How do you teach a disrespectful driver about road safety? Rotary Club from the city of Blumenau, Brazil, started a campaign aimed at drivers who don’t respect crosswalks. And here is the outcome:

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKWBDhTWiaU’]

Heard of talking cars? Teen drivers of today would probably think of an internet-connected car like Ford Focus offering interactive feedback via Sync. But the older (or teens of the 80s!?) folks would fondly remember the KITT, a real talking supercar that was a central feature in the TV Series, Knight Rider. This story of a lone crimefighter battling the forces of evil with the help of an indestructible and artificially intelligent supercar captured the minds and hearts of many gearheads back in the 80s.  As years grew, so have the fascination and sophistication of the cars used by Hollywood.  We have left the KITT behind and arrived in the era of the Batmobile.  Here is a visual walkthrough compiled by AutoInsurance.us that crisply captures the greatest cars in Hollywood history. Check it out.

Post Made Possible by AutoInsurance.US

via CNET

Ever wondered what happens to a driver behind the wheel of a vehicle traveling at 60mph on a highway when he/she is bombarded with information pouring out from the electronics suite on his/her dashboard?  We all know how distracted driving  can lead to crashes that can kill or main road users and the vehicle occupants.  Today’s driver is constantly enveloped in data about not just the car’s operational elements but also from the infotainment systems that aim to bring to you the latest and greatest information via social media tools such as Twitter, facebook, etc. many argue that these internet-connected drivers (and cars) are often a detriment to driver safety but the truth is far from it.  Auto companies want to make sure that they are not just providing a better driving experience for the driver but also a safer trip while in their vehicles.  Here is an interesting walk and talk through the bowels of Ford’s advanced research facilities with Ford’s CTO Paul Mascarenas that shows what Ford is doing to mitigate the dangers of distracted driving.

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via ITS America

The Program Manager is a mid -level position (to be located in Washington, DC) with day–to-day oversight of our contractual relationships with the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) and other organizations as well as managing multiple task orders as project manager.  The Program Manager will also be responsible for engaging and acting on behalf of ITS America’s membership and the broader ITS community to help save lives, time, and money and sustain the environment through broad deployment of ITS technologies.

The position will report to the Chief Technology Officer / Vice President of Programs and will support the oversight of a staff of professionals who support the U.S. DOT and other contracts as well as ITS America’s Coordinating Councils and Forums.

Essential Responsibilities

1. Manage ITS America’s contracts with the U.S. DOT and others (50% of the time): Perform duties as the Program Manager on task orders with the U.S. DOT and other projects, including project management, budget tracking, and budget forecasting.  Supervise technical staff that supports the various task orders of the contracts, ensuring all deliverables and milestones are met on time and on budget.  Translate all technical tasks into tangible member benefits, and channel member feedback into a benefit to clients.  Take on management of new contracts with ITS America clients, as appropriate.
2. Provide substantive, technical input to task orders and offer guidance and support (20% of the time) on how best to promote awareness and knowledge transfer on the content and products of task orders to serve the ITS community.
3. Support ITS America’s councils and associated technical, policy, and educational programs (15% of the time):Help carry out member-driven projects by identifying DOT or member funding resources, and supervise subject-matter experts on staff.  Supervise development of educational programs for major events, and work closely with Member Services team in support of membership recruitment and retention, helping grow the society.
4. Support Business Development (15% of the time): Support business development including identifying new opportunities, proposal responses and grant application preparation, cost estimates, and other related activities.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum of five years in Project and Program Management positions including budget tracking and budget forecasting in the transportation field, preferably in ITS.
• Experience with managing government contracts, preferably with the U.S. DOT and/or State DOTs.
• Bachelor’s ’s degree is required, preferably in engineering—in a technical area related to transportation, policy, and/or telecommunications.
• Experience in managing 5-10 employees and/or consultants.

Skill Requirements

• Relationship builder – able to work as a team member and provide courteous service to internal and external clients.
• Superior written and oral communications.
• Organized – able to manage multiple projects at the same time and demonstrates a real attention to detail.
• Consistently demonstrate cooperative attitude—assumes responsibility and is flexible in working with others.
• Demonstrates a commitment to follow through; results oriented.
• Initiative – actively engaged in continuous improvement, provides suggestions for improvement, offers solutions to challenges/issues.
• Ability to make dynamic personal presentations to key partners and stakeholders in the ITS community.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated competencies in the Microsoft Office Suite of software products used by ITS America.

To be considered for this opening:

• Include a cover letter with salary requirements.
• Attach resume as either a MS Word document or PDF.
• E-mail cover letter and resume to hr@itsa.org.

Position Description: 

PURPOSE

The purpose of this position is to help develop, coordinate, implement, and communicate all of the Georgetown BID’s transportation initiatives to make Georgetown more accessible, improve pedestrian, bike, transit, and auto mobility, and improve the perception that Georgetown is easy to get to, around, and from.

RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Works with CEO, Marketing Director, Deputy Director for Operations, and other Staff, Board, and community, stakeholders to develop Georgetown transportation initiatives and participates in all city efforts that contribute to, or impact, Georgetown transportation including: public and private parking, street configuration, signage,
street cars and bus transit, taxi, para-transit, bike, bike sharing, car sharing, curb management, pedestrian experience, transportation marketing, organizing, and
advocacy programs.

B. Specifically:

1. Coordinates the BID’s participation in citywide streetcar program and organizes the BID stakeholder coalition working to bring the streetcar to Georgetown.
2. Coordinates the BID’s participation with the DC Circulator (DC Surface Transit Inc.)
3. Works with research coordinator to collect, update and report Georgetown transportation data including pedestrian counts, vehicle counts, parking statistics, and other relevant information.
4. Coordinates the BID’s activities to improve signage and wayfinding in Georgetown.
5. Oversees the BIDs efforts to develop a retail parking program (both on and off street).
6. Participates in an implementation program to improve Georgetown’s street furniture system. This should be integrated with other programs such as the Circulator and CaBi.
7. Works with city agencies and neighborhood stakeholders to plan and implement performance parking and other transportation programs that improve the experience of coming to Georgetown whether by car, bike, bus, or foot.
8. Works with marketing department to develop and communicate all materials necessary to support this program.

C. In general develops project plans, budgets, and implementation schedules, prepares RFPs for appropriate phases of projects, administers contracts and manages projects to timely completion.
D. Helps identify and secure outside resources to fund both planning and implementation from private, partnership, city and federal sources.
E. Integrates the BIDs transportation agenda into other relevant parts of the BID program.
F. Provides support for other Georgetown projects upon request of the CEO.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Georgetown dc day (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Transportation Director reports to the CEO and works closely with all other staff members.

SCOPE

• Manages interns and consultants only.
• May represent the Georgetown BID to the city and Georgetown stakeholders on transportation issues.
• Exercises high level of initiative, independence, non-policy decision making and negotiation and implementation of projects.
• Develops budgets, and expends funds as approved for specific line items.
• Makes recommendations on major expenditures.
• Integrates transportation with other departments and organizations of the BID.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 4-years of experience in the field of transportation, urban planning or related field.
• Strong written communication skills, including preparation of RFPs, and/or detailed reports.
• Excellent verbal communication skills including public speaking, facilitating and negotiating skills.
• Demonstrated skills in strategic planning.
• Experience managing multiple tasks to bring projects to timely completion.
• Basic analytical skills
• Bachelors degree required (preferably in related field of transportation, urban planning, public administration, public policy or related field). Masters degree preferred but not required.

SALARY
Competitive and comes with an excellent benefits package.

TO APPLY
Please send resume and cover letter to:

Transportation Director Search
Georgetown Business Improvement District
1000 Potomac Street NW
Suite 122
Washington, DC 20007

You can also send your resume or questions to: jobs@georgetowndc.com . Please put “Transportation Director Search” in the Subject line.

BACKGROUND
The Georgetown BID is a 12 year-old publicly chartered non-profit organization dedicated to making Georgetown cleaner, safer, more user-friendly and more vibrant. . The Georgetown BID runs a variety of programs including marketing the neighborhood as a unique shopping, dining, and historic destination, keeping the streets and sidewalks clean and passable; improving the streetscapes with plantings and street furniture; collecting and disseminating economic development research; and improving transportation access and mobility throughout the area. The organization has a $3.1 million annual budget and 17 employees and full-time contractors. For more information visit our web site at www.Georgetowndc.com.

The Georgetown Business Improvement District provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, non-job-related disability, veteran status, genetic information or other protected group status. In so doing, we are committed to ensuring that all employees and applicants for employment are afforded an equal opportunity to pursue job opportunities to the fullest extent possible with the organization. Decisions on employment, promotions, opportunities for personal development, compensation and benefits reflect our commitment to furthering the principles of the Georgetown BID’s equal employment opportunity policy.

This Job Announcement, and any application submitted pursuant to it, is not an offer of employment or an employment contract.

A pit stop at the Autrodomo Nazionale of Monza (Italy), during the 2004 Italian Grand Prix, September 12, 2004. The team’s pit crew is refuelling the car and changing tires.

So, how long does it take you/your mechanic at the tire shop to change the tires? Can you get it done in 2.31 secs? I hear you laughing but that’s exactly what it took for a Formula1 team to change all its tires. BBC offers a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes in preparation towards achieving such stellar times. For the record, McLaren is the team that recorded the world’s fastest Formula 1 pit stop during the German Grand Prix in July this year, with a stationary time of 2.31 seconds, while they changed Jenson Button‘s tyres. That’s as much as it takes for me to turn my head at times.

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You thought texting while driving was bad? How about running a suite of machines like an office while on the move?  Here is one such case where it blows everything we preach about driver distraction.  Police stopped this above Ford Modeo in Saarland, Germany, for speeding and when they peeped in this is what they saw in the passenger seat – a laptop with docking station, a router and wi-fi antenna tied to a cellular data stick, a printer and a power inverter to keep it all humming.  For what it is worth, the German police  did not issue any citations for the Mondeo driver for any violations . Maybe because he had  his cellphone mounted to the windshield for hands-free use.  yes. That’s right.  He  at least had the sense to leave his cellphone mounted on the dashboard.  (via Motoramic – Yahoo! Autos)

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• German police stop man with mobile office in car

via NY Times

After seeing the devastating impacts of torrents of water on New York City subways and highway tunnels during Hurricane sandy, one would be curious to know – how do you stop rushing waters from entering your highway and transit/subway tunnels? Researchers from my alma mater, West Virginia University, have been at it for a while and they have come up with this brilliant solution – an inflatable plug.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FawTqHpjs_g&hd=1 ‘]

Learn more about it here.

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