Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – March 7, 2011

March 9, 2011 at 10:51 pm

Monday, March 7, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

Solve your corridor congestion and signal timing challenges with InSync adaptive traffic control

Free webinar with the facts on adaptive traffic control results.  Visit http://rhythmtraffic.com/facts

For decades, public works departments and traffic engineers struggled to reduce congestion, delay, stops and accidents on busy arterial roadways.  Now state and local agencies across the U.S. are running the InSync adaptive traffic control solution on dozens of corridors and realizing unprecedented benefits.  It is common to see stop reductions of 90%, delay reductions of 75%, travel time reductions of 40%, and significant reductions in fuel usage and emissions.

Join us for an information-packed webinar to see how adaptive traffic control can benefit your roadways and communities.  In only a few minutes you will see and hear before-and-after results reported by independent engineering firms, experiences of traffic professionals who installed InSync and other systems, details on the artificial intelligence and hardware components which make up the InSync system and more.  Get the facts at http://rhythmtraffic.com/facts

AVIATION

1) Cyndi Lauper Calms Angry Travelers at Buenos Aires Airport with Impromptu Song

Link to article and video in the Toronto Star:

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/article/949743–video-cyndi-lauper-entertains-stranded-airport-passengers

2) Yes, That’s an Ad in the Airport Bathroom Mirror

Link to commentary on CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/03/06/greene.bathroom.advertising

3) Can the FAA Get Rid of Air Traffic Controllers?

Link to blog in The Atlantic:

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/03/can-the-faa-get-rid-of-air-traffic-controllers/72019/

CAMERAS

4) Covert Cameras Likely to be Installed in Indian Passenger Planes

Link to article in The Economic Times:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/covert-cameras-likely-to-be-installed-in-passenger-planes/articleshow/7638368.cms

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) North Korea Behind GPS Signal Disruption in South: Reports

Link to Reuters article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/06/us-korea-north-hacking-idUSTRE7250Z120110306

6) Google Update Adds Automatic Traffic Info to Maps Navigation

Link to article in Computerworld:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9213639/Google_update_adds_automatic_traffic_info_to_Maps_Navigation

7) GPS Chaos: How a $30 Box Can Jam Your Life

Link to article in New Scientist:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20202-gps-chaos-how-a-30-box-can-jam-your-life.html

8) GPS Helping Companies Save on Fuel Costs

Link to story and video on WMAQ-TV:

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/gps-fuel-costs-117433663.html

MARITIME

9) High-Tech Gear Helps Reel in Fish Poachers

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2011-03-07-poachingfish07_ST_N.htm

OTHER

10) Man Apologizes for Traffic Jam Via Twitter

Link to story and video on KING-TV:

http://www.king5.com/home/Man-apologizes-for-traffic-jam-via-Twitter-117452583.html

11) Why Data is the Next Game-Changer in Travel

Link to article on Tnooz:

http://www.tnooz.com/2011/03/07/news/why-data-is-the-next-game-changer-in-travel/

12) What Do You Do When Trapped in a Tunnel?

An accident inside the Lincoln Tunnel presented communication challenges for those caught in the backup.

Link to column in The Record:

http://www.northjersey.com/news/117480188_Hours_in_tunnel_on_bus_and_no_explanation.html

13) Is There a Downside to ‘Intelligent Cities’ or ‘Smart Cities’?

Link to blog from the National Resources Defense Council:

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kbenfield/is_there_a_downside_to_intelli.html

RAILROADS

14) US to Scale Back Rules on Train Safety Technology

Link to Dow Jones Newswires article:

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201103041512dowjonesdjonline000536

TRANSIT

15) Toronto Transit Commission Drivers Fired for Harmless Cell Phone Use, Union Says

Link to article in the Toronto Star:

http://www.thestar.com/news/transportation/article/949724–ttc-drivers-fired-for-harmless-cellphone-use-union-says

16) Facebook Page for Pune, India Transport Agency Finds Few Takers

Link to article in The Indian Express:

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/two-months-on-transport-utilitys-facebook-page-finds-few-takers/758560/

17) New York MTA Looks to Sell Ads in Subway Tunnels

Link to story on WNYC Radio:

http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2011/mar/06/mta-looking-sell-ads-subway-tunnels/

18) Fares and the Future of Transit: Wireless, Smart and Connected

Link to blog on SmartPlanet:

http://www.smartplanet.com/business/blog/smart-takes/fares-and-the-future-of-transit-wireless-smart-and-connected/14708/

19) Transit Data Drives Economic Engine for Open Government

Link to blog on The Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alexander-howard/transit-data-drives-econo_b_831812.html

20) Technology in Transit

Transit planning and real-time information technology could get drivers on the bus.

Link to blog in Sightline Daily:

http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2011/03/04/technology-in-transit

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

21) FCC Eyes Expanding Role of Travelers’ Information Stations

Link to article in Radio World:

http://radioworld.com/article/114868

22) Pune Traffic Police to Launch Pilot Run of Free SMS Alert Service
Link to article in The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Traffic-police-to-launch-pilot-run-of-free-SMS-alert-service/articleshow/7630384.cms

23) Lake County, Illinois has Live Traffic iPhone App

Link to article on Libertyville Patch:

http://libertyville.patch.com/articles/lake-county-has-live-traffic-iphone-app-5

Link to further information from Lake County PASSAGE:

http://www.lakecountypassage.com/about/iphone.html

VEHICLES

24) The Future of In-Car Infotainment Systems

Link to article in Popular Mechanics:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/industry/the-future-of-in-car-infotainment-systems

News Releases

1) US Department of Transportation and Consumer Reports Launch Partnership to Fight Distracted Driving

2) Nearest 1.0.1 Provides Useful Airport GPS Information for Pilots

3) Fair Glass Bead Market Access Coalition Expresses Support for AASHTO and FHWA Efforts to Address Glass Bead Safety Issue

4) The Gulf Satellite-Aided Search and Rescue Seminar Starts with High-Level Regional and International Participation

5) SITA Steps Closer to FAA NextGen with USA VDL Coverage

6) Sensys Networks Awarded ISO 9001:2008 Certification

7) Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Introduces Visual Paging Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Customers

8) GM’s OnStar to Tally 7.9 Million Subscribers in 2017

9) How the Public Perceives Community Information Systems

10) Chevrolets Tweet to SXSW Using Futuristic OnStar Technology

Upcoming Events

Webcast: Positive Train Control and Its Impact on Short Lines – March 22

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/Webcasts/ptc_032211/default.asp

Today in Transportation History

1961 **50th anniversary** Max Conrad set a world record for circumnavigating the globe in a light airplane.  His plane landed in Miami after flying for eight days, 18 hours and 49 minutes.

http://www.maxconrad.com/

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