(Source: NTOC)

The latest national traffic signal assessment conducted by the National Transportation Operations Coalition (NTOC), a group of transportation associations, shows that gradual but steady progress is being made on the management and operation of traffic signals despite continued funding challenges. NTOC today released the 2012 National Traffic Signal Report Card with a grade of 69, equivalent to a D+ letter grade, based upon the assessment. The 2012 score is a modest four point improvement over the 2007 result of a D letter grade (65). The effort to improve the Nation’s traffic signal systems is driven by benefits such as reduced fuel consumption and congestion mitigation. Grading themselves in five areas, 241 respondents, representing approximately 39 percent of all traffic signals in the United States, completed the self assessment. The complete grades are as follows:

The 2012 National Traffic Signal Report Card shows that while there is still much work to be done, many jurisdictions have used objectives-based approaches that result in improvements to their management and operations of traffic signals. The 2012 National Traffic Signal Report Card Technical Report and Executive Summary can be found at www.ite.org/reportcard.

(Source: Collegeathome via LifeHacker)

This data-laden infograph shows some scary stat.. Good news is that shortening your commute by 20 minutes might lower your risk of neck and back pain by 14%, obesity by 20%, and heart attack by 300% . Now if you will excuse me, I’ve to go find a job near my home or find a home near my job.

Image Courtesy: Collegeathome via LifeHacker

(Source: via Reddit)

Image Courtesy: Imgur.com via Reddit

And here is the funny road safety campaign video featuring the sign above. How much I wish America adopted this blunt, yet funny style of conveying the message. Our American campaign signs are boring compared to the Aussies’. PERIOD!

(Source: Cameron Booth via FastCoDesign)

Click the images to enlarge and also to learn more about them.

Interstate network

U.S. Routes

(Source: via Simplyflying.com)

We all know that the commercial aviation industry is among the cutting edge when it comes to advertising and testing new tools to engage their customers.. So, how are the airlines using the hottest new social media tool in the market – Google Plus (G+)? The brilliant folks at Simpliflying.com (on Twitter: @simpliflying) have done a comprehensive analysis and presented the findings in this awesome infopgraph below..

Image Courtesy: Simplyflying.com - Click Image to Learn More.

Dates: June 29 – July 16, 2012

Image courtesy: Planetsave.com via Google Images

This program presents an introduction to transportation engineering applications in the European context. The course will build on earlier courses with a special emphasis on differences between U.S. and Dutch standards. The curriculum will feature material that provides a contrast between engineering principles and policies focusing on the standards presented in both the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the Highway Capacity Manual. Furthermore, specific emphases on engineering principles and practice will be explored through field trips and in guest lectures both while abroad and in Portland. Students completing this course will have a greater understanding of the contrast in policies from the Portland area with communities in the Netherlands.

The location of the course was strategically identified to share the experience with an established program from Northeastern University led by Dr. Furth. The concept for this program is to join the Northeastern students for the first two weeks, returning back to Portland after that period to complete the course in Portland. During the two weeks at TU Delft, there will be a field trip every day within the City and to surrounding communities (including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag, and others). Delft is centrally located and provides an ability to represent transportation designs that follow the national policies. The lectures are a combination of guest speakers from local practitioners and others that Dr. Furth has enlisted in the program in the past.

Program Focus

Course Information

• CE 410/510: Transportation Engineering Applications – 4 credits – (6 credits are also available as an option with additional coursework after returning to Portland)

Draft Itinerary

• This program will include at least one pre-departure course meeting and a number of on campus course meetings after the group returns to Portland.
• International Component: June 29 – July 16, 2012
• For students opting for 6 credits, additional coursework (by arrangement with the instructor) and a substantial written report are required after returning from the Netherlands.

Students will spend two weeks at the Technical University of Delft developing an understanding of the transportation systems of the cities in the Netherlands, including Delft, Rotterdam, Haarlem, Den Haag, and others. A typical day will include a guest lecture from a practitioner in the local community followed by a field trip. Lunch will be time to explore the local community and students will be asked to document their experiences by collecting information (digital pictures and notes) throughout the day. The context of each community will offer opportunities for the lecturers (Furth and Koonce) to offer perspectives from their communities (Boston and Portland), contrasting the planning, engineering, and policy issues associated with the local communities. This combination will allow students to gain an understanding of transportation concepts that have been implemented to address specific challenges.

Click here to learn more and to apply.

(Source:  Mashable)

Image Courtesy: Position2.com

The women of Saudi Arabia, who are steadfastly fighting the monarchy for the right to drive, today received a shot in the arm for their ongoing campaign from their counterparts across the oceans.  Social media website Mashable.com report the on the development (excerpt):

Fourteen female United States senators have sent a letter to Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, asking him to lift the ban that keeps women from driving within the kingdom.

The letter — dated July 26 — comes as a major boost for an ongoing social media campaign against the ban.

The bipartisan letter admits that the kingdom has recently taken some steps that advance women’s rights, including the appointment of its first woman deputy minister and the establishment of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, “the only university in Saudi Arabia that allows women to study alongside men and where women are allowed to drive motor vehicles on campus.”

The 14 senators  aren’t the only female politicians to throw their support behind the Women2Drive movement.  In the recent months, a number of House of Representatives members — including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.— also expressed their support for the campaign last month. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke at a news conference, following a Change.org petition started by activist coalition Saudi Women for Driving, calling the women’s efforts brave.  On the other side of the Atlantic, the European Union’s Catherine Ashton, high representative and European Commission vice president, has also issued statements to show her support.

The question remains how much these external forces can sway the King and the his key decision-makers, who are fighting for their own battle against the hardcore religious zealots jockeying for control/power within the Kingdom.   Let’s hope the Women of Saudi Arabia win their freedom soon.

Click here to read the entire article.

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) seeks two Transit Safety and Security Specialist’s (Instructor) to join the Transit Safety and Security Division at the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI).  RITA coordinates the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) research programs and is charged with advancing rigorous analysis and the deployment of cross-cutting technologies to improve our Nation’s transportation system.  The Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) provides premier worldwide training, products and/or services for people in the public and private sectors through innovative, state-of-the-art methods and technologies that contribute to the protection of life, property, and the environment.  The Transportation Safety Institute training center is located in Oklahoma City, OK at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC), a Federal Aviation Administration training and materials facility.  Visit www.tsi.dot.gov to learn more.  The position is located in Oklahoma City, OK.

As a Transit Safety and Security Specialist (Instructor), you will develop training programs, instruct, manage and facilitate classes, perform evaluations, and conduct seminars and symposiums.  Programs include all facets of safety and security work with complex bus and light rail transit systems.

To succeed in this position you must have experience developing, implementing, and/or performing complex assignments in support of transit safety and security projects, programs, and plans, and ensuring compliance with safety oversight regulations.  You must have experience in developing, modifying, and instructing training course content and materials.  You must also have superb organizational, communication and presentation skills.  Payment of relocation expenses may be authorized.  Ability to obtain and retain a travel credit card is required.

This announcement is open to the general public and under merit promotion for current or former Federal employees and people eligible under special hiring authorities. Please note that merit promotion announcements are the vehicle through which Federal employees generally apply for Federal positions.

Click here for the Merit Promotion Announcement

Click here for the Public Announcement

(Source: car-insurance.com via Autoblog)

Click Image to Enlarge

(Source: Street Films)

This nice video from StreetFilms provides a brief overview of the concept of traffic calming and highlights some examples from cities across the country.  Do check out the other videos from the Moving Beyond Automobiles series. Have you ever observed such “calming” measures in your neighborhood?  Now that you have seen this, the next time you step out onto the streets you may notice a few of these measures deployed in your neighborhood.  If you don’t recognize them, would you like to share with us what traffic calming features work well in your neighborhood?