The U.S. Department of Transportation will host a free public meeting and webinar to inform stakeholders on the progress, products, and next steps of the Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program.

The public meeting is scheduled for April 30, 2014, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm in Washington, DC. The public meeting will also be webcast at no charge.

Summary

Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program Description

On March 12, 2014, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced a Request for Information (RFI) that will be used to help refine the plans for one or more connected vehicle pilot deployments  (https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/03/12/2014-05414/connected-vehicle-pilot-deployment-program-request-for-information).

The Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program seeks to combine connected vehicle and mobile device technologies in innovative and cost-effective ways to improve traveler mobility and system productivity, while reducing environmental impacts and enhancing safety. The FHWA anticipates a procurement action for one or more pilot deployment concepts in 2015.

Purpose of Public Meeting and Webinar

The purpose of the meeting is to inform private sector stakeholders on upcoming opportunities and to seek input from public sector implementers as they prepare to integrate emerging connected vehicle and mobile device technologies into operational practice.   The meeting will provide information on the organizing principles and preliminary schedule of the Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program.  In addition, the meeting will provide a summary of challenges identified in the RFI and facilitate a further discussion with stakeholders regarding the most salient challenges. This meeting is being sponsored by the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Programs Office (ITS JPO).

The meeting will take place at:

HOLIDAY INN CAPITOL 
550 C Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20024,
(202) 479-4000

To register, visit: www.itsa.org/cvpilotsregistration

For further information contact:

Carlos Alban
Transportation Program Specialist
Intelligent Transportation Society of America
1100 New Jersey Ave., SE, Suite #850
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-721-4223
Email:  calban@itsa.org

– See more at: http://www.its.dot.gov/meetings/cv_pilot_deployment.htm#sthash.D84C5YAq.dpuf

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Department/faculty: Civil Engineering and Geosciences 
Level: PhD degree (prof)
Working hours: 38 hours per week
Contract: 5 years
Salary: €3.259 to €6.039 per month gross

TU Delft Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences provides leading, international research and education. Innovation and sustainability are central themes. Research addresses societal issues. Research and education are closely interwoven. The faculty consists of the departments of Transport & Planning, Structural Engineering, Geosciences & Engineering, Water management, Hydraulic Engineering and Geoscience & Remote Sensing

The Department Transport & Planning (T&P) focuses on the planning, design, operation and management of transport systems, addressing road transport, public transport and passenger and freight transport systems. T&P consists of 50-60 staff members, of which 20 permanent. The department is responsible for the T&P track in the MSc Civil Engineering, the TU Delft Transport Institute and coordinates the interfaculty Master Transport, Infrastructure & Logistics. The department is the only research group in Civil Engineering in the Netherlands that was awarded the maximum score at all research assessments during the last 15 years.

Job description

Scientific research activities will focus on new assessment methods that support the planning and design of transport systems. Traditionally, congestion in transport systems was addressed by planning new or extending existing transport infrastructure. Today a wider range of measures that aim at smart and sustainable use of available transport networks is considered. As a consequence, there is a need for innovations in methodologies for the quantitative assessment of these measures for all relevant effects: economic, environmental, safety and spatial. Apart from extending and elaborating the assessment framework, there is also a need for methodologies that can be used in quick scan analyses.
Candidates will contribute to the initiation, acquisition and execution of research projects, including supervision of MSc and PhD students. Close cooperation with other members of the scientific staff of the department and wider university and developing relationships with practitioners are essential.
Educational activities will include redesigning the MSc course CIE 4760 Infrastructure projects: assessment and planning, contributing to the BSc course Impacts of Transport Infrastructure on economy and environment and supervision of BSc as well as MSc students.

Requirements

You have an MSc and PhD degree in a relevant subject, preferably Civil Engineering. You can demonstrate outstanding research potential and have published in peer-reviewed, international scientific journals or can show an innovative design and engineering portfolio. You have a holistic, integral approach combined with a strong background in quantitative methodologies and modelling. You are able to connect scientific methods and results to practical applications. Inspiring lecturing skills and excellent command of the English language are considered crucial. Non-Dutch speaking candidates will commit to learn Dutch within 2 years after appointment.

The position offered is a tenure-track position for a period of 5 years, leading to a permanent position assuming good performance in scientific research, project acquisition and education. Depending on your experience you are appointed as assistant tenure track professor (€ 3.259 – € 6.039 per month gross). You will participate in the Tenure Track program to further develop your educational, research and personal skills. You will work in a multidisciplinary team that conducts cutting-edge academic transport research and which has a state of the art transport lab. The team actively connects research results to innovative real world projects and is supervising an increasing number of MSc and PhD students.

Conditions of employment

TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a flexible work week, free high-speed Internet access from home (with a contract of two years or longer), and the option of assembling a customised compensation and benefits package (the ‘IKA’). Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
TU Delft sets specific standards for the English competency of the teaching staff. TU Delft offers training to improve English competency. If you have less than five years of experience and have not yet obtained your Basic Teaching Qualification, we allow you up to three years to obtain this.

Information and application

More information about these positions can be found at http://www.citg.tudelft.nl/en/about-faculty/departments/transport-and-planning/vacancies/. You may also contact Prof. B. van Arem, phone: +31 (0)15-2786342, e-mail: B.vanArem@tudelft.nl. To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV and a letter of application by 11 April 2014 to D.W.A.M. Verbunt, Recruitment-CiTG@tudelft.nl. When applying for one these position, please mention the position and refer to vacancy number CITG14-11.

Inquiries from agencies are not appreciated.

The Northeast Corridor Commission

Congress created the Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission (Commission) to help coordinate planning and investment across all owners of and operators on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) railroad network, including Amtrak, states, commuter railroads, and freight railroads. The Commission is comprised of representatives from each of the NEC states, Amtrak, and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), with non-voting representatives from freight railroads and states with connecting corridors. The Commission is supported by a full-time staff in Washington, DC. The Commission is accepting applications for a Transportation Analyst position located in Washington, DC.

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Summary of Duties

Specific responsibilities will consist of policy research and writing, transportation planning and analysis, analysis of financial and operational data related to the allocation of operating and capital costs in the NEC, development of Commission products and materials, website content development and other tasks as assigned. The position will cover activities both technical and administrative in nature:

• Assist in the development of Commission reports and presentations through data analysis and the development of written material. Work will frequently involve making technical information accessible for non-technical audiences.
• Assist in the coordination of the Commission’s many stakeholders, including Amtrak, the U.S. DOT, the Northeast states and state DOTs, commuter rail agencies, freight railroads, and others. Work will frequently involve coordinating assistance provided by staff at various stakeholder agencies.
• Support the organization and delivery of quarterly Commission meetings and periodic committee meetings including the management of pre-meeting logistics, the development of meeting materials, and the preparation of meeting minutes.
• Assist in the analysis of financial and operational data in support of the Commission’s role in supporting cost allocation in the Northeast Corridor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Transportation, Public Policy, Urban and Regional Planning, Economics, Business, or related field.
• One to two years of work experience with some direct experience in the field of transportation. Masters degree may substitute for work experience.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Interest in transportation issues.
• Ability to multi-task effectively while remaining flexible in a fast-paced environment and work collaboratively with staff at all levels while successfully challenging conventional practices and incorporating new approaches.
• Demonstrated skill in Microsoft Office tools, including Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Contact

For information on applying, contact Donnie Maley, Director, Planning: dmaley@nec-commission.com.

NelsonNygaard Consulting Associates (NN) seeks a highly organized, experienced, independent and motivated Senior Associate or Associate IV for its Boston office. This is an outstanding opportunity for the right person to become involved in building NN’s practice, which is focused on multi-modal transportation planning for livable communities. NN’s work emphasizes creative, innovative transit/transportation planning and community involvement, often within a wider set of goals such as economic development and reduced dependence on the private automobile.

Image courtesy: YPTransportation.org

NelsonNygaard is a growing company. We have grown smartly over the past 25 years, in a way that builds on our mission and core values, and have succeeded as a result. Helping our clients achieve their larger goals, including building vibrant, more sustainable and equitable communities, is what underlies our approach to transportation planning. Cultivating a work environment that is best for employee development and well-being is what underlies our approach to doing business. As we continue to grow, we want to remain a firm with open doors and open communication, with flexibility and an emphasis on creativity; where employees at all levels are part of the firm, not just working for it. As a firm, and as individual professionals, we remain deeply committed to walkable, bikeable, accessible communities, and, above all, quality public transportation accessible to all.

Each of our offices is recognized as a meaningful local community member through its local project work and other firm and individual participation. As individuals, we advocate for more ecologically sustainable, economically vibrant, socially equitable, healthful, and universally accessible communities. Our staff reflect the full diversity of our clients, including gender, race, culture, age, language fluency, and other experiences, and we all use our unique perspectives to tailor our professional work to meet the needs of the communities we work in. We hire the smartest, most skilled people in the industry through the right combination of pay, benefits, autonomy, office environment, work quality, flexibility, advancement potential, and core values.

Demographic trends and public policy changes will shape our business in the coming years, creating challenges to overcome. At the same time that the growing federal deficit and declining transportation revenues have cut into project budgets, new markets and revenue streams are emerging that may allow us to grow in the face of downsizing. Several major trends will make our services more in demand than ever. Rise of the millenials, graying of the boomers, peak car use, growth of the global middle class, climate change and resilience, technology and the sharing economy, rebirth of the inner suburbs, changing transportation needs for women, public health, and active transportation are all trends that we stay on top of and plan for.

Responsibilities

The ideal candidate should have a broad range of transportation and urban planning experience.  At the very least a candidate should be able to demonstrate significant expertise in at least three of the following areas:

• Citywide Transportation Planning and Analysis
• Campus Transportation Planning
• Parking Planning
• Bicycle/Pedestrian Facility Planning
• Transit Station Area Planning
• Street Design Guidelines
• Data Collection and Performance Assessments
• Light Rail, Commuter Rail, and/or Streetcar Planning
• Transport Policy, Funding and Governance
• Paratransit and Demand-Responsive Services
• Advanced Graphic Communication (InDesign, Photoshop)
• Computer Traffic Modeling

Successful applicants will be expected to:

• Function as a project manager for small studies and as a lead planner for complex components of large projects.
• Demonstrate excellent written and verbal skills
• Possess proven experience in managing projects within budget
• Work successfully with clients, members of the public and your team members
• Outline and prepare reports and successful proposals
• Analyze a wide range of transportation data and complete (directly or manage the completion of) technical analysis, feasibility studies or other transportation reports.
• Prepare and give effective presentations
• Creatively solve multimodal transportation problems.
• Participate in firm-wide strategic planning activities to ensure that we continue to build on our mission and core values.
• Mentor and train junior staff to become as good, or even better, at their job as you.
• Organize and supervise data collection activities in the office and the field
• Take a lead role on business development proposals.

Qualifications and Requirements

The ideal candidate will have a broad range of transportation and urban planning experience. At minimum, the candidate should meet the following qualifications.

• At least six years of increasingly responsible experience in transportation planning, traffic engineering, or one of the disciplines listed above
• A bachelor’s or more advanced degree in urban or transportation planning, or a related planning field. Master’s degree is preferred.
• Skills and enthusiasm for business development.
• Excellent written, verbal, and other communication skills, including facilitating public workshops, and making compelling presentations.
• The ability to manage complex projects on time and on budget.
• The candidate must be able to demonstrate basic proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word and Powerpoint
• Additional experience with GIS, Graphic (InDesign, Illustrator, SketchUp), Modeling (Synchro, VISSIM, TransCAD) or database anlaysis will be considered favorably.

Though most of the work will come from projects from the Boston office, there will be numerous opportunities for the candidate to contribute to NN projects across the United States. Candidates must be willing to travel (on average 2 overnight stays per month plus numerous day trips) and must have a valid Driver’s License.  Preference will be given to candidates with AICP or P.E. certification.

Potential candidates may be asked to demonstrate their writing and oral presentation skills. Candidates should be available to start immediately. Above all, we are looking for someone who has a passion for sustainable transportation planning, and is interested in making communities better for our clients and their constituents.

Salary and Benefits

NelsonNygaard offers a dynamic and self-directed work environment that is fast-paced, congenial, and supportive. This will be your opportunity to work with one of the most dynamic and innovative groups of planners and engineers in the U.S., including highly talented junior and support staff. Our office culture is built upon diversity and creativity. Benefits of the position include:

• Medical, dental, and vision
• Health savings account
• Dependent care flexible spending account
• 401(k) retirement plan, including employer contribution
• Personal time off
• Incentive-based bonuses
• Professional society dues
• Training and conference reimbursement
• In-house training programs
• Technology reimbursement
• Commuter benefits
• Car share membership
• Bike share membership
• Fitness center discount
• Mentoring program

The annual salary range equivalent for this position is industry competitive, depending on qualifications and years of experience.

NelsonNygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity affirmative action employer.

Prior to sending your materials, please combine your cover letter, resume, and work samples into a single PDF with the filename format “Firstname Lastname – Boston Senior Associate.pdf”. Send the materials to jobs@nelsonnygaard.com with the subject line “Boston Senior Associate”

No Phone Calls Please

Image Courtesy: IRFnew.org

On behalf of the International Road Federation (IRF) and the Indonesia Ministry of Public Works, the Technical and Scientific Committee of the 1st IRF Asia Regional Congress & Exhibition invites surface transportation experts and researchers from around the world to submit paper abstracts for evaluation.

Under the theme “Building the Trans-Asian Highway,” this one-of-a-kind event will provide a unique setting for sharing proven and innovative solutions for the region’s mobility demands, latest industry technologies and global best practices and how they can be replicated and/or modified to meet the region’s specific needs.

The event will feature a Ministerial Session, as well as Plenary, Executive, Technical and Applied Knowledge Sessions.

Why Participate?

• High level Ministerial Session
• 1,000 local & International delegates
• Innovation forum & live technical demonstrations
• Networks with key decision makers from the region
• Exhibition featuring the latest products & technologies

Abstract Guidelines (no cost to submit)

The abstract should be written in English, readily understandable to most readers and may contain a maximum of 200 words. Abstracts should be submitted in the following thematic areas:

• Asset Management
• Disaster Mitigation & Recovery
• Pavements & Materials
• Road Financing / PPPs
• Road Safety
• Sustainable Transport
• Technology & Innovation

For more information, please contact:

Magid Elabyad
Vice President, International Programs & Member Services
Tel: +1 703 535 1001
Email: melabyad@IRFnews.org

via Bloomberg TV

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk discusses autonomous driving and how it will be available in cars in only a few years. He is confident that Tesla has the best collection of experts and would be the first company to launch a vehicle with significant ‘auto pilot” capabilities. As far as proliferation goes, Mr. Musk says we may be about 10 years away from widespread adoption of autonomous vehicle technology. Do you agree? Listen to his interview with Bloomberg Television.

(Source: Bloomberg)

Intel Futurist Steve Brown discusses the future of driverless cars and cities on Bloomberg Television’s “Bloomberg West.” Transportation and City planners better start thinking already because we know your long-range plans drafted a decade or so ago is rendered useless by the fast paced evolution of computing and automobile technology (agree with Steve that the technology is coming but it may be more than a decade away). It is time to think different and act fast!

via WTSP.com

The city of Tampa (Florida) gains a Federally-approved test bed for autonomous vehicles.. Local TV station News 10 offers the following scoop:

The Selmon Expressway just got a big approval from the federal government. It’s now one of only ten roads in America set up to test “connected cars,” leading to totally driverless cars. The Selmon’s elevated express lanes to Brandon are a car designer’s dream. During traffic downtimes, engineers can block off all of the entrances and have the whole highway as a ten-mile-long laboratory. The expressway authority that runs the Selmon will team up with a USF group, the Center for Urban Transportation Research, to find companies that want to come here to test their technology. Click here to learn more