public Radio:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/12/11/und-unmanned-aircraft/

BICYCLES

3) MIT Unveils New ‘Smart’ Bike Wheel

Link to CNET News article:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-10415648-76.html?tag=newsLatestHeadlinesArea.0

MARITIME

4) GPS Technology May Become Compulsory for Some Indian Fishing Trawlers

Link to IANS article:

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/enviornment/gps-technology-may-become-compulsory-for-fishing-trawlers_100289623.html

OTHER

5) Simba II Holds Brazilian Workshop

Link to article from ERTICO-ITS Europe:

http://www.ertico.com/en/news/ertico_newsroom/simba_ii_holds_brazilian_workshop.htm

PEDESTRIANS

6) How the Streets of New York Got More Dangerous

‘Type n Walk’ iPhone app allows pedestrians to text and (hopefully) see what lies ahead.

Link to column in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/nyregion/15bigcity.html

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

7) Illinois Launches Ads Focusing on New Texting Ban

Link to article in The Quad-City Times:

http://www.qctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/article_a256b932-e929-11de-92be-001cc4c002e0.html

Link to news release from the Illinois State Police:

http://www.isp.state.il.us/media/pressdetails.cfm?ID=485

ROADWAYS

8) LED Stoplights Freeze Over, Causing Accident

Link to story on WTMJ-TV:

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/79008352.html

9) Delays with Mobile, Alabama Bayway Fog Warning System

Link to story on WALA-TV:

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/delays-with-bayway-fog-warning-system

10) Now You See It! Ontario Ministry of Transportation Evolution in Traffic Signs

Link to article in Road Talk:

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/transtek/roadtalk/rt15-4/#a12

SAFETY / SECURITY

11) Agencies to Ease Sharing of Clues on Threats

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126083942836291333.html

12) Transportation ID Program Lacks a Reliable Disaster Recovery Plan, GAO Says

Link to article in Government Computer News:

http://gcn.com/articles/2009/12/15/gao-report-twic-power-failure.aspx

13) Move to National ID Cards Delayed

Link article in Wired:

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/12/real_id/

TRANSIT

14) Pittsburgh Region’s Transit Takes Back Seat in ‘Open’ Data

Link to article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_657745.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

15) Voice of Vietnam Traffic Information Program on Trial Run in Ho Chi Minh City

Link to story on the Voice of Vietnam:

http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/VOV-Traffic-Information-Programme-on-trial-run-in-HCM-City/200912/110855.vov

VEHICLES

16) UK Vehicle Industry Tunes-In to Digital Radio

Link to article on HGV UK:

http://www.hgvuk.com/12/15/industry-tunes-in-to-digital-radio/

News Releases

1) Beat the Traffic iPhone App Now Available on App Store

2) US Department of Homeland Security Announces Grant Guidance for More Than $250 Million in Transit Security Grants for Fiscal Year 2010

3) AirSage Partners With Dewberry for Next-Generation Emergency Management Solutions

4) Eurotunnel Selects Alcatel-Lucent to Install New European Standard, Interoperable GSM-R Radio-Communications System

5) Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to Conduct Three Electronic Toll Collection Pilots

Job Postings

–  Transportation Specialist – US DOT FHWA Office of Transportation Operations – Washington, DC

http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.aspx?jobid=85045334

Upcoming Events

2010 Joint Rail Conference – April 27-29 – Urbana, Illinois

http://ict.illinois.edu/railroad/JRC/JRC2010.asp

Today in Transportation History

1909 **100^th anniversary** – The National Geographic Society presented a special gold medal to Robert E. Peary for the discovery of the North Pole.

http://books.google.com/books?id=NhkRAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false

2009 – The Boeing 787 made its first flight.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/12/15/boeing.dreamliner/index.html

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© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net