Tuesday, April 7, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Deadline Extended to April 17 for ITS America’s Student Essay Competition

The deadline to submit entries for the Student Essay Competition has been extended to April 17.  This year’s competition, one of the highlights of ITS America’s Annual Meeting, is sponsored by Southwest Research Institute.  The Student Essay Competition is designed to encourage student interest and future participation in the development of Intelligent Transportation Systems and solutions.  Three winners will be honored in conjunction with the Best of ITS Awards during an awards ceremony on Monday, June 1, 2009, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD – inside the Washington DC metropolitan area.  For full entry guidelines and essay topics for this competition, please click here.  If you have further questions, please contact Edgar Martinez at emartinez@itsa.org 202-21-4223.

AVIATION

1) FAA Gets High Marks for Deployment of Satellite-Based Surveillance System

Link to story in Aircraft Maintenance Technology:

http://www.amtonline.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=7859

CAMERAS

2) Pilot Project in UK Uses Cameras in Helmets of Traffic Wardens to Record Video and Sound

Cameras to be used to resolve disputes over fines but concerns about recording private conversations.

Link to story in the Enfield Independent:

http://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/4273430.Traffic_wardens_given_surveillance_powers_under_new_videocamera_scheme/

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

3) National Work Zone Awareness Week

Link to story and video on WTTG-TV:

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/dc/040709_work_zone_awareness_week

Link to news release from US DOT:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa0911.htm

4) Rhode Island DOT Enters the World of Social Networking

Link to story in The Interchange:

http://www.dot.ri.gov/documents/news/interchg/Winter2009.pdf  (page 8)

RAILROADS

5) United Transportation Union Launches Close-Call Pilot Program with NJ Transit

Link to story in Progressive Railroading:

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=20109

Link to UTU news release: 

http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news.cfm?ArticleID=46622

ROADWAYS

6) West Virginia House Approves Emergency Response Bill

State department of transportation must be notified during certain emergencies.

Link to story in The Charleston Gazette:

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/News/200904063534068

7) Signs at I-75 Ramp in Atlanta Incomplete, Two Years After Fatal Bus Crash

Link to story in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/04/06/hovramp0406.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) Whole-Body Scans Pass First Airport Tests

Link to story in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/business/07road.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

TRANSIT

9) New York City Transit Begins to Blog the L Train

Link to story in Metro:

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/04/07/05/4355-82/index.xml

10) Dude, Where’s My Bus? Ask DIYcity!

Link to story in The New York Observer:

http://www.observer.com/2009/media/dude-wheres-my-bus-ask-diycity

Link to DIYcity:  http://www.diycity.org/

11) Wireless Passenger Communications System

Link to document from the Federal Railroad Administration:

http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/Research/rr0834.pdf

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

12) Road Weather Information System Environmental Sensor Station Siting Guide Version 2.0

Link to draft report from the Research and Innovative Technology Administration:

http://www.itsdocs.fhwa.dot.gov/JPODOCS//REPTS_TE/14447.htm

VEHICLES

13) Utah Rolls Out New ‘Share the Road’ License Plate

Link to story in The Salt Lake Tribune:

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12091043

News Releases

1) New Greyhound Buses Redefine Leisure Travel – Upgraded Fleet Features Wi-Fi

2) Houston TranStar Goes Twitter

Upcoming Events

APTA Rail Conference – June 14-18 – Chicago

http://www.apta.com/conferences_calendar/rail/

Today in Transportation History

1989 **20^th anniversary** – A bus, en route from Montreal to New York, was hijacked to Ottawa.

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/08/world/a-bus-headed-for-new-york-is-briefly-hijacked-in-canada.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/H/Hijacking

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

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

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

Monday, April 6, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) A Scramble to Add Air Traffic Controllers

Link to story in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/business/05airtraffic.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

2) Orlando International Airport Tower‘s Air Controllers’ Inexperience is a Cause for Concern

Link to story in the Orlando Sentinel:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-asecoia05040509apr05,0,3446929.story

BUSES

3) Challenging Times for Bus Rapid Transit System in Johannesburg

Link to story in Engineering News:

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/bus-transport-2009-04-03 

CAMERAS

4) Cameras Sought for Louisiana Railroad Crossings

Link to AP story:

http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20090405/UPDATES01/90405007

MARITIME

5) London Boats to Take Oyster Card as Mayor Promotes Thames

Link to Bloomberg News story:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=ah2LCGnMT9Ac

OTHER

6) North Korean Missile Launch Sends Officials Rushing Into Action

Air traffic, maritime vessels quickly advised.

Link to story in The Yomiuri Shimbun:

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090406TDY02305.htm

7) Information and Communications Technologies and Climate Change: Problem or Solution?

Link to story on EurActiv:

http://www.euractiv.com/en/climate-change/ict-climate-change-problem-solution/article-180760

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) Airport Face Scanners ‘Cannot Tell the Difference Between Osama bin Laden and Winona Ryder’

Link to story in the Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/5110402/Airport-face-scanners-cannot-tell-the-difference-between-Osama-bin-Laden-and-Winona-Ryder.html

9) US DOT Aggregates Hazmat Reporting

Link to story in Government Computer News:

http://gcn.com/articles/2009/04/06/dot-hazmat.aspx

TRANSIT

10) MTA Online – How the New York City Subway Transit System Uses the Internet and Social Media

Link to interview with Diane Chehab on Maketing.FM:

http://www.marketing.fm/2009/04/03/mta-online-how-the-nyc-subway-transit-system-uses-the-internet-and-social-media/

11) NBC in Transit Launches in New York, New Jersey

News and entertainment will air on PATH trains and stations.

Link to story in The Hollywood Reporter:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iff50ba6951560a30f6b7af52e5d298b6

News Releases

1) Inrix Delivers Real-Time Access to 10,000 Traffic Cameras

2) Research and Markets: Navigation to Boost European Passenger Vehicle Telematics and Infotainment Market Growth in the Short to Medium-Term

Upcoming Events

2009 The Future of Tolling: ORT and the Path to Interoperability – June 14-16 – Tampa, Florida

http://www.ibtta.org/Events/eventdetail.cfm?ItemNumber=3616

Today in Transportation History

1909 **100^th anniversary** – Robert Perry and Matthew Henson claimed to have been the first to reach the North Pole.

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0406.html#article

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

To subscribe send an e-mail to:  TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com

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

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

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

Recent Events

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer Announces Principles for Global Warming Legislation. On February 3, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) announced her intent to move quickly on global warming legislation and issued principles that she would like to see included. These include setting short and long term emissions targets that are certain and enforceable, using a carbon market to fund various efforts to reduce GHG emissions, and ensuring a level global playing field so that countries contribute their fair share to GHG emissions reductions. For more information including a link to Sen. Boxer’s Principles, see the Committee’s press release.

House Subcommittee Receives Testimony on Surface Transportation Energy Reduction.On January 27, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit heard from nationally recognized transportation experts and a panel of industry representatives about ways to reduce energy consumption and promote sustainability in the surface transportation sector.  Video of the proceedings and written testimonies (scroll down) are available on the Subcommittee website.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Holds Meeting on Maritime Transport and the Climate Change Challenge. On February 17, FHWA’s Mike Savonis presented (via videoconference) results from USDOT’s Gulf Coast Study Phase I to an international audience in Geneva.  Additional information and presentations from the three-day event are available on the meeting website.

U.C. Davis Provides Congressional Briefing on Low-Carbon Transportation Policies & Strategies. On January 12, 2009, the University of California at Davis (UC Davis) Institute of Transportation Studies provided a briefing to Congressional staffers on the future of low-carbon transportation. More information about UC Davis climate change activities is available on the UC Davis ITS website. (TransportGooru is proud to share a video of UC Davis’s Dan Sperling Talk about the current Transportation system and its effect on Climate change. See below)

 House Subcommittee Conducts Hearing on Monitoring GHG Emissions.  On February 24, the House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment conducted a hearing on how to monitor, report and verify greenhouse gas emissions.  The purpose of the hearing was to determine the federal role in the funding of research and development of monitoring technologies as well as models to support reliable baseline data for GHG emissions.  The subcommittee heard testimony from businesses, government agencies, and localities on procedures and methods that can be used to monitor, report, and verify greenhouse gas emissions.  More information can be found on the Committee’s website at: http://science.house.gov/publications/hearings_markups_details.aspx?NewsID=2359

State News

Oregon Governor Introduces VMT Fee Legislation. Following a study on charging a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) fee in place of a state gas tax, the Governor of Oregon introduced legislation that could move the state closer to adopting a per mile road user fee in place of the 24-cent per gallon gas tax. Governor Kulongoski’s Jobs and Transportation Act of 2009 requires the Oregon DOT to develop VMT fee collection technology that could be used to replace the gas tax.  The Act also directs Oregon DOT to further study gas tax alternatives.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Enters First Compliance Period. The ten signatory states to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) began their first compliance period on January 1, 2009 and the period ends in December 2011. At that time the ten Mid-Atlantic and New England states will be required to submit emissions allowances equivalent to their carbon dioxide emissions. For more information on the program, see the Pew Climate Center RGGI website.

Announcements

New Energy and Climate Change Database for Planners.  The American Planning Association has launched a new database of energy and climate change activities in planning.  You can search the database by a variety of criteria such as state, topic, planning tool, timeframe, or geographic scale.  The database includes many examples relating to transportation.  The database website iswww.planning.org/research/energy/database.

Summit on America’s Climate Choices, March 30-31 in Washington, D.C. Congress has tasked the National Academies with setting the stage for national action on climate change. In response, the Academies have launched America’s Climate Choices, a suite of activities that will provide policy advice, based on science, to guide the nation’s response to climate change. Experts representing various levels of government, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and research and academic institutions have been selected to serve on four panels and an overarching committee.    The Summit on America’s Climate Choices provides an opportunity for study participants to interact with major thought leaders and key constituencies to frame the questions and issues that the study will address.  Registration and webcast information are available on the Summit website.  In addition to the summit, NAS is soliciting public input on the questions and content to be considered by the America’s Climate Choices Committee through the America’s Climate Choices website through April 17. 

Reminders

Washington State Department of Transportation Climate Change Weekly Digest, The Washington State DOT has an extensive Climate Change program and the Climate Change Team issues a weekly digest on climate change issues. For more information on WSDOT’s climate change activities see WSDOT’s climate change website. To be put on the email list to receive the weekly digest, please send a note to:StarkS@wsdot.wa.gov.

U.S. DOT Launches Web-Based Clearinghouse of Transportation, Climate Change Resources. The USDOT has launched a new, web-based clearinghouse of information on transportation and climate change. The site provides an introduction to climate change and transportation and related information on greenhouse gas inventories and forecasts, methodologies for analyzing greenhouse gases from transportation, climate change and adaptation, and federal, state and local actions on transportation and climate change. The site also includes a calendar of events and will soon be enhanced to provide an opportunity for users to post and respond to discussions and receive updates by email. To access the site, go to: http://climate.dot.gov. 

Transportation Research Board Starts a New Climate Change website. Transportation Research Board (TRB) has a new website offering information on TRB activities and products addressing transportation and climate change.

LA Taansportation Blog – Transportation Headlines for Thursday April 2, 2009

StreetsBlog – Headline News for April 2, 2009

Thursday, April 2, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Registration is now open for IBTTA’s Upcoming Summit – The Future of Tolling:  ORT and the Path to Interoperability, June 14-16, 2009 in Tampa, FL 

Join IBTTA in Tampa, FL and receive cutting-edge information from agencies and toll service providers around the globe on the latest in all-electronic tolling, toll traffic management, and achieving full interoperability. This is the only Summit in the world in 2009 focused on the critical topics of Open Road Tolling, All-Electronic Tolling and Interoperability and will feature more than 100 of our industry’s most experienced and knowledgeable speakers, panelists and exhibitors. What matters most is your customer’s experience driving your roads, the quality of service they receive during the payment process and your success in collecting those payments. Are your customers satisfied? Visit IBTTA’s website to view the preliminary agenda and register today! 

AVIATION

1) American Airlines Union Goes Viral Against Execs

Link to AP story:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/American-Airlines-union-goes-apf-14824283.html

2) Aircraft Could be Brought Down by DIY ‘E-Bombs’

Link to story in New Scientist:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227026.200-aircraft-could-be-brought-down-by-diy-ebombs.html

3) EU Says Phone-Ready Planes to Double by Next Year

Link to column in The Wall Street Journal:

http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2009/04/02/eu-says-phone-ready-planes-to-double-by-next-year

BICYCLES

4) Promoting the Use of Bicycles on Federal Lands

Link to report from the Western Transportation Institute:

http://www.wti.montana.edu/documents/reports/pdf/4W1303_Final_Report.pdf

CAMERAS

5) In Surprising Reversal, Maryland Senate Rejects Speed Cameras

Link to story in The Baltimore Sun:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.cameras02apr02,0,1079669.story

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

6) Toll Discounts for In-State Residents Draw Constitutional Challenge

Link to story in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/us/02ezpass.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

GPS / NAVIGATION

7) TomTom Signs Deal with TrafficCast for Data for Wireless Navigation Device

Link to story in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123862738872480271.html

Link to news release from TrafficCast:

http://trafficcast.com/news/article/120/

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

8) New Jersey Warns Against Walking on Highways

Link to AP story:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20090402_N_J__warns_against_walking_on_highways.html

RAILROADS

9) Microsoft’s Telephony Software Gains Railroad Ties

BNSF hopes software can replacing aging phone system and attract younger workers.

Link to CNET News column:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10209569-56.html

10) Latest Issue of Signal the Newsletter of ERTMS, the European Rail Traffic Management System

Link to newsletter:

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/rail/interoperability/ertms/doc/011_signal_2009_04_en.pdf

ROADWAYS

11) Rural Issues with Optimal Sensor Placement for Transportation Applications

Link to report from the Western Transportation Institute:

http://www.wti.montana.edu/documents/reports/pdf/4W1531_Final_Report.pdf

SAFETY / SECURITY

12) US to Boost Ports of Entry Along US-Mexico Border

Plan calls for high-tech inspection equipment and surveillance systems.

Link to AP story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h7YK6qe9Xpfr4heKG3_hRDGJP6jwD97A1AF80

Link to news release from the US Department of Homeland Security:

http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1238626069590.shtm

13) Free Videos Aim to Reduce Teen Driving Fatalities

Link to story in The Wichita Eagle:

http://www.kansas.com/news/breaking/story/757969.html

14) Ad Hoc Routing for Rural Public Safety

Link to report from the Western Transportation Institute:

http://www.wti.montana.edu/documents/reports/pdf/4W1566_Final_Report.pdf

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

15) FM Stations Help Punjab Police Control Traffic

Link to story in The Indian Express:

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/road-waves-fm-stations-help-police-control-traffic/441995/

16) Alcoa, Tennessee Named ‘Smart City’ for Transportation

Link to story in Blount Today:

http://www.blounttoday.com/news/2009/apr/02/alcoa-named-smart-city-transportation/

VEHICLES

17) Can a Speed Demon Tame Teen Drivers?

A young inventor’s gadget lets parents track kids behind the wheel.

Link to story and video in The Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/04/02/can_a_speed_demon_tame_teen_drivers

News Releases

1) AASHTO Launches Are We There Yet? We Can Be. America, Let’s Get Moving!

2) Dashboard Navigation System Doubles as Covert GPS Tracker: Lets Boss Sit in Passenger Seat

3) Apisphere to Provide Mobile Traffic Network with Location-Smart Messaging

Upcoming Events

National Transit Institute Transit ITS Regional Workshops – April 29-30 – Chicago & June 9-10 – Dallas

http://www.ntionline.com/CourseInfo.asp?CourseNumber=TRI-26

Today in Transportation History

1804 **205^th anniversary** – The HMS Apollo ran aground off the Portuguese coast. About 40 ships following in the convoy also were wrecked.

http://ageofsail.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/shipwreck-of-hms-apollo/  

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

To subscribe send an e-mail to:  TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com

To unsubscribe send an e-mail to:  TCNL-unsubscribe@googlegroups.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.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

LA Transportation Blog – Headlines for Wednesday April 1, 2009

• 6th Street Study Expands List of Considered Design Options BlogDowntown
• AC Transit riders’ claim of funding bias tossed San Francisco Chronicle
• Air Board Fines Big Blue Bus Santa Monica Surf/Lookout News
• Artists Asked to Make “Gateway” to San Gabriel Valley CurbedLA
• Best Practices in Transit Service Planning  Transportation Research Board
• Big Blue Bus hit with hefty fine Santa Monica Daily Press
• Bob Hope Airport to kick off new valet service today Daily News
• California Bond Sale Could Revive Public Works New York Times
• California steps up its hydrogen plans GasWorld
• Capturing the Value of Transit – New report by Center for Transit-Oriented Development released Reconnecting America
• Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program: A Status Report 2009 Transportation Research Board
• Connecting California: Key Public Transportation Projects and Their Benefits for the Golden State Transportation Research Board
• Curitiba’s BRT: Inspired Bus Rapid Transit Around the World StreetFilms
• Curitiba’s Bus Rapid Transit: 2.3 Million Passengers a Day Alternative Energy Newswire
• EPA Needs to Improve Its Efforts to Reduce Air Emissions at U.S. Ports Transportation Research Board
• Financing Transportation Infrastructure in California Transportation Research Board
• From Long Beach to Pasadena, It Would be One Train Ride LAist
• Gas station owners rebel against pollution rules Los Angeles Times
• Get Ready for Another Set of ‘Subway to the Sea’ Public Meetings LAist
• Logistics may be first to recover from recession Whittier Daily News
• Metro Brings Back Online Chats: Chat This Friday with Carolyn Flowers StreetsBlogLA
• New 37-Mile Hiking Trail to Open on Catalina Island LAist
• Poticha Tells Senate US Needs Transformative Transportation Bill – RA CEO says bill should link transportation to housing, climate change, energy security, green jobs, affordability, equity, health Reconnecting America
• Public Transportation’s Role in Addressing Global Climate Change Transportation Research Board
• Review of Liability and Indemnity Provisions Associated with Commuter Rail Agreements Transportation Research Board
• SANBAG transit plan likely to be delayed again Press Enterprise
• SF MTA Board Will Be Asked to Declare Fiscal Emergency StreetsBlogSF
• Streetcar Economics – Michael Powell explains why he’s become “evangelical” about streetcars Reconnecting America
• Students, Professors Activists Call for Grade-Separated Connector StreetsBlogLA
• Transportation’s Role in Emergency Evacuation and Reentry Transportation Research Board
• Westside transit forum scheduled at MAK Center Los Angeles Times/LA Now

Wednesday, April 1, 1909 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) O’Hare: Computer Kiosks Replace Laid-Off Greeters

Link to story in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-airport-stimulus-31-mar31,0,2064096.story

Link to news release from the Chicago Office of Tourism:

http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/about_the_city/press_room/chicago_office_of/Explore_Chicago_Installation_in_O_Hare.html

2) Aviation English Training Set to Boom in China

Link to story in the China Daily:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-04/01/content_7640109.htm

Link to additional information from Edgewater College:

http://www.edgewater.ie/courses/aviationenglish.html

3) Panasonic Bringing Live TV to Intercontinental Flights

Link to IDG News Service story:

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/040109-panasonic-bringing-live-tv-to.html

Link to news release from Panasonic Avionics:

http://www.panasonic.aero/PressRelease/Detail.aspx?PressReleaseID=9

4) For the Birds: Federal Aviation Administration Stonewalling Safety Data

Link to editorial in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/04/01/2009-04-01_for_the_birds_federal_aviation_administr.html

CAMERAS

5) Red-Light Camera Ban Backed by Montana Senate

Link to story in the Billings Gazette:

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/04/01/news/state/64-redlightcamera.txt

MARITIME

6) Indian Defense Minister for Plugging Gaps in Coastal Security

Link to story in The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Antony-for-plugging-gaps-in-coastal-security/articleshow/4340856.cms

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

7) Work Zone Safety ‘Road Rally’ in Kentucky Highlights Need for Safety on Roads

Link to story on WOWK-TV:

http://wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=55739

ROADWAYS

8) Dual Metric-Mile Signs Will be in Place on Arizona Interstate for Two Years

Link to story in the Green Valley News and Sun:

http://www.gvnews.com/articles/2009/03/31/breaking_news/03metric401.txt

9) New Wireless System Reduces Paperwork, Maintains High Levels of Service for Bay Area Freeway Patrol

Link to story in On Patrol:

http://www.fsp-bayarea.org/on_patrol/On_Patrol_09_mar.pdf

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) Surveillance Towers Planned for Detroit, Buffalo

Will be used to monitor water traffic between US and Canada.

Link to AP story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iP6OrS2bLH8Vb_Y1G25tRxce_EdAD9798SI00

11) New York City Police Move to Cloak Midtown with Camera License Plate Readers, and Radiation and Bio Scanners

Link to story in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/04/01/2009-04-01_nypd_moves_to_cloak_midtown_with_camera_.html

12) Cyprus Pondering UK-Style Surveillance

Link to story in the Cyprus Mail:

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=44940&cat_id=1

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) All Clear – A Traffic Solution for Gauteng

Link to story on Shine 2010:

http://www.shine2010.co.za/goodnews.php?article_id=275

VEHICLES

14) The Black Box that Tracks Every Mile You Drive and Will Make Speed Cameras Obsolete

Link to story in the Daily Mail:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1166169/The-black-box-tracks-mile-drive-make-speed-cameras-obsolete.html

News Releases

1) ITS Georgia Publishes Annual Report

2) New Web-Based Interactive Course from CITE and FHWA – Improving Highway Safety with ITS

3) Better Traffic Management for the Confederation Bridge

4) Navteq Broadens Dynamic Real-Time Data Resources for Developers at Navteq Network for Developers

5) Operation Lifesaver Offers Six Tips for Safe Biking Near Train Tracks

Job Postings

 –  Operations Research Analysts – Volpe National Transportation Systems Center – Cambridge, Massachusetts

http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/ftva.asp?seeker=1&JobID=80220812  (GS-1515-12)

http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/ftva.asp?seeker=1&JobID=80219772  (GS-1515-13)

Upcoming Events

ACI-NA Marketing & Communications Conference – May 31-June 3 – Montréal

http://www.aci-na.org/conferences/detail?eventId=158

Today in Transportation History

1924 **85^th anniversary** – The Royal Canadian Air Force was created.

http://www.wingsforfreedom.com/

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

To subscribe send an e-mail to:  TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com

To unsubscribe send an e-mail to:  TCNL-unsubscribe@googlegroups.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.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

Tuesday, March 31, 2009 — ISSN 1529-1057

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2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition Preliminary Program Now Available

The preliminary program for ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition is now available. The 2009 Annual Meeting is the highly anticipated three-day learning and networking event which will attract the most diverse transportation audience from across the country in one place. This event will take place at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD – inside the Washington, DC metropolitan area – from June 1-3.  This is a critical time for our industry to demonstrate how ITS technologies can improve safety, mobility, and the environment while optimizing transportation dollars and helping to finance the future of our transportation system. Don’t want to miss this valuable opportunity to find answers to your toughest transportation challenges, meet your legislators on Capitol Hill, see ITS solutions in action and take home ideas for implementation, and learn from your peers.  To view a copy of the program, please click here.  For further information, please visit: www.itsa.org/annualmeeting.html.

AVIATION

1) EU Adopts Air Traffic Management ‘Master Plan’

Link to story on EurActiv:

http://www.euractiv.com/en/transport/eu-adopts-air-traffic-management-master-plan/article-180816

2) American Airlines to Expand In-flight Web Access

Link to AP story:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/American-Airlines-to-expand-apf-14791346.html

3) On NextGen, Everything Clear Except Who Pays for It

Link to column in The Dallas Morning News:

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/03/on-nextgen-everything-clear-ex.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Apple Filing Details Safe Touch-Screen Navigation System

Link to story on AppleInsider:

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/03/26/apple_filing_details_safe_touch_screen_navigation_system.html

5) Smart Sat-Nav and Cruise Control Arrives

Link to story on RoadTransport:

http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2009/03/31/133295/smart-sat-nav-and-cruise-control-arrives.html

OTHER

6) Georgia Could Require Drivers to Take Test in English

Link to AP story:

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/03/31/met_516494.shtml

7) Interview with Anne Jensen, MEP and Rapporteur on the ITS Action Plan

Link to interview from ERTICO-ITS Europe:

http://www.ertico.com/en/news_and_events/ertico_newsroom/ertico-its_europe_talks_to_anne_jensen

SPACE

8) US Military Vows to Track 800 Satellites by October 1

Link to Reuters story:

http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE52U0MR20090331

SAFETY / SECURITY

9) Sydney Terrorism Warning System Reviewed After Power Failure

Link to Bloomberg News story:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=abFrjyqhRykM

10) It’s the Drawing Board for Real ID

Link to story on NextGov:

http://techinsider.nextgov.com/2009/03/its_the_drawing_board_for_real.php

TRANSIT

11) Portland Metro Unveils an Online Planning Tool

Build-a-system tool is designed to involve public in transit corridor development.

Link to story in the Daily Journal of Commerce:

http://www.djcoregon.com/articleDetail.htm/2009/03/30/Metro-unveils-an-online-planning-tool-Buildasystem-tool-is-designed-to-involve-public-in-transit-cor

12) South Florida’s Tri-Rail Starts ‘Fund or Fail’ Campaign

Link to story in Metro Magazine:

http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2009/03/Tri-Rail-starts-fund-or-fail-campaign.aspx

Link to further information from Tri-Rail: 

http://www.tri-rail.com/FundOrFail/

13) The Challenge of Using Public Transport: Descriptions by People with Cognitive Functional Limitations

Link to article in the Journal of Transport and Land Use:

https://www.jtlu.org/index.php/jtlu/article/download/97/42

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

14) New Detroit Traffic Management System All Set to Go

Link to story in The Detroit News:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20090331/METRO05/903310402/1361/New+traffic+management+system+all+set+to+go

15) Traffic Management System to be Constructed in Western Massachusetts

Link to story in The Republican:

http://www.masslive.com/metrowest/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-18/123848380163740.xml&coll=1

16) California DOT’s New Monitoring Systems to Speed Traffic Flow

Link to story in Traffic Technology Today:

http://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/news.php?NewsID=11441

17) Traffic Safety Through Smart Highways

Link to story in Popular Mechanics:

http://www.origin.popularmechanics.com/science/research/4308670.html?page=1

VEHICLES

18) Honda Connects Brain Thoughts with Electronics

Link to AP story:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Honda-connects-brain-thoughts-apf-14792125.html

Link to news release from Honda Motor Company:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Honda-ATR-and-Shimadzu-bw-14790917.html

News Releases

1) TEN-T 2009 Call for Proposals – Nearly €1 Billion Available in Trans-European Transport Network Funding

2) Tripping with Mr. Solomon – Houston Metro Uses YouTube to Promote Airport Service

3) TransCore Proves Alternative Equipment Choice for IAG-Protocol Reader

4) City of Seattle Launches Construction Coordination Web Site

Upcoming Events

2^nd Middle East Parking Symposium – November 9-11 – Abu Dhabi

http://www.parking-me.com/

Today in Transportation History

1774 **235^th anniversary** – The Boston Port Act took effect, closing the Boston Port to all ships.  The action was a response to the Boston Tea Party.

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/boston_port_act.asp

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Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast ati95berniew@aol.com.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

LA Transportation Blog – Headlines for Tuesday March 31, 2009

 

Streetsblog – Headlines for Tuesday March 31, 2009