Monday, July 26, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Upcoming Visit to Hanover, New Hampshire-White River Junction, Vermont Area

One of the things I like to do when traveling is meet TCN readers.  I’ll soon be making a visit to the Upper Connecticut River Valley and would welcome the opportunity to meet any TCN readers who are in the area.  Please drop me a note atbernie@bwcommunications.net and let’s see if we can get together.

AVIATION

1) ‘Greener Skies’ Project Lowers Flight Emissions by 35%

Use of NextGen flight procedures allows more efficient landings.

Link to article in Fast Company:

http://www.fastcompany.com/1673599/greener-skies-project-lowers-flight-emissions-by-35

Link to news release from Alaska Airlines:

http://www.alaskasworld.com/newsroom/asnews/asstories/AS_20100723_075652.asp

2) Spain Approves Plan to Liberalize Air Traffic Control Services

Link to article in the Latin American Herald Tribune:

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=361045&CategoryId=12395

3) Atlanta Hartsfield Airport Puts Aerobahn Plane Locator to Use

System uses sensors to track all aircraft on the ground and those circling within ten miles.

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2010-07-26-airportcheckin26_ST_N.htm

4) English Skills Taking Off Among Pilots

Link to AP article:

http://www.jamestownsun.com/event/apArticle/id/D9H691I80/

5) US Air Force Wants Drones to Sense Other Planes’ ‘Intent’

Link to article from Wired:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/07/23/drones.sense.planes.wired/

CAMERAS

6) The £2 Million Traffic Camera Which has Snared 16,123 Drivers in Three Months

Confusing signs partially blamed for large number of fines.

Link to article in The Daily Mail:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1297432/The-2m-traffic-camera-snared-16-123-drivers-months.html

OTHER

7) Indian Transport Minister Wants Mysore to be a Model Transport City

Announces system to deliver real-time bus information; says latest technologies should be in city.

Link to article in The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Ashoka-wants-Mysore-to-be-a-model-transport-city/articleshow/6211721.cms

8) Dial-an-Auto Picks Up Speed in Pune, Registered Autorickshaws to Get GSM Soon

Link to article in Indian Express:

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Dial-an-Auto-picks-up-speed-in-city–registered-autos-to-get-GSM-soon/651359

9) Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles Installs TVs to Help Divert Waiting Motorists

Link to article in The Providence Journal:

http://www.projo.com/news/content/DMV_TV_07-24-10_NIJ9KD5_v28.3a66641.html

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

10) Washington, DC DOT FOIA Officer Wasting Time Stonewalling Request?

Link to commentary in The Washington Post:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-opinions/2010/07/foia_officer_wasting_time_ston.html

ROADWAYS

11) North Dakota DOT’s Road Work Goes High-Tech

Link to article in The Bismarck Tribune:

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/local/article_1d00177e-96df-11df-a10e-001cc4c03286.html

TRANSIT

12) Still Not Perfect, but Myki Makes Full Debut in Melbourne – at Last

Link to article in The Age:

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/still-not-perfect-but-myki-makes-full-debut–at-last-20100725-10qkw.html

13) Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Official Pushes TVs for Buses

Link to article in the Journal Sentinel:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/99209473.html

14) Cell Service, Wi-Fi Coming to a Subway Near You

New York MTA deal with Transit Wireless back on track.

Link to article in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/07/26/2010-07-26_a_hard_cell_but_mtas_finally_sold.html

15) TriMet Driver Offers Mea Culpa, Explains ‘Kill This Bicyclist’ Post

Link to article in The Oregonian:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2010/07/trimet_driver_offers_mea_culpa.html

Link to Bus Driver Blog post:

http://sonnetoptics.net/bus-driver-blog/2010/7/22/mea-culpa.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

16) Eyes on the Highway

Staff at Texas DOT’s TransVision headquarters in Fort Worth monitor conditions and inform drivers.

Link to video in the Star-Telegram:

http://www.star-telegram.com/videos/#vmix_media_id=16592715

17) Funds Slated for Intelligent Traffic System for Commonwealth Games Will Not be Installed in Time

Link to article in The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/New-signals-run-into-delay-despite-fund-allocation/articleshow/6207269.cms

VEHICLES

18) Concept of Commuting is Approaching a Turning Point

In-vehicle technology is already changing how we drive.

Link to article in the Star-Telegram:

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/24/2358702/concept-of-commuting-is-approaching.html

19) Ads on License Plates Could be Trend of the Future

Link to article on AOL Autos:

http://autos.aol.com/article/license-plates-ads/

News Releases

1) New Blog Tracks Intelligent, Cooperative Vehicle Technologies

2) NASA Astronaut Sends First Message in American Sign Language from Orbit

3) Pilot My-Casta iPhone App Includes Aviation Fuel Prices and Charts

4) Qualcomm Tops New ABI Research Commercial Telematics In-Cab Hardware Vendor Matrix Ranking

Upcoming Events

13^th International IEEE Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems – September 19-22 – Madeira Island, Portugal

http://itsc2010.isr.uc.pt/site/

Today in Transportation History

1990 **20^th anniversary** The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law.http://www.fta.dot.gov/civilrights/civil_rights_2360.html

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

(Source: via Fast Company)

At the first glimpse, it looks like an awkwardly shaped UFO.. Oh, but it is not! This is the futuristic bus stop proposed for the humble English town of Stoke-o-Trent, which wants to build a new city bus station.  Now, for those of us who are used to conjuring up images of a bus stop – the quintessential dingy floors, chaotic bus parking bays, bums hanging around the corner, etc..- this comes as a sweet shocker, this one by designer team Austin Smith Lord would create what is surely the world’s most futuristic bus depot.  These images show bus stops doesn’t have to be ugly and creepy – they can be functional while looking stunningly beautiful.

Austin Smith Lord was the people’s choice winner against stiff competition, which included Wilkinson Eyre and Zaha Hadid. (The winner was a plan by Grimshaw Architects.) Though the Austin Smith Lord design concept looks bizzare, it is moored to a brilliant logic: The main performance feature is a flowing layout that allows buses to enter and exit without ever having to back out of a parking space.

Loving the Brits for encouraging such outta the box concept design.

Click here to read more and to view more pictures.

Friday, July 23, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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IVBSS Program Public Meeting October 20, 2010 in Ypsilanti, MI

U.S. DOT will host a one-day public meeting on October 20, 2010 to provide a report on results from the Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety Systems (IVBSS) field operational test to members of the vehicle safety research community and other interested parties.

The IVBSS program is a five-year cooperative research agreement to combine several crash warning subsystems — including forward collision, lane departure, lane change, and curve speed warning — into a single, integrated concept to enhance the safety of both passenger vehicles and heavy trucks. Field tests using a fleet of light vehicles and heavy trucks were recently completed and the resulting reports are being finalized. The Key Findings report for the Heavy Truck field test will be available by the end of August.

Click here for registration and additional information.  Online registration deadline is October 15.

AVIATION

1) Cockpit Technology Aids Aviation Efficiency Drive

Link to AP article:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iKhxp6vDTHraffIz83P8E-y3vk_QD9H43NV80

2) FAA Naming Group to Study ADS-B in Requirements

Link to article in Aviation International News:

http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/faa-naming-group-to-study-ads-b-in-requirements-25599/

3) Naverus Offers Precise Pathway in the Sky

Link to article and video in The Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/boeingliveeventcoverage/2012430805_kent_company_now_part_of_ge_offers_a_precise_pathway_in_the_sky.html

4) Business Aviation Celebrates Social Media Day

Link to program on Blog Talk Radio:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-weekly-of-business-aviation/2010/06/30/business-aviation-celebrates-social-media-day

BICYCLES

5) Washington, DC DOT Unveils New Bike-Sharing Map

Link to story and video on WJLA-TV:

http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0710/757776.html

Link to District DOT news release:

http://ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/About+DDOT/News+Room/DDOT+Releases+Proposed+District+Bikesharing+Locations

CAMERAS

6) Arizona Cancels Study of Speed Enforcement Cameras’ Impact on Safety

Link to AP article:

http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=12861286

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) Drivers to be Warned of Oncoming Trains

Wireless technology would broadcast an audio and visual warning to vehicles approaching crossings when a train is expected.

Link to AAP article:

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/drivers-to-be-warned-of-oncoming-trains-20100723-10ntt.html

Link to video release from La Trobe University:

http://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/videos/saving-lives-at-rail-crossings

8) Deepwater Horizon Alarms Were Switched Off ‘to Help Workers Sleep’

Link to article in The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/23/deepwater-horizon-oil-rig-alarms

9) Hill Opposition Grows to FCC Spectrum Auction Plan

Link to article on Nextgov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100722_3275.php

SPACE

10) Teachable Moments from NASA’s Social Media Project, Spacebook

Link to article in Federal Computer Week:

http://fcw.com/articles/2010/07/23/nasa-learns-lessons-from-spacebook-social-media-project.aspx

TRANSIT

11) Moving to Broadband on Public Transport

Link to column in Mass Transit:

http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2010/07/20/moving-to-broadband-on-public-transport/

12) Toronto Subway System Briefly Shut Down on Control Center Failure

Link to article in The Globe and Mail:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/toronto-subway-system-briefly-shut-down-on-control-centre-failure/article1648314/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) Man in Charge of Traffic Management for Rugby World Cup Talks About His Plans

Link to article in The Aucklander:

http://www.theaucklander.co.nz/local/news/go-with-the-flow/3917581/

14) Company Adds Surprise Fee to Lifetime Agreement

TrafficGauge says $9.95 ‘annual network access fee’ is now required.

Link to column in the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20100723,0,1687635.column

VEHICLES

15) Windows Embedded Car Hits the Road

Link to article on OnWindows.com:

http://www.onwindows.com/Articles/Windows-Embedded-car-hits-the-road/5124/Default.aspx

News Releases

1) ITS America Applauds FREIGHT Act’s Focus on Innovative Technology Solutions

2) Southern California Transit Training Consortium (SCRTTC) Announces New University Affiliate Member

Upcoming Events

First GSC Workshop – September 14 – Brussels

http://www.ertico.com/en/events/20100512_01.htm

Friday Bonus

Ever been in a situation where you just can’t get the voice-recognition system to understand you?  Well, it could be worse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FFRoYhTJQQ

Today in Transportation History

1945 **65^th anniversary** The first Vista Dome railcar car was put into service on the Twin Cities Zephyr.

http://www.vistadome.com/dome_tour/dome_postcard.html

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Please Help Increase Circulation of TCN

Whether you’re getting the TCN delivered to you directly, or have a copy forwarded to you, you hopefully find the newsletter a welcome source of news and information.  Currently, 7,300 people around the world receive the TCN directly.  Unknown numbers get forwarded copies or read it online.  I’d welcome your help in letting others know about the TCN.  If there are people you work with who you think might find these daily updates helpful, please pass along a copy and invite them to subscribe.  As always, the TCN is and will remain free.  Folks can subscribe by sending an e-mail to me atbernie@bwcommunications.net.  Thanks!

AVIATION

1) David Warren, Aircraft ‘Black Box’ Inventor Dies in Australia

Link to AFP article:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gGqP_CbWB1Lumbch6B0xdt-zKUfA

2) Aerospace Industry Seeks Air Traffic Collaboration

Link to Reuters article:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE66J4YA20100720

CAMERAS

3) Birmingham, Alabama-Area Traffic Cameras, Highway Message Boards Apparently Shut Down by Vandals

Link to article in The Birmingham News:

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/07/apparent_vandalism_breaks_link.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Russia May Mandate Compatibility with Russian Variant of GPS

Link to article on cellular-news:

http://www.cellular-news.com/story/44385.php

OTHER

5) Changing the Car Culture Down Under

Australia is using an educational marketing program and first-rate bike-pedestrian facilities to talk commuters out of their cars.

Link to article in InTransition:

http://www.intransitionmag.org/Spring-Summer_2010/australia_travelsmart.aspx

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

6) Boise, Idaho Approves $60,000 for Airport Bond ‘Educational Outreach’

Link to story and video on KTVB-TV:

http://www.ktvb.com/news/Boise-approves-60000-for-airport-bond-educational-outreach-98890319.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) EU Proposes ‘Black Boxes’ for Buses and Taxis

Link to article in The Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7901250/EU-proposes-black-boxes-for-buses-and-taxis.html

8) Safety-Driven Software Aims to Block Texting While Driving

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/2010-07-21-1Atexting21_ST_N.htm

9) Progress Report: Interoperability

Link to article in Emergency Management:

http://media.emergencymgmt.com/documents/EM_Mag_Jul10.pdf (page 48)

10) Taking Photos in Public Places is Not a Crime: Analysis

Link to commentary in Popular Mechanics:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how-to/computer-security/taking-photos-in-public-places-is-not-a-crime

TELEMATICS

11) What? Ford’s Sync Voice System Turns Deaf Ear to Women

Link to column in USA Today:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/07/fords-voice-recognition-software-still-has-flaws/1

12) eCall Legislation – To Care or Not to Care?

Link to commentary in GPS Business News:

http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/eCall-Legislation–To-Care-or-not-to-Care_a2372.html

TRANSIT

13) UK Rail Passengers ‘Shun Confusing Ticket Machines’

Link to BBC News story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10701953

Link to news release from Passenger Focus:

http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/news-and-publications/press-release.asp?dsid=4236

Link to report:

http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/news-and-publications/document-search/document.asp?dsid=4237

14) Where’s the Astoria Riverfront Trolley?

GPS allows antique vehicles to be tracked online.

Link to article in The Daily Astorian:

http://www.dailyastorian.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=72058

15) TriMet Embraces Open Source with ‘Open Trip Planner’

Link to blog on BikePortland.org:

http://bikeportland.org/2010/07/21/trimet-embraces-open-source-with-open-trip-planner/

16) When Transportation and Religion Collide: Muslim Ads on the Bus

Link to blog on The Infrastructurist:

http://www.infrastructurist.com/2010/07/20/when-transportation-and-religion-collide-muslim-ads-on-the-bus/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

17) New Travel Information Standards for European Digital Radio Platforms

Link to article in Radio:

http://radiomagonline.com/digital_radio/travel-info-europe-0721/

Upcoming Events

Insurance Telematics USA 2010 – September 13-14 – Chicago

http://www.telematicsupdate.com/insurance-telematics/index.shtml

Today in Transportation History

1925 **85^th anniversary** Malcolm Campbell became the first person to break the 150 mph land-speed barrier.

http://www.sirmalcolmcampbell.com/sir25.html

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

(Source: via the DC Department of Transportation Tweet)

As part of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty’s ongoing efforts to advance arts in the District of Columbia, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) selected tattoo artist Steed Taylor to paint a road tattoo entitled “Daughters and Sons Knot”. Mr. Taylor’s design highlights Washington DC’s relationship with war and loss by honoring metropolitan area soldiers recently killed while serving their country. The names of those soldiers’ children will be incorporated in the design. The design is a complex Celtic Knot with 6 loops, a symbolic number for harmony and alluding to the interdependence within a community as well as a family. The road tattoo is approximately 60 feet wide and 300 feet long and made with the help of local volunteers and neighbors.

Installation Begins Saturday July 24 through Sunday July 25 from 7AM – 7PM each day. A dedication ceremony will be held Sunday at 1pm after which the design’s outline will be painted by the community.

A road tattoo? If roads are considered the skin of a community, then a road has a similar relationship to the public body as skin does to the individual body, allowing roads to be marked as people mark their skin for commemoration, communication or ritual. View an example of how a road tattoo is created.  Gallery plan b is coordinating the installation with Mr. Taylor. Images and additional information can be found on their website.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP PAINT! Help make an incredibly meaningful public artwork for our city and be a part of DC history! For questions or more information e-mail Gallery Plan b, 202-234-2711, or Steed Taylor.

Note: The project will require traffic and parking restrictions along the 800 block of Vermont Avenue, NW, from Friday after rush hour to Sunday evening. Participants are encouraged to arrive via Metro (The McPherson Metro Station-Vermont Avenue exit). Limited on-street parking is nearby.

Monday, July 19, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Glitch of New Hijack Warning System Leads to Israeli Fighter Intercept of Ethiopian Airlines Flight

Link to article in Haaretz:

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/air-force-fighter-jets-intercept-ethiopian-airlines-flight-in-hijack-scare-1.302696

CAMERAS

2) New South Wales Mobile Speed Cameras Send ‘Security’ Info Back to Base

Link to article in TechWorld:

http://www.techworld.com.au/article/353601/mobile_speed_cameras_send_security_info_back_base

3) Speed Cameras: Good or Bad?

Link to story and audio report on American Public Media’s Marketplace:

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/07/16/pm-speed-cameras-good-or-bad/

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) North Texas Tollway Authority Acknowledges Camera Problems, Vows to Boost Billing

Link to article in The Dallas Morning News:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-nttabilling_19met.ART0.State.Edition2.295a0d9.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) GPS Warns of Red Light Cameras, but Database Isn’t Reliable

Link to McClatchy Newspapers review:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100718/BIZ/707189971/1005

MARITIME

6) Inside the World’s Most Advanced Submarine

Link to CNET News blog:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-20010868-52.html

7) COMSAR Initiates Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Review

Link to article in IMO News:

http://www.imo.org/includes/blastDataOnly.asp/data_id%3D28953/IMO_News_No2_10_LOW.pdf (page 15)

PARKING

8) Pay-by-Phone Parking Tested in DC

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/dc/pay-by-phone-parking-tested-in.html

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

9) Toyota Educates Customers as Floor Mat Alert Ignored

Link to Bloomberg article:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-07-16/toyota-educates-customers-as-floor-mat-alert-ignored.html

10) Montana Develops App for Driver’s Exam Practice

Link to AP article:

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_eb78e516-90ec-11df-982c-001cc4c002e0.html

11) Failure to Bash

Former road industry publication editor recounts his experience dealing with FHWA PR staff.

Link to commentary in Better Roads:

http://www.betterroads.com/kirk-landers-16/

RAILROADS

12) Eurostar Launches First TV Spot in Three Years

Link to article and video on Brand Republic News:

http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/1016852/eurostar-launches-first-tv-spot-three-years/

ROADWAYS

13) Fixed Electronic Road Signs in New Zealand Will Not be Used to Warn Drivers About Ice

New Zealand Transport Agency says mobile warning signs are sufficient.

Link to article in The Nelson Mail:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/3932761/Clash-over-Rai-ice-warnings

SAFETY / SECURITY

14) US Public Safety Officials to Kick Off Lobbying Blitz for Spectrum

Link to article on Nextgov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100716_2547.php

15) US Customs to Promote Registered Traveler Program

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-07-19-airportcheckin19_ST_N.htm

16) West Virginia Amber Alert Gets New Look

New logo designed to catch drivers’ attention on highway signs.

Link to story on WSAZ-TV:

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/98750174.html

17) Mobile Mapping While Driving: Is It Risky?

Link to CNN story:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/07/19/mapping.while.driving/#fbid=mO40HJ3Mn2C

18) Distracted Driving Solution Hits Market After 17 Years in Making

Link to article in Wireless Week:

http://www.wirelessweek.com/News/2010/07/Mobile-Content-Distracted-Driving-Solution-Hits-Market-Mobile-Applications/

TELEMATICS

19) Cross Country Provides Drivers Critical Info

Link to article in Highlands Today:

http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2010/jul/18/la-cross-country-provides-drivers-critical-info/news/

TRANSIT

20) DC Metro Seeks to Ease Congestion on Busy Bus Routes, Saving Time and Millions

Transit agency uses GPS data to identify slow zones for buses.

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/17/AR2010071702507.html

21) KSRTC to Introduce ITS for Mysore Public Transport

Link to Sify article:

http://sify.com/finance/ksrtc-to-try-its-hand-at-intelligent-transport-system-news-news-khtc4lcabii.html

22) Shield for Metro Near Chennai Airport to Prevent Interference with Radar Signals

Link to article in The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Shield-for-metro-near-airport-to-prevent-interference-with-radar-signals/articleshow/6185330.cms

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

23) Wisconsin Company has Eye on Traffic so You Can Avoid Jams Ahead

Link to article in the Wisconsin State Journal:

http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_da73d316-9137-11df-9ed0-001cc4c002e0.html

Number of BlueTOAD Devices in Wisconsin is Growing

http://host.madison.com/article_5f634c7a-9136-11df-a1d1-001cc4c002e0.html

24) Driven to Distraction by Twits’ Signs

Motorists groups say message signs advertising traffic information on Twitter are a safety risk.

Link to article in The Scotsman:

http://news.scotsman.com/news/Driven-to-distraction-by-twits39.6426027.jp

25) Idaho 511 Expands to Include Bus Schedules

Link to video report on KBOI-TV:

http://apps.itd.idaho.gov/Apps/MediaManagerViewer/NewsClipping/Video.aspx?Id=1193

26) Clearwater, Florida Earns Patent for Device to Control Traffic Remotely

Link to article in the St. Petersburg Times:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/clearwater-earns-patent-for-device-to-control-traffic-remotely/1109425

27) ViaMichelin Launches Free iPhone Traffic App

Link to article in Tyres & Accessories:

http://www.tyrepress.com/News/business_area/e-Commerce/20034.html

VEHICLES

28) Subaru Outback to Double as Wi-Fi Hot Spot

Link to CNET blog:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20010774-48.html

News Releases

1) TrafficLand Adding Caltrans Los Angeles and Orange County Traffic Cameras to Its National Network

2) Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to Implement More Technology-Based Improvements

3) California’s MTC Invites Bay Area Residents to Shape Strategy for Expanding Public Involvement

Upcoming Events

2010 ITS Tri-Chapter Information Exchange Summit – August 18-19 – Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

http://www.itspennsylvania.com/Portals/0/2010%20ITS%20Tri-Chapter%20Information%20Exchange%20Summit%20Registration%20Forms.pdf

Today in Transportation History

1985 **25^th anniversary** US Vice President George H.W. Bush announced that Christa McAuliffe would become the first teacher, and the first private citizen, in fly in space.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=38909

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The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit:

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Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

(Source:  via Irish Times, NY Times, Guardian, UK)

On July 18th, Germany shut down its busiest Autobahn for celebrating life – appropriately titled “Still-Life A40”.  The “Still Life” festival on Sunday in the Ruhr region in western Germany offered some surreal images and video footage of the autobahn without cars and overrun with pedestrians.

A 37-mile stretch of Germany’s famous highway system, between Dortmund and Duisburg, was closed to motor vehicles for the street festival and replaced by a line of 20,000 tables, reports The Guardian. Around three million people attended the event.

The ambitious aim of “Still Life” was to change negative attitudes in Germany towards the Ruhr, a region known for the last six decades as the capital of smokestacks, steel mills, and soot.

Some five million people live in this urban sprawl of cities, where Duisburg runs into Essen into Bochum and on to Dortmund. Yesterday more than two million locals – every second resident – flooded the A40 expressway for this highlight of the 2010 European Capital of Culture in Essen and its Ruhr sister cities.

For one day the Ruhr was connected up with 20,000 tables and as many mini-parties from bowling clubs alongside school groups, scout troops and theatre troupes. A friendly festival on the otherwise hostile, anonymous Autobahn.

For kilometre after kilometre, the party kept on rolling. Strangers salsa danced in the sun near Duisburg and 100 newly wed brides in their gleaming white wedding dresses handed out red roses near Essen.

Television pictures from the air showed crowds milling around on a road where cars usually race along at speeds of 160 kph (100 mph) or more.

One lane of the autobahn, which crosses North Rhine-Westphalia state, was kept free for skaters and cyclists – and more than one million revellers brought bicycles, including the state premier, Hannelore Kraft.

There are no general speed limits on Germany’s autobahns. Cars often speed up to 200km per hour (125mph) or more. In dense or dangerous areas, drivers are often required to slow down to 120 km per hour (75mph).

Transportgooru Musings:  I wonder what is the total fuel savings from this shut down?  Does anyone have any idea of potential savings resulting from this event (fuel savings, CO2 Emissions reduction, etc).  Oh well, beyond the economic/monetary benefits, it is always wonderful to see the community getting a chance to explore their own infrastructure by foot and bicycle.  I dream of a day our Washington,DC’s infamous beltway shuts down once a year for a festivity like this, bringing together communities for a get together that celebrates the diversity of the region.  It would be nothing but a MASSIVE  hit and I’m sure my fellow American citizens would definitely celebrate this.  After all, the Americans know how to throw a party, better than anyone on earth.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Autobahn Party: German Highway Shut Down For ‘Still Life’ (huffingtonpost.com)
• Life’s a picnic on Germany’s autobahn (guardian.co.uk)
• Autobahn Closed for Festival (wheels.blogs.nytimes.com)
• No autos on the autobahn: Germans party on highway (sfgate.com)
• No Autos on the Autobahn: Germans Party on Highway (abcnews.go.com)
• Two Million Join Party on German Autobahn (abcnews.go.com)
• German motorway hosts huge party (bbc.co.uk)
• Life in the Fast Lane: Two Million Join Party on German Autobahn (spiegel.de)
• No autos on the autobahn: Germans party on highway (usatoday.com)
• Jim: Coffeed Up: Still Life Festival In Germany Germans party on the autobahn – eTurboNews.com (eturbonews.com)
• German autobahn closed for mass 60km picnic (newslite.tv)
• No autos on the autobahn: Germans party on highway (ctv.ca)
• Germans hold 60 km-long party on motorway (reuters.com)

(Source: WSJ)

How do you deliver rail safety message to the General public in the age of twitter and YouTube.  Here is one such effort and it’s called Gap Rap (Warning: Geeky & Corny Video and Lyrics).

The music video, which premiered online Thursday, features LIRR Medical Director John Clarke — an army of fifth graders from Long Beach accompanying him as backup dancers — giving safety tips to railroad riders from Times Square, trains and LIRR stations. Here it is:

Dr. Clarke has a history of public-service raps.  He’s taken on psoriasis (“No one knows the cause or why is brings drama”) and H1N1 (“If you have it stay at home so you don’t spread none”).  The effectiveness of this effort is definitely worth watching in the months to come.

(Transportgooru’s Review: A full 10/10 for the thought to promote safety; 0/10 for the execution.  Summary: Doc, please spend a couple of $$ and find some pros can can really deliver and pls. stick to what you know best – medicine).

(Source: Reuters & The Transport Politic)

China and Argentina have agreed to invest about $10 billion over several years to renovate the Latin American country’s dilapidated railway system and build a subway for its second-largest city. Funds come from the China Development Bank and will require a 15% match from the Argentinian government.

The $10B breaks down as follows:

Argentina will receive $4.35 billion to renovate three freight railroad lines, including $1.85 billion to improve conditions on the Belgrano Line, which links the country to Bolivia and is an important link for the nation’s agricultural producers.  Argentina’s once-extensive rail network was largely dismantled during the privatisations of the 1990s. But as agricultural output soars, farmers and grain elevators — who send more than 80 percent of grains by costly road transport — have been calling for investment to revive the railways.

Road transport costs about 7 U.S. cents per tonne per kilometre in South America’s No. 3 economy — about twice the cost of rail cargo and four times what it costs to transport grains by boat, according to the grains exchange in the country’s biggest agricultural port, Rosario.

More than four billion dollars for the improvement of the Buenos Aires Subway and the creation of a four-corridor Metro in Cordoba — projects.

China in recent years has been dipping into its deep pockets to fund infrastructure projects in poor and emerging economies that bolster relations and often further Beijing’s own economic goals by helping bring goods and raw materials to market faster.  I’d not be surprised if the Chinese are looking to export their rail technology to not just the developing parts of the world but also to advanced economies such as the USA.  The world better learn fast how to say Ni Hao!

Click here to read more.

Related articles by Zemanta

• China splashes billions on Argentine rail, subway (reuters.com)
• China to Invest $10B in Argentina’s Railways (abcnews.go.com)
• China to invest $10B in Argentina’s railways (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• China signs deals to $10B invest in Argentina’s railways but no progress on soy dispute (taragana.com)
• China to invest $10B in Argentina’s railways (sfgate.com)
• Argentina Is Latest Country To Outsource Its Infrastructure To China (businessinsider.com)

Friday, July 16, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Raleigh-Durham Airport Surrenders in Six-Year Legal Fight Over Newspaper Boxes

Link to article in The News & Observer:

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/07/16/583481/airport-surrenders-in-six-year.html

2) Wi-Fi Available on One in Three US Planes

VoIP is a non-no.

Link to article in Computerworld:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9179181/Wi_Fi_available_on_1_in_3_U.S._planes

3) NextGen Airportal Project Seeks to Streamline Aviation Ground Operations and Blend Terminal Control at Adjacent Airports

Link to article in Avionics Intelligence:

http://www.militaryaerospace.com/index/display/avi-article-display/3998757347/articles/avionics-intelligence/news/2010/7/nextgen-airportal.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Why GPS Voices are so Condescending

Link to CNN story:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/07/16/computer.voice/

5) iPad as the Ultimate Navigation Tool

Link to article in Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/14/navigation-gps-apple-technology-ipad.html

MARITIME

6) Who’s Responsible for Warning Cruise Travelers About Dangers in Port?

Link to article on Cruise Critic:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=3991

OTHER

7) Riders Flock to Smartcards to Pay for Cabs

Link to article in amNew York:

http://amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/riders-flock-to-smartcards-to-pay-for-cabs-1.2102497

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

8) Long Island Rail Road Doctor Debuts Public-Service Rap

Link to blog and video in The Wall Street Journal:

http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2010/07/15/long-island-railroad-doctor-debuts-public-service-rap/

9) Catching Them Young on Traffic Management

Education of the young may help change chaotic traffic conditions in Nigeria.

Link to article in the Daily Independent:

http://www.independentngonline.com/DailyIndependent/Article.aspx?id=17163

TRANSIT

10) Toronto Transit Panel Suggests Better Ways

Link to article in the National Post:

http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/07/16/transit-panel-suggests-better-ways/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Get Traffic Alerts, Accidents, Route Diversions in Delhi Through SMS

Link to article in the Hindustan Times:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Now-get-traffic-update-SMS-to-beat-jams/H1-Article1-573471.aspx

News Releases

1) Los Angeles International Airport Improves Social Media Sites on Facebook and Twitter, Launches YouTube Channel

2) Washington State Transportation Secretary Announces Stronger Communication Reporting Protocols for Project Oversight and Delivery

3) Four Out of Five Cell Phones to Integrate GPS by End of 2011

4) Lockheed Martin Unveils GPS Exhibit at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria

Upcoming Events

IBTTA Annual Meeting and Exhibition – September 12-15 – San Diego

http://www.ibtta.org/Events/EventDetail3.cfm?ItemNumber=4428&token=22270

Friday Bonus

You never know who or what you’ll run into on the New York City subways.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5gCeWEGiQI

Today in Transportation History

1935 **75^th anniversary** The first parking meter was installed.  The meter was located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZQgPRFgkOA

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit:

http://groups.google.com/group/tcnl/subscribe

If you have any difficulties please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net