via Autoblog

The innovators at Solar Roadways have pulled together a demonstration site (i.e., parking lot) to showcase how their technology works – it’s got a textured glass surface that can (among many other things) generate low-carbon electricity, melt snow, and throw up safety warnings with its integrated LED lighting system. Pretty cool, right? 

Their vision for smarter roads has grown considerably from conception to an award-winning early prototype to a test deployment.  It is poised to take the next logical step forward – manufacturing, which usually costs a ton of money. So they have put together a nice campaign video and lauched the fundraising efforts over at IndieGoGo for helping move this audacious vision to an everyday reality.

Autoblog notes that if successful, the concept will next start appearing in parking lots, driveways and sidewalks before taking that final leap toward paving the way to a solar-powered paradise. Let’s hope it does succeed.  Show your support over at their IndieGoGo campaign site.   

Note: As of this minute, the campaign has raised $4,712 (in just a day) and they have about 39 days left to reach the $1million goal (by May 31 @ 11:59PM).

Related articles

• Solar Roadways to build solar-powered parking lot
• solar powered roadways by scott brusaw
• In Focus: Solar Roadways
• Solar Roadways (the company) to Build Solar Panel Parking Lot (+ Top Transportation Stories)
• Solar Roadways: The Prototype – an interesting idea to contemplate

Check out this infograph from Pembina Institute that clearly lays out the case for public transportation (i.e., Rapid Transit) and shows how much money can be saved..

Source: Pembina Institute.

Closing date: Wednesday, April 30, 2014 (11:59PM EST)

This position is located in the Office of Safety Programs, Office of Safety, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC. The incumbent serves as a transportation specialist and provides advice to Safety Leadership on highway safety programs.

You will serve as a nationally recognized authority and advisor to Safety Leadership in identifying, developing and delivering safety workforce competency programs and products to reduce the number and severity of highway crashes, and other highway safety programs. You will also serve as the co-champion for the FHWA Safety Discipline and the program manager for the Roadway Safety Professional Capacity Building Program (RSPBC). As Safety Discipline co-champion, you will work toward improving the capacity of FHWA’s workforce in safety related competencies. As the RSPBC Manager, you will also help a broad range of roadway safety professionals acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to implement safety programs, strategies, and countermeasures.

The ideal candidate for this position is a mid-career or senior level professional with experience in identifying, planning, and implementing new national program initiatives and leading the development and implementation of programs for outreach and public information to improve the proficiency of highway safety professionals.  He/she has a high degree of independence in planning, prioritizing, scheduling, and carrying out assignments and maintaining effective working relationships as a leader or member of teams or working groups.  In addition, the ideal candidate has excellent person-to-person and written communication skills.

Duties:

• Provide leadership in technical, programmatic engineering and policy assistance to FHWA field offices, State and local agencies, and other internal and external customers to implement safety programs for all levels of government.
• Provide resources to help safety experts and specialists develop critical knowledge and skills within the roadway safety workforce.
• Lead the development and implementation of programs for outreach and public information to improve the proficiency of highway safety professionals.
• Coordinate with other Federal, State, and local agencies and professional organizations and serve on intra-agency task forces with partners to improve the safety workforces’ knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Plan and conduct briefings and regional and national meetings for FHWA, State, and local safety professionals and other highway safety-related organizations.
• Identify customer’s needs and provide resources to facilitate the deployment of roadway safety tools.

Click here to learn more and to apply.

My favorite numbers guy, Nate Silver at FiveThirtyEight has poured over the census data and published an intriguing article that shows how the workforce in US cities begin its work day. I’ll share Nate’s findings through the graphs he published but I highly recommend that you read the full article over at his site . This insightful analysis will be definitely useful for transportation systems operators and managers.

Here are a few data nuggets from this analysis:

• New Yorkers are pretty relaxed and get to catch a few more winks  than many in the country. The median worker in the New York metropolitan area begins her workday at 8:24 a.m. 
• A quarter of the workforce in Atlantic City doesn’t begin its workday until 11:26 a.m. or after (understandably because the AC workforce is dependent on a recreational economy).
• The metro area with the earliest workday is Hinesville, Ga. The median worker there arrives at work at 7:01 a.m.

Let’s first see the US metro areas that are slow to roll

Source: FiveThirtyEight.com

Now let’s look at the those cities with the earliest median arrival times to work

Source: FiveThirtyEight.com Click Image to learn more.

And finally the Median arrival time in your local time zone

Source: fivethirtyeight.com. Click the image to learn more

Interesting, isn’t it? Go over to Fivethirtyeight.com to soak up the brilliant write-up from Nate.

The new infograph published by SafeCar.Info. offers some good insights into the real cost of owning a vehicle.  To put it simply, owning a car these days is not easy on any wallet.  the infograph provides a clear guide to the issues which everyone should consider before they make their final decision. 

Source: SafeCar.info. Click Image to learn more.

Via: Safecar.info | Car safety & Insurance Magazine

MTA-NYCT is hiring a Principal Transportation Planner in the Operations Planning Division. Applications are due by May 5, 2014.

The position will be responsible for helping to plan long-term changes to the NYC bus route network.  The incumbent will develop and maintain a database of service and ridership information for planning purposes, prepare reports recommending new or restructured bus routes and services, including ridership projections, customer and operations impacts, and operating costs.  The position may also assist in the analysis and management of various long-range planning studies, such as Alternatives Analyses and Environmental Impact Statements and coordination with other NYCT departments, other MTA agencies, and external contacts.  The successful candidate is expected to do field work throughout New York City and to represent NYC Transit at public meeting, sometimes not during normal business hours.  A NYS driver’s license is required for this position.

Education & Experience:

Bachelors degree in Engineering, Urban Studies, Geography, Transportation Science, Urban Planning, Economics, Business, Public Administration, Political Science or related field and five years of full time paid experience in transportation operations planning, schedule or operations.

Desired Skills:

Excellent writing, communication and graphics presentation skills, proficiency in technical writing and data analysis are required.  Knowledge of the New York City Transit system and New York City are highly desirable.  Previous experience in transportation planning for a large, multimodal transit agency is highly desirable.  Knowledge of transportation planning software such as TransCad, ArcView, MapInfo and Auto-Turn.

Apply here or search listings at http://web.mta.info/mta/employment/employment_out.html

via YPTransportation

Related articles

• NYC Job Alert: NYCT Principal Transportation Planner
• Mta Plans To Reduce Subway Deaths 2013
• MTA announces enhanced weekend service on Manhattan, Queens bus routes
• MTA NYC Goes Digital

Airline pricing webinar – April 16, 2014

Click image to register and to learn more about the event

Parsons Brinckerhoff is currently recruiting a Consultant to join the Strategic Consulting team preferably in their Washington, DC office. They are looking for candidates with demonstrated interest in transit and at least 5 years of practical experience in transit project development and finance.  See below for more details.

Parsons Brinckerhoff, an international leader providing engineering services to the infrastructure industry, has an opening in Washington, DC for a Consultant to join the strategic consulting team. Parsons Brinckerhoff, founded in 1885, is one of the most respected continually operating engineering consulting firms in the world. Throughout its almost 130‐year history, Parsons Brinckerhoff’s commitment to quality has made it a recognized leader providing the knowledge and skill base that is borne of experience.

About Strategic Consulting

Our Strategic Consulting practice advises public and private owners and operators of transportation and other infrastructure on project development, finance, and management. In this capacity, we work with senior management to develop plans, programs, and implementation strategies; secure funds; improve performance; and apply industry best practices to help address tomorrow’s transportation challenges today.

About the Position

We are recruiting a motivated self‐starter with a demonstrated interest in transit and practical experience in transit project development and finance to join a dynamic, fast-paced, multi-disciplinary team. We seek problem solvers with strong written and verbal communications, demonstrated quantitative and analytical skills, the ability to master new concepts quickly, industry knowledge, and meticulous attention to detail to deliver high-quality work.

Based in Washington, DC, the successful candidate will work as part of a national team that primarily advises public sector clients on the funding, finance, and delivery of major capital projects and a variety of related infrastructure management and policy issues. This position will entail tasks such as analyzing the business case for infrastructure investments, analyzing project and program funding and financing opportunities, developing cash flows and financial models, reviewing and interpreting federal legislation and guidance, developing operating and capital programs, performing quantitative analyses, and providing strategic support in all phases of transportation planning and project development. The position offers excellent opportunities for professional growth. You will work directly with industry thought leaders to identify and apply evolving requirements and innovative practices to large, highly visible projects across the United States.

Job Requirements

The successful candidate will have the following skills and experience:

• Mandatory Bachelors degree with a major in transportation planning, economics, business or finance, management, civil engineering, or a related field.
• Highly desired advanced degree in transportation planning, economics, business, public-sector management/administration, systems engineering, or a related field.
• Desired 5-8 years of experience working in the transit and rail industry; consulting experience is a plus.
• Strong research skills and excellent quantitative and analytical skills including knowledge of financial modeling techniques.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Click here to read the full announcement on www.pbworld.com (under ID# 22623). Interested candidates should apply directly through the website.

via @YPTransportation