The Daily News - Newsletters & such Archives - Page 32 of 56

1909 **100^th anniversary** – Gugliemo Marconi delivered his Nobel Lecture upon receiving the Nobel Prize in Physics for wireless telegraphic communication.

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1909/marconi-lecture.pdf

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: i95berniew@aol.com

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

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.

Read more 1

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 10, 2009

December 10, 2009 at 6:23 pm

Thursday, December 10, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) Coalition Fights to Allow Cell Phone Use on Planes

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2009-12-10-airplanephones10_ST_N.htm

Link to the Inflight Passenger Communications Coalition:

http://www.passengercommunications.com/

2) FAA: Overshot Flight Was on Canadian Frequency

Link to story on KCNC-TV:

http://cbs4denver.com/investigates/faa.norad.ntsb.2.1360871.html

OTHER

3) Pandora Targets In-Car Audience

Link to article on All Access:

http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/68106/pandora-targets-in-car-audience?ref=mail_recap

RAILROADS

4) So Long, Solari

Travelers say they’ll miss clackety-clack of schedule board at New Haven’s Union Station.

Link to article and video in the New Haven Independent:

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2009/12/schedule_board.php

ROADWAYS

5) Wisconsin DOT Applies Lessons from 2008 Snowstorm Near Madison

Link to article in The Post-Crescent:

http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20091210/APC0101/912100509/1979

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) US, Canada Will Publicize Options to Cross Border

Link to Gannett News Service article:

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20091210/NEWS01/912100333/1002/NEWS/U.S.–Canada-will-publicize-options-to-cross-border

7) Transportation Worker Identification Credential

Progress made in enrolling workers and activating credentials but evaluation plan needed to help inform the implementation of card readers.

Link to US Government Accountability Office report:

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d1043.pdf

TRANSIT

8) Cell Phone Ban for Chicago Transit Authority Workers Leads to 11 Firings, Union Complaints of Overreaching

Link to article in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-cta-cell-phone-ban_10dec10,0,4172545.story

9) New Site Lists Open Data Apps, Agencies

Link to Greater Greater Washington blog:

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=4302

Link to City-Go-Round: http://www.citygoround.org

10) Transcript and Presentations of Transit Operations Decision Support Systems (TODSS): A US DOT Pilot Expert System for Transit Bus Fleet Management T3 Webinar

Link to presentation and transcript from Research and Innovative Technology Administration:

http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/t3/s091021/s091021_transitops_intro.asp

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Transcript and Presentations of Best Practices for Developing an Integrated and Effective Road Weather Information System (RWIS): Developing an RWIS Concept of Operations T3 Webinar

Link to presentation and transcript from Research and Innovative Technology Administration:

http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/t3/s091013/s091013_rwis_intro.asp

12) Transcript and Presentations of National ITS Architecture Update: New Features of the Latest Version of the National ITS Architecture (Version 6.1) T3 Webinar

Link to presentation and transcript from Research and Innovative Technology Administration:

http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/t3/s091027/s091027_arch_intro.asp

News Releases

1) EarthCam Announces New Work Zone Safety, Dredging Systems, Desert and Advanced Cameras

2) SESAR Joint Undertaking – Focus on: Interoperability

Solicitation

– Call for Abstracts – National Rural ITS Conference

http://www.nritsconference.org/2010program.html

Upcoming Events

NW Transportation Conference – February 9-11 – Corvallis, Oregon

http://kiewit.oregonstate.edu/nwtc/

Today in Transportation History

1979 **30^th anniversary** – Stuntman Eddie Kidd makes an 80 foot jump over a river on a motorcycle.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/10/newsid_2544000/2544025.stm

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: i95berniew@aol.com

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

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.

Read more 1

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 9, 2009

December 9, 2009 at 11:12 pm

Wednesday, December 9, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

IRF Third Latin American Regional Congress – September 20-23, 2010 in Bogotá, Colombia

IRF announces its Third Latin American Regional Congress to be held September 20-23, 2010 in Bogotá, Colombia. The themes of the congress will consist of five parallel tracks September 20-21 (road safety, pavement performance, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), tunnels and financing within a Latin American context). Finally, the congress will include technical training workshops with themes of regional and local interest September 22-23. For a topic to be considered for inclusion in the program, please submit a summary by following the link below no later than March 26, 2010.

For more information, visit our website: http://www.irfnews.org/news-events/event-detail/third-latin-american-regional-congress/ (English) or http://irfnews.org/que-es-la-irf/tercer-congreso-latinoamerican-en-bogota-colombia (Spanish) or contact Nelson Bunn, IRFs Director of Latin American Programs, at +1 703 535 1001 or by email atnbunn@irfnews.org.

ROADWAYS

1) Designs for Maryland Intercounty Connector Signs are Scaled Back

Roadway neighbors object to lighted overhead signs.

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/08/AR2009120803595.html

2) Wind Sensors Keep New York MTA Bridge and Tunnel Customers Safe

Link to article in The Queens Gazette:

http://www.qgazette.com/news/2009-12-09/Features/Wind_Sensors_Keep_MTA_Bridge__Tunnel_Customers_Saf.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

3) TSA Puts Five Employees on Leave Over Online Posting

Link to CBS News story:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/09/travel/main5954486.shtml

TRANSIT

4) Maryland Transit Administration Delays Smart Cards but Takes Plastic

Link to column in The Baltimore Sun:

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/traffic/2009/12/mta_delays_smart_cards_but_tak.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

5) SUNA Wants the Green Light for Easing Traffic, and the Sooner the Better

Link to commentary on Current:

http://www.current.com.au/2009/12/09/article/IWDSSXVTJC.html

6) ITS Strategic Research Plan 2010-2014 Approved

Link to further information from US DOT:

http://www.its.dot.gov/strat_plan/index.htm

7) New Publications from US DOT

– Road Weather Management Performance Metrics: Implementation and Assessment

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=595

– Incorporating Weather Impacts in Traffic Estimation and Prediction Systems

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=596

News Releases

1) TrafficLand Launches Live Traffic Video Application on Bing Maps

2) FAA to Expand Public Access to Airport Delay Information

Upcoming Events

XIII International Winter Road Congress – February 8-11 – Québec

http://www.aipcrquebec2010.org/index.php?lang=english

Today in Transportation History

1944 **65^th anniversary** – Great Britain eases blackout restrictions.

http://www.homesweethomefront.co.uk/web_pages/hshf_blackout_pg.htm

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: i95berniew@aol.com

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

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.

Read more 1

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 8, 2009

December 8, 2009 at 6:09 pm

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) Northwest Pilots Blame Air Traffic Controllers for Overshooting Airport

Link to AP article:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-12-07-northwest-pilots-blame_N.htm

PEDESTRIANS

2) Beijing Upgrades 800 Traffic Lights to Help the Blind

Link to article in the People’s Daily:

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6834932.html

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

3) Ad Campaign Calls for Action on Highway Bill

Link to article in Pit & Quarry:

http://www.pitandquarry.com/pitandquarry/News+Watch/Ad-campaign-calls-for-action-on-highway-bill/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/647022

Link to ads:

http://www.transportationconstructioncoalition.org/

ROADWAYS

4) Closed Circuit Cameras to be Installed in Indian State to Catch Overloaded Trucks

Link to DNA article:

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_close-circuit-televisions-for-all-regional-transport-office-check-posts_1321305

SAFETY / SECURITY

5) New Drone to Scour US Coast for Smugglers

Link to Reuters article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B708I20091208

Link to news release from US Customs and Border Protection:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/12072009_4.xml

6) TSA to Conduct Full Review After Leak of Manual on Internet

Link to article in U.S. News & World Report:

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/2009/12/07/tsa-to-conduct-full-review-after-leak-of-sensitive-information.html

7) Real ID Act Might Cause Real Hassles for Travelers

Link to story and audio report on NPR’s All Things Considered:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121162967

8) AAA Test of Older Drivers Goes Online

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/aaa-test-of-older-drivers-goes-online

Link to news release from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:

http://www.aaafoundation.org/multimedia/index.cfm?button=RoadwiseOnline

TRANSIT

9) Dragging Suicide from the Shadows

Keeping the tragedy under wraps does more harm than good, some groups say.

Link to article in the Toronto Sun:

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/12/07/12062001-sun.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) Grant Will Let DART Develop Model to Predict Traffic

Link to blog in The Dallas Morning News:

http://transportationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/12/grant-will-let-dart-develop-mo.html

11) Sofia Attempts to Ease Traffic Congestion with Dutch Help

Link to article from the Sofia News Agency:

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=110856

12) Ceremonies Mark Milestones for Louisiana DOTD Headquarters, 911 Communications Center

Link to article in The Times-Picayune:

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/ceremonies_mark_milestones_for.html

13) December Issue of Florida DOT’s SunGuide Disseminator

Link to newsletter:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/TrafficOperations/Newsletters/2009/2009-012-Dec.pdf

VEHICLES

14) Car Technology Gets Cheaper

Link to article on Cars.com:

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2009/12/consumer-technology-gets-cheaper.html

15) The MPG-Busting, Jet- and App-Powered Car of the Future

Link to article in Popular Mechanics:

News Releases

1) GateGuru iPhone App Gives Travelers Latest Info on In-Airport Food, Shopping and Services

2) Cubic Transportation Systems (India) Launches Smart Card Trial on Delhi Buses

3) FAA Administrator Calls for Independent Review of November FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure Outage

4) Malaysia Airlines Goes Mobile with SITA

5) Beat the Traffic/Triangle Software Earns Two Patents: Use GPS Data to Generate Traffic Information and Recommend Best Departure Time

6) ITS America Applauds President’s Call for Modernization of US Transportation and Communications Infrastructure in Jobs Bill

7) Frost & Sullivan Bestows Global Telematics & Navigation Product Differentiation Innovation Award on Mobile Devices

8) Blindspot Wireless Announces the Launching of the ‘National Wireless Highway Safety Network’

Upcoming Events

10^th International Conference on Low-Volume Roads – July 24-27 – Lake Buena Vista, Florida

http://www.trb.org/LowVolumeRoadsConference/Public/LVR10.aspx

Today in Transportation History

1909 **100^th anniversary** – A fire aboard the freighter Clarion killed 15 people during a gale on Lake Erie.

http://perdurabo10.tripod.com/ships/id96.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: i95berniew@aol.com

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

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.

Read more 1

FHWA’s Transportation and Climate Change Newsletter – October 2009

December 8, 2009 at 12:03 am

(Source: Office of Planning, Environment and Realty – Federal Highway Administration)

Recent Events

U.S. DOE and U.S. EPA announce the 2010 Fuel Economy Guide for model year 2010 vehicles. Each vehicle listing gives an estimated annual fuel cost, based on the vehicle’s MPG rating and national estimates for annual mileage and fuel prices. The online version of the guide allows consumers to input their local gasoline prices and typical driving habits to receive a personalized fuel cost estimate. Fuel efficiency is important for reducing CO2 and other GHGs. The top ten fuel economy leaders for 2010 include nine hybrid vehicles, from compact cars to SUVs.

World Resources Institute issues provisional GHG emissions reporting standard for public sector. The standard was developed in consultation with agencies from all levels of government and is supported by the Federal Energy Management Program within U.S. DOE and U.S. EPA. The standard includes guidance on how to apply GHG accounting principles to government operations at the federal, state and local level. The standard is compatible with the Local Government Operations Protocol recently adopted by The Climate Registry, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and California Climate Action Registry (CCAR). For questions or to submit comments on the standard, please email Stephen Russell or Mary Sotos at pspcomments@wri.org.

EESI publishes State Actions on Climate Change: A Focus on How Our Communities Grow, to encourage State, regional, and local governments to focus on land use reform as a key strategy for reducing GHG emissions. The publication is the result of collaboration with the American Planning Association to develop tools to assist planners. The study examined State and regional climate action plans for their inclusion of transportation, green building, and land use or “smart growth” practices and found that the plans cover a broad range of strategies, because each area has unique geographic and socioeconomic conditions. Of the three, transportation practices were the dominant feature, along with, to a lesser degree, green building policies. Some common transportation policies include adopting California’s vehicle emissions standard (the country’s most aggressive standard), creating more mass transit options, and providing incentives to lower VMT. Specific smart growth practices appeared to be the least likely component of the plans. A table at the end of the document shows some aspects of urban planning that are incorporated. Any GHG reduction targets adopted or regional climate action plans to which a state belongs are provided.

Simple Measures Can Yield Big GHG Cuts, Scientists Say in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Thomas Dietz, Michigan State University assistant vice president for environmental research, and his colleagues find that simple, voluntary activities such as routine vehicle maintenance, carpooling and trip chaining, eco-driving, and use of low-rolling-resistance tires can result in significant reductions in GHG emissions and, therefore, “deserve increased policy attention.” They examined 17 household action types in five behavioral categories. Adoption of these actions typically is the result of several policy tools and strong social marketing, the authors state. They estimate that if the behaviors became the norm across the nation it could save 123 million metric tons of carbon per year, equal to 7.4% of U.S. national emissions, within ten years with little or no reduction in household well-being. Their estimates are based on “how many families could reasonably be expected to take such measures if they were provided information, offered financial assistance and could interact with others doing so.”

Managing Our Coastal Zone in a Changing Climate: The Time to Act is Now Issued by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia Provides Insights Relevant to U.S. The fact that many Australian coastal communities have single-access roads is an issue of grave concern to the Commonwealth. The report noted that evacuation routes were a significant factor in the extent of a July 2009 bushfire tragedy (“Black Saturday”). Dr. John Church, from [the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia’s national science agency] pointed out that “sea-level-rise planning benchmarks need to be part of a risk management framework,” stating “We really have to move into a risk assessment framework…where we talk more about probabilities and the risks that we are prepared to take….One problem that we have is that planners tend to come to us and say, “How much do we need to allow for sea level rise?’ The retort I always give is, ‘What kind of risks do you want to take?’ I think this is a very important change in process that we need: to put the onus of the risk back onto the planners and the policymakers, not leave it to the scientists.’

State and Local News

Draft Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan released for comment. The plan contains 52 climate policy actions, which are estimated to reduce the Commonwealth’s GHG emissions by 95.6 million metric tons (a 36 percent reduction below year 2000 business-as-usual levels, 42% if recent state and federal actions are included) and to provide a net gain of $5.13 billion and 54,000 new jobs by 2020. The Plan does not address climate change adaptation. The GHG emissions inventory and projections, which cover 1990 to 2020, use “standardized methodology prescribed by the [EPA] and in accordance with international standards.” Transportation is the third largest source of GHG emissions in Pennsylvania (24% in 2000, of which gasoline-powered on-road vehicles accounted for about 64% and on-road diesel vehicles for 15%). Of all the sectors analyzed, GHG mitigation actions from transit and ground passenger transportation are projected to produce the second largest financial gain for the Commonwealth. The Land Use and Transportation work plan recommendations are listed in the following table.

Land Use and Transportation (LUT) Work Plan Recommendations
Work Plan No.	Work Plan Name		Annual Results (2020)			Cumulative Results (2009-2020)			CCAC Voting Results (yes/No / Abstained)¹
Work Plan No.	Work Plan Name		GHG Reductions (MMtCO₂e	Costs (Million $)	Cost Effectiveness ($/tCO₂e)	GHG Reductions (MMtCO₂e	Costs (NPV, Million $)	Cost Effectiveness ($/tCO₂e)	CCAC Voting Results (yes/No / Abstained)¹
3	Low-Rolling-Resistance Tires		.68	-$212	-$310	4.1	-$1,244	-$300	16/5/0
5	Eco-Driving	PAYD	.43	-$277	-$651	1.76	-$1,065	-$605	13/8/0
		Feebates	.41	-$133	-$320	2.74	-$810	-$296	13/8/0
		Driver Training	.62	-$129	-$206	4.53	-$605	-$134	13/8/0
		Tire Inflation	.09	-$27	-$282	0.58	-$137	-$238	13/8/0
		Speed Reduction	1.96	$185	$94	23.0	$4,153	$181	13/8/0
6	Utilizing Existing Public Transportation Systems		.05	$300	$6.000	0.55	$3,000	$5,454	13/8/0
7	Increasing Participation in Efficient Passneger Transit		.12	<$0	<$0	2.02	<$0	<$0	21/0/0
8	Cutting Emissions From Freight Transportation		.99	-$293	-$295	6.67	-$1,495	-$224	15/6/0
9	Increasing Federal Support for Efficient Transit and Freight Trasport in PA		1.17	$92	$78	12.87	$1.008²	$78	20/1/0
10	Enhanced Support for Existing Smart Growth/Trasportation and Land-Use Policies		.76-1.84	<$0	<$0	3.79-9.18	<$0	<$0	13/8/0
11	Trasit-Oriented Design, Smart Growth Communities, & Land-Use Solutions		Included in T-10	<$0	<$0	Included in T-10	<$0	<$0	13/8/0
Sector Total After Adjusting for Overlaps			6.6	-$494	-$75	60.1	$2,805	$47
Reductions From Recent State and Federal Actions			15.7	-$109³	-$31³	72.0	-$380³	-$25³
1	Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles (PCV) Progarm		0.095	0.0	0.0	1.27	0.0	0.0	NA
	Federal Vehicle GHG Emissions and CAFE Standards		12.2	NQ	NQ	57.3	NQ	NQ	NA
2	Bofuel Developemnt and In-State Production Incentive Act		3.47	-$89	-$26	14.8	-$203	-$14	NA
4	Diesel Anti-Idling Program		0.07	-$20	-$273	0.7	-$177	-$238	NA
Sector Total Plus Recent Actions			22.3	-$603	-$27	132	$2,425	$18

¹NA in this column means “not applicable.” Work plan numbers 1,2, and 4 are recent state actions that are being implemented by the state; and the federal government will be implementing national vehicle GHG emissions and corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards starting in 2012.
²Because T-9 uses federal dollars exclusively, it should be noted that the cost figures for T-9 are calculations of how many federal dollars – not state dollars – would be required to implement the work plan.
³This cost per ton value excludes the emission reductions associated with the “Federal Vehicle GHG Emissions and CAFE Standards” since costs (savings) were not quantified for this recent federal action.
GHG = greenhouse gas; MMtCO₂e = million metrice tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; $/tCO₂e = dollars per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent; NPV = net present value; NQ = not quantified; PA = Pennsylvania; PAYD = Pay-As-You-Drive; CAFE = Corporate Average Fuel Economy.

Climate Change and Transportation in Maine published by MaineDOT. This white paper prepares MaineDOT to respond to the Governor’s call to evaluate climate change adaptation options and positions the agency to work with transportation stakeholders to evaluate short-term and long-term approaches to preparing for and adapting to climate change. Judy Gates, Director of MaineDOT’s Environmental Office said “…uncertainty [about long-range impacts due to climate change] can create paralysis in an agency charged with making and justifying long-term, fiscally-responsible decisions around the safety and efficiency of public travel. But the long life-cycles of most transportation infrastructure demand early preparation to protect significant tax payer investments…” The white paper includes a table showing how Maine’s current and proposed adaptation strategies compare to seven other States whose Climate Action Plans address adaptation (see below). The paper references the part of TRB’s Special Report 290: Potential Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Transportation that discusses the Caltrans process of evaluating bridges for seismic retrofitting, in which TRB suggests that a similar approach could be used to screen and identify critical infrastructure that is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. MaineDOT has already included climate change as a factor to be considered in future planning with an eye towards conducting technical, risk-based assessments such as California’s.

Adaptation Strategies States have Recommended
RECOMMENDED STRATEGY	AK	CA	FL	MD	OR	VT	WA	ME
Monitor the changing environment	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Assess infrastructure’s resiliency to climate change impacts	X	X	X	X	X	X
Cost/benefit or risk based analysis of retrofitting/replacing vulnerable infrastructure	X	X			X
Incorporate climate change into current and future planning	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Reduce stress on threatened and endangered species			X				X	X
Design/build infrastructure to withstand climate change impacts	X	X	X	X	X		X
Maintain/restore habitat connectivity and/or natural barriers to sea level rise			X	X			X	X

Announcements

Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference in DC, November 16-18, has webcast option. The webcast costs $150 for one day or $300 for all three days, versus $320 and $600, respectively, for on-site attendance. The webcast option is limited to 200 people who register by November 12.The conference is sponsored by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Stanford University’s Precourt Energy Efficiency Center, and the California Institute for Energy and Environment.

TRB announces webinar: A Transportation Research Program for Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change and Conserving Energy. This web briefing on December 2, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST will explore the findings of TRB’s Special Report 299: A Transportation Research Program for Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change and Conserving Energy.Participants must register at least 24 hours in advance, space is limited, and there is a fee for non-TRB-Sponsor employees. To learn more about current and planned FHWA research on climate change mitigation and adaptation, visithttp://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/climate/index.htm.

FYI

What is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention? The Convention is an international treaty adopted in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro and ratified by almost all of the countries of the world, in which they agreed to undertake policies and measures to return their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2000. In 1997, all but two of the Convention signatories (the U.S. and Turkey) adopted an addition to the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, which has specific binding GHG emission targets to be achieved in the 2008 – 2012 time period (which would have been 7% for the U.S.) The U.S. has not ratified the Protocol primarily because China and India are exempt from a numerical cap on their emissions. Below are data from the UNFCCC on trends in GHG emissions in industrialized countries (called Annex I Parties) that committed to voluntary GHG reductions under the Convention

Related news. Indian Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh and Chinese Minister for National Development and Reforms Xie Zhenhua signed a 5-year commitment for their countries to collaborate on GHG emission reduction programs, projects, technology development, and demonstration. The Ministers agreed to work together to protect and promote the interests of developing countries like China and India.

Next month:What is “cap and trade” GHG emissions trading, which is in the media so much lately?

Read more 1

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 7, 2009

December 7, 2009 at 11:54 pm

Monday, December 7, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

Call for Papers Deadline Fast Approaching 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 to this major ITS event! Papers must be submitted online by Dec. 15, 2009. The educational program will bring together a diverse community of transportation professionals, business leaders, elected officials, and federal and state public agency representatives for three days of thought leadership in the debate over the nation’s transportation future. For a list of topics, key dates, guidelines, and to submit your paper online, visit www.itsa.org/amprogram.html.

AVIATION

1) Airport Kiosks do Nearly Everything but Check Luggage

Link to article in the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-briefcase5-2009dec05,0,3607899.story

CAMERAS

2) Cameras Enter All Corners of Life

Link to article in The Des Moines Register:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091206/NEWS10/912060351/-1/COMM07/Cameras-enter-all-corners-of-life

CARTOGRAPHY

3) Navteq to Supply Microsoft with 3D Map Data

Link to CNET News article:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10410320-2.html

4) Google Maps Inexplicably Mixes Chicago’s Past, Present

Link to article in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-google-maps-06-dec06,0,4018426.story

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

5) The European Electronic Toll Collection Service: One Vehicle, One Contract, One On-Board Unit

Link to publication from the European Commission:

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/publications/doc/2009_eets.pdf

MARITIME

6) Eyeing Port of Los Angeles Security

Link to article in the Daily Breeze:

http://www.dailybreeze.com/latestnews/ci_13934290

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) Promoting the Car Phone, Despite Risks

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/technology/07distracted.html

8) Palo Alto, California is Increasing Lighting at Train Crossing to Discourage Suicides

Link to article in the San Jose Mercury News:

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_13933325

SPACE

9) NASA Launches App for iPhone and iPod Touch

Link to article in Computerworld:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141909/NASA_launches_app_for_iPhone_and_iPod_Touch

TRANSIT

10) Google Transit Your Next Bus Ride

California agencies doing study to improve statewide connectivity between transit operators.

Link to article in the Contra Costa Times:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_13944521

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Feds Creating Real-Time Traffic Information Alerts

Link to article in The Examiner:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Feds-creating-real-time-traffic-information-alerts-8618087-78550827.html

12) Beating Bangkok Traffic

Google’s Thailand marketing manager explains how Google Maps will help Bangkokians get quickly and easily from point A to point B.

Link to article in The Nation:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/12/05/opinion/opinion_30118026.php

News Releases

1) US DOT Awards Funds to Dallas, San Diego for New Technology Initiative to Fight Congestion

2) US Coast Guard Begins Automated Application Status Notifications via E-mail

3) New Data Show that ‘Open Road Tolling’ Improves Safety at Toll Plazas

4) New Organization Launched to Help Create Digital Britain

5) FEMA and the FCC Announce Adoption of Standards for Wireless Carriers to Receive and Deliver Emergency Alerts via Mobile Devices

Solicitation

– Call for Abstracts – ITS Canada Annual Conference and General Meeting

http://www.itscanada.ca/ottawa2010/documents/CallForAbstracts2010_EN.pdf

Upcoming Events

2010 Intertraffic China – May 26-28 – Beijing

http://www.china.intertraffic.com

Today in Transportation History

1994 **15^th anniversary** – Norfolk & Western steam locomotive 611 made its last run as the Norfolk Southern ended it steam excursion program.

http://www.retroweb.com/611lastrun.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: i95berniew@aol.com

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

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.

Read more 1

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 4, 2009

December 4, 2009 at 6:05 pm

Friday, December 4, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) FAA Administrator Urges Proactive Approach to Safety

Link to article in ATW Daily News:

http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=18687

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

2) I-PASS Users Face Extra Charge

Illinois wars with Indiana over 3 cents tacked on.

Link to article in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-talk-i-pass-indiana-tollsdec04,0,6422852.story

3) New West Virginia Turnpike Toll System Could Cost $7 Million

Link to article in The Register-Herald:

http://www.register-herald.com/local/local_story_337215837.html

OTHER

4) Gauteng Drives Transport IT Solutions

Link to article on ITWeb:

http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28656:gauteng-drives-transport-it-solutions&catid=69:business&Itemid=58

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

5) Communicating Transportation, Energy, and Climate Change Concepts to the Public: TRB Contest Identifies Exemplary Efforts

Link to article in TR News:

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/Communicating_Transportation_Energy_and_Climate_Ch_162612.aspx

RAILROADS

6) Indian Government Plans Anti-collision Devices Throughout Rail Network

Link to article in The Economic Times:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Govt-plans-anti-collision-devices-throughout-rail-network/articleshow/5297964.cms

ROADWAYS

7) Out of Gas? Lost? Flat Tire? Who Ya Gonna Call?

San Diego area drivers can dial 511 for roadside assistance.

Link to article in San Diego Metropolitan Magazine:

http://sandiegometro.com/2009/12/out-of-gas-lost-flat-tire-who-ya-gonna-call/

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) Highway Officials Push to Curb Distracted Driving

Link to article in The Birmingham News:

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-stories/2009/12/highway_officials_push_to_curb.html

TRANSIT

9) New York State Senator Questions Wisdom of Giving MTA Bus Riders Arrival Information

Link to article in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/12/04/2009-12-04_pol_raps_mta_spending.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) Congress: Invest in Intelligent Transportation Systems to Create Jobs

Link to article in The Hill:

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/technology/70623-congress-invest-in-intelligent-transportation-systems-to-create-jobs

News Releases

1) FAA Solicits Bids for NextGen Contracts Worth $7 Billion

2) SAE International Creating New Air Traffic Management Steering Committee

3) Ford Vehicles Equipped with Clarion Navigation Top J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Study

4) Intelligent Transport System Conference and Exhibition Opens in New Delhi

5) Sirius Traffic Available on Model Year 2010 Mercedes-Benz Vehicles

6) Research and Markets: Electronic Toll Collection Systems – A Global Update of Market Trends & Opportunities

Job Postings

– Supervisory IT Specialist – Research and Innovative Technology Administration (Volpe Center) – Cambridge, Massachusetts

http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.aspx?jobid=84936651

Upcoming Events

Sleep Apnea & Trucking Conference 2010 – May 11-12 – Linthicum, Maryland

http://www.satc2010.org/

Friday Bonus

Looking for a way to get folks to take the stairs instead of the escalator? This could be the answer.

http://thefuntheory.com/?q=expriment/pianotrappan

Today in Transportation History

1984 **25^th anniversary** – Hezbollah terrorists hijacked a Kuwait Airlines flight killing four passengers.

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: i95berniew@aol.com

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

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.

Read more 1

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 3, 2009

December 3, 2009 at 10:58 pm

Thursday, December 3, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

IBTTA Summit to Explore Transformational Changes in Transportation Funding System — December 13-15, 2009 in Washington, DC

If you are responsible for funding or operating surface transportation infrastructure at the state, regional, county or municipal level, we invite you to attend IBTTA’s Transportation Policy and Finance Summit and explore the transformational changes that must take place to create a sustainable and efficient transportation funding system. CFO Roundtable on December 13, 2009: This Summit will include a special CFO roundtable for chief financial officers from toll agencies, state departments of transportation, and individuals in similar positions to share knowledge and ideas, network, and learn from one another. For registration, hotel and travel information or to view the preliminary agenda, visitwww.IBTTA.org.

AVIATION

1) US Approves ADS-B Equipment Standards

Link to article in Aviation Week:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/ADSB120209.xml&headline=U.S.%20Approves%20ADS-B%20Equipment%20Standards&channel=comm

MARITIME

2) FCC to Continue Gathering Info on Discontinuance of Maritime Distress Call Services

Link to article in Government Security News:

http://www.gsnmagazine.com/cms/features/news-analysis/3033.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

3) High-Resolution Cameras to be Added Along Mississippi in Vicksburg Area

Link to article in The Vicksburg Post:

http://www.vicksburgpost.com/articles/2009/12/01/news/doc4b155e0e93554957699249.txt

4) Entrepreneur Says Camera Security Software Can Learn Normal Behavior to Cut False Alarms

Link to article in the Houston Chronicle:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/tech/news/6750018.html

5) Royal Mail’s Safe-Driving Program Reaps £5.5 Million Reward

Uses telematics to help identify drivers at risk.

Link to article in BusinessCar:

http://www.businesscar.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=5377&c=2&theme=0

TRANSIT

6) DC Metro IT Money Unspent

Link to article on NextGov:

http://techinsider.nextgov.com/2009/12/metro_it_money_unspent.php

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

7) Mississippi DOT Launches $3 Million Traffic Management Project

Link to article in the Hattiesburg American:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20091203/NEWS01/912030353/1002

8) Land Line Readers Mainly Turn to Radio, CB for Traffic Info

Link to article in Land Line:

http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2009/Dec09/113009/120209-04.htm

News Releases

1) US Transportation Secretary Commends University of Alabama-Birmingham for Convening First Statewide Summit on Distracted Driving

2) Cars That ‘Think’ May Help Drivers Who Don’t

Upcoming Events

2010 Payments Summit – February 23-25 – Salt Lake City, Utah

http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=784cdb11-133e-4ba0-84f6-0acd5d6d4a05

Today in Transportation History

1979 **30th anniversary** – Shadow Traffic made its New York City debut. Among the first group of traffic reporters was the future editor of the Transportation Communications Newsletter.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/12/03/2009-12-03_a_bumper_time_for_traffic_news.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: i95berniew@aol.com

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

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.

Read more 1

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 2, 2009

December 2, 2009 at 6:23 pm

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

TCN Support

As I mentioned in Monday’s newsletter I want to tell you in coming days about various ways you can support the TCN. One of the ways is through ads in the newsletter. As you’ve seen in previous issues, I sometimes have ads from various organizations and companies atop the newsletter. I never want the TCN to be crammed with commercial messages so I’ve limited my ads to only one per issue. That also assures that your ad will stand out. The cost for an ad is only $100 per issue and it can include up to ten lines. Among those who have used the TCN to communicate with the 7,000+ subscribers are IBTTA, ITS America, GEWI and INRIX. If you’re interested in advertising, or would like to know more, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

AVIATION

1) NTSB Chairman Admonishes FAA for Moving ‘Too Slow’ on Runway Safety

Link to article in ATW Daily News:

http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=18653

Link to remarks by NTSB Chairman:

http://www.ntsb.gov/speeches/hersman/daph091201.html

2) St. Louis’s Lambert Airport to Get $1.4 Million Sign, Entrance Makeover

Link to article in the St. Louis Business Journal:

http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2009/11/30/daily35.html

3) New Lambert Airport Head: Marketing Airport a Must

Link to article in the St. Louis Business Journal:

http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog/2009/12/new_lambert_director_marketing_airport_a_must.html

CARTOGRAPHY

4) Microsoft Bing Maps Beta Adds Much Richer Images

Link to column and video on CNET News:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10407829-265.html?tag=newsLeadStoriesArea.1

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) Feds ‘Pinged’ Sprint GPS Data Eight Million Times Over a Year

Link to column in Wired:

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/12/gps-data

OTHER

6) Trucking Software Pioneers to Merge

Link to article in The Journal of Commerce:

http://www.joc.com/node/415004

Link to news release from TMW Systems:

http://www.tmwsystems.com/TMW-and-Innovative

ROADWAYS

7) Regional Traffic Signal Operations Programs: An Overview

Link to publication from the Federal Highway Administration:

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=594

8) Nova Scotia’s MacKay Bridge Signs Will Help Alleviate Commuter Crunch

Link to article in Metro:

http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/local/article/384858–mackay-bridge-signs-will-help-alleviate-commuter-crunch

SAFETY / SECURITY

9) Colorado DOT Launches iPhone App to Help Estimate Blood-Alcohol Content

Link to article in The Denver Post:

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_13904487

TRANSIT

10) Report Faults Plan for Handling New York City Subway Emergencies

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/02/nyregion/02safety.html

11) Orange County Transportation Authority Finds Cost Savings in Mobile Program

Link to article in DMNews:

http://www.dmnews.com/california-transportation-agency-finds-cost-savings-in-mobile-program/article/158750/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

12) TVs Installed at Virginia Mall to Provide Traffic Updates During Construction

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/02/AR2009120202716.html

13) WABC-TV’s Joe Nolan Celebrates 30-Years in Traffic

Link to article in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/12/02/2009-12-02_road_scholar_nolan_passes_a_landmark.html

News Releases

1) Congress Urged to Invest in Deployment-Ready Transportation Technologies for Immediate Job Creation

2) ProTECTS (Promotion of Two-Way Emergency Communication and Tracking Systems) Alliance Announces Organizational Meeting

3) Global Automotive Telematics Shipments to Expand by Factor of Four by 2016

4) GPS Users Reveal Which US Cities are Truly the Most Congested

5) New Standard Facilitates Faster Response Time for Road Accidents

6) Beat the Traffic Introduces Improved My Traffic Service

Upcoming Events

Transport & Innovations Forum – May 26-28 – Leipzig, Germany

http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/2010/index.html

Today in Transportation History

1939 **70^th anniversary** – LaGuardia Airport opened to commercial traffic.

http://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu/curriculums/Lag_airport/

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to: i95berniew@aol.com

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

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.

Read more 1

TransportGooru

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 14, 2009

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 11, 2009

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 10, 2009

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 9, 2009

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 8, 2009

FHWA’s Transportation and Climate Change Newsletter – October 2009

Recent Events

State and Local News

Announcements

FYI

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 7, 2009

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 4, 2009

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 3, 2009

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – December 2, 2009

Recent Posts

Archives

Trending For @Transportgooru

Favorite Blogs

Favorite Podcasts

Links

Meta

Category Archives: The Daily News – Newsletters & such

Recent Events

State and Local News

Announcements

FYI

Recent Posts

Archives

Trending For @Transportgooru

Favorite Blogs

Favorite Podcasts

Links

Meta