(Source: Mashable)

Those fun-loving & fun making folks at Improv Everywhere are at it again — this time they invaded a New York City subway car, treating passengers to a reenactment of the first Princess Leia/Darth Vader scene from Star Wars. Check this out:

It’s priceless to watch the reaction of fellow riders in the train.  Good people of NYC seem to enjoy the fun ride! Why does this not happen in DC.. Argh!  OUr boring (at times menacing) commutes could do a makeover like this once in a while!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Improv Everywhere: Star Wars Subway Car (laughingsquid.com)
• VOTD: Improv Everywhere’s Star Wars Subway Car (slashfilm.com)
• Improv Everywhere: Star Wars Subway Car Prank (urbanprankster.com)
• Clip du jour: ‘Star Wars’ subway ride (popwatch.ew.com)
• Video: Stormtroopers Storm New York Subway (wired.com)
• Star Wars Subway Car (improveverywhere.com)
• Improve Everywhere Takes Over Subway Car STAR WARS Style (geektyrant.com)
• Improv Everywhere Brings “Star Wars” to NYC Subway Car [VIDEO] (mashable.com)
• Star Wars in a Subway Car (wired.com)
• Star Wars Subway Car (london-underground.blogspot.com)

Monday, July 5, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) Near-Collisions on Rise in Washington Area’s Skies Amid Influx of Inexperienced Controllers

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/04/AR2010070404538.html

2) UK Air Traffic Chief Voices Concerns of Government Selling Stake

Link to article in the Financial Times:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b9d79f3e-87aa-11df-9f37-00144feabdc0.html

3) FAA, Provo Begin Work on Airport Radar

Link to article in The Salt Lake Tribune:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/49848818-76/radar-provo-airport-lake.html.csp

4) Improving Airport Experience via Real-Time Ratings, Reviews and Photos

An interview with GateGuru’s CEO Daniel Gellert.

Link to interview on m-Travel.com:

http://www.m-travel.com/news/2010/07/improving-airport-experience-via-real-time-ratings-reviews-and-photos.html

BICYCLES

5) Are Blue Bike Lanes Better than Black?

Link to article on TreeHugger:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/06/blue-bikelanes-better-than-black.php

CAMERAS

6) ‘Big Brother’ Traffic Cameras Must be Regulated, Orders UK Home Secretary

Link to article in The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jul/04/anpr-surveillance-numberplate-recognition

7) Red Light Camera Companies Become a Lobbying Force in Texas Capital

Link to article in The Dallas Morning News:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-redlightsside_05met.ART.State.Edition1.297cfac.html

8) Red Light Cameras Spark Debate in Texas Cities

Link to article in The Dallas Morning News:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/state/stories/070510dnmetredlights.22ec8cc.html

9) Camera System’s Flaws Cost North Texas Tollway Authority Millions

Link to article in The Dallas Morning News:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/DN-freeride_03met.ART0.State.Edition2.297c836.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

10) GPS Data New Tool in Reading Tropical Storms

Link to article in The Spokesman-Review:

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jul/04/gps-data-new-tool-in-reading-tropical-storms/

OTHER

11) TSA to Block Web Sites with ‘Controversial Opinion’ on Its Computers

Link to CBS News story:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20009642-10391695.html

PEDESTRIANS

12) Tech Firms Aim to Keep Wayward Walkers on Path

Link to AP article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/05/AR2010070501057.html

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

13) Pennsylvania DOT Needs to Focus on Driving Tips

Rather than including tourism and health information with registration mailings, agency should insert driving tips.

Link to editorial in the Pocono Record:

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100705/NEWS04/7050308

ROADWAYS

14) New Road Signs for Abu Dhabi

Emirate plans to use portable message signs while permanent VMS and ITS are installed.

Link to article in Emirates Business 24|7:

http://www.business24-7.ae/news/national/new-road-signs-for-abu-dhabi-2010-07-04-1.262762

15) Pennsylvania Joins California and Florida in Asking Feds to Allow Ads on Electronic Signs

Link to AP article:

http://www.ldnews.com/news/ci_15435365

SAFETY / SECURITY

16) Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Uses CCTV, Text Hotline vs. Wangwang

Link to GMA News story:

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/195114/mmda-uses-cctv-text-hotline-vs-wangwang

SPACE

17) New US Satellite to Monitor Debris in Earth Orbit

Link to AP article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/03/AR2010070301160.html

TELEMATICS

18) UK Road Safety Charity, Brake, Calls for Increased Telematics Use

Link to article in BusinessCar:

http://www.businesscar.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=6232

TRANSIT

19) The Future is Hear: MTA

New York agency says new Second Avenue subway stations will be designed by acoustical engineers.

Link to article and video in the New York Post:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/the_future_is_hear_mta_gxQwszOXV2iMapigatNuzL#ixzz0sibmSygB

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

20) New Massachusetts Traffic Information System Continues to Befuddle Drivers Who Miss the Old 511

Link to column in The Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/07/04/new_traffic_information_system_continues_to_befuddle_drivers/

21) Voice of Vietnam’s Traffic Information to be Televised at Rush Hours

Link to story on VOV:

http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/VOVs-traffic-information-to-be-televised-at-rush-hours/20107/117168.vov

22) Get Rid of Those Gulls and Give Us Real Information

Columnist says Maryland’s Bay Bridge should make traffic information easier to find on its Web site.

Link to column in The Baltimore Sun:

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/traffic/2010/07/get_rid_of_those_gulls_and_giv.html

VEHICLES

23) Quiet Hybrids: An End to Their Sounds of Silence?

Link to AP article:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Quiet-hybrids-An-end-to-their-apf-994519890.html?x=0&.v=2

24) Car-Sharing Gets Personal, with Private Vehicles for Hire

Link to blog on BNET:

http://industry.bnet.com/auto/10005473/car-sharing-gets-personal-with-private-vehicles-for-hire/

25) Driving While Blind? Maybe, with New High-Tech Vehicle

Link to AP article:

http://www.thekansan.com/newsnow/x1328226943/Driving-while-blind-Maybe-with-new-high-tech-vehicle

26) Toyota’s PR Machine has Improved: Analyst

Link to video report on CNBC:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?play=1&video=1537396972

News Releases

1) Making Transport Smarter – European Parliament Looking at ITS

Upcoming Events

Mid-Continent Transportation Research Forum 2010 – August 19-20 – Madison, Wisconsin

http://epdweb.engr.wisc.edu/Courses/Course.lasso?myCourseChoice=L268

Today in Transportation History

1610 **400^th anniversary** A group of colonists led by John and Philip Guy, left England to establish the first English colony in Newfoundland.

http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=329

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit:

http://groups.google.com/group/tcnl/subscribe

If you have any difficulties please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

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

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

Date: July 7, 2010, from 3:00-4:30 p.m. EDT

Speakers:

• Lisa Castaneda, P.E.,  Harris County (TX) Toll Road Authority
• Paul A. Lampley, P.E., Florida DOT District Four

This Webinar,  will examine two different models for deploying congestion pricing projects. Lisa Castaneda, P.E., of the Harris County (TX) Toll Road Authority will discuss the new I-10/Katy Freeway.

The Katy Toll way/Managed Lanes is the first multi-lane electronic tollway in the Nation with full design standards, and it was developed through a public-private partnership. Additionally, Paul A. Lampley, P.E., of Florida DOT District Four, will discuss how Availability Payments were used to finance the upgrade of a 10.5-mile segment of I-595 between I-75/Sawgrass Expressway and I-95 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Similar in concept to pass-through tolls, availability payments are a means of compensating a private concessionaire for its responsibility to design, construct, operate, and/or maintain a tolled or non-tolled roadway for a set period of time.

Click here to register.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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The Future of Tolling = ORT + Interoperability + YOU

Register Now for IBTTA’s Upcoming Summit, The Future of Tolling – Going Mainstream Through ORT and Interoperability, May 23-25, 2010 in Boston, MA. This Summit will bring together transportation experts who will focus on lessons learned, case studies, business rules and future decision-making about all-electronic toll collection, interoperability, violation enforcement, and implications for vehicle miles traveled charging. Download the agenda and register today — May 17th is the final day to pre-register and have your name included in the final registration list. For meeting details, visit www.ibtta.org.

AVIATION

1) Air-Safety Watchdogs to Dissect Pilot Error

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704314904575250823108695894.html

2) As Attention Wanders, Rethinking the Autopilot

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/business/18pilots.html

3) FAA Determines Cape Cod Wind Farm is ‘No Hazard’

Link to article in The Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/05/18/faa_determines_cape_wind_farm_is_no_hazard/

4) FAA Uses Open Source ESB to Handle Flight Data

Link to article on SearchSOA.com:

http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid26_gci1512564,00.html

5) Jetera Betting on In-Flight Receipts as an Ad Medium

Link to article in Advertising Age:

http://adage.com/article?article_id=143770 (free registration required)

MARITIME

6) Ship-Tracking System to Help Haitian Port Operations

Link to article on TMCnet:

http://communication-solutions.tmcnet.com/topics/communication-solutions/articles/85481-ship-tracking-system-help-haitian-port-operations.htm

OTHER

7) US DOT’s ITS/JPO Evaluation Office Makes 2010 Request for Information on ITS Costs

Link to further information:

http://www.itscosts.its.dot.gov/its/benecost.nsf/byLink/Announcement?OpenDocument&Cost%5e

8) US House to Consider Bill to Put Stimulus Money Details Online

Link to article in Federal Computer Week:

http://fcw.com/articles/2010/05/17/more-money-details-go-online.aspx

9) Branding IT: Logos, Slogans Sell the IT Message

Oregon DOT among those marketing its IT organizations.

Link to Bloomberg article:

http://www.businessweek.com/idg/2010-05-17/branding-it-logos-slogans-sell-the-it-message.html

RAILROADS

10) Information Technology: At Freight Railroads, IT Execs Help Lead the Change Charge

Link to article in Progressive Railroading:

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/pr/article.asp?id=23273

ROADWAYS

11) Latest Editions of Thinking Highways

–  Europe/RoW edition

http://thinkinghighways.com/Pages/View-issue.aspx?id=8d775348-9938-42b0-ac20-aae7928d57ac

–  North America edition

http://thinkinghighways.com/Pages/View-issue.aspx?id=81e64fb9-95a0-4ba4-bb77-badbc1d3d298

12) Spring Issue of Safe Highway Matters

Link to newsletter:

http://www.safehighways.org/SafeHighwayMatters.Spring2010.pdf

SAFETY / SECURITY

13) Michigan Bans Texting While Driving; but When Will Technology Take Over to Keep Us Safe?

Link to article in The Grand Rapids Press:

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/05/michigan_bans_texting_while_dr.html

14) US Transportation Secretary Takes Cell Phone Fight Global

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2010/05/lahood_takes_cellphone_fight_g.html

15) The Future is Now

Real-life police technology catches up with science fiction.

Link to article in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/gt/755804?topic=117680

TRANSIT

16) Redesigning the Bus Stop: Teague’s Traffic 2.0 Makes Transit More Friendly

Link to article in Fast Company:

http://www.fastcompany.com/1648672/redesigning-the-bus-stop-teagues-traffic-20-makes-transit-more-friendly

17) Boston Youths Eye Better MBTA Relations

Link to article in The Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/05/18/youths_eye_better_mbta_relations/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

18) Rapid Traffic Camera Deployment in Indiana, Thanks to WiMAX

Link to article in Government Video:

http://www.governmentvideo.com/article/94854

19) Social Networking Sites to Provide Traffic Updates in Dehli

Link to article on Fresh News:

http://www.freshnews.in/social-networking-sites-to-provide-traffic-updates-in-delhi-184305

VEHICLES

20) Taiwan Set to Join Revolutionary California Vehicle Laboratory

Link to article in the Taipei Times:

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2010/05/19/2003473337

21) Pedestrian-Detection and Automated Platooning

Link to article on Car Advice:

http://www.caradvice.com.au/67890/2011-brakes-camera-action-pedestrian-detection-automated-platooning/

News Releases

1) OnStar Leverages Google Technology to Connect Customers to the Chevrolet Volt

2) I.D. Systems and Garmin Team to Provide New Airport Safety Solution: SafeNav Airport Vehicle Navigation System

3) Consumer Navigation Market to Reach 267 Million Shipments by 2015

4) just-auto Completes Revamp of Web Site

5) Pennsylvania DOT News Readily Available Through Online Twitter Feed

6) ‘Better Informed Travellers = Better Use of Transport Systems’ — New LinkedIn Discussion Forum

7) Harman and Nokia Pave the Way for Standardized Interface Between Smartphones and Car Infotainment

Upcoming Events

Transforming Transportation: Customer Value and Integration – May 26 – Boston

Join Pioneer and Northeastern’s Institute for Strategic Transportation Studies as state and national transportation experts look at the lessons learned as Massachusetts has reformed its transportation bureaucracy and what other states can learn from Massachusetts’ experience.   Joining Jeffrey Mullan, Secretary of MassDoT will be the heads of the NJ and NH DOTs, as well as top executives from the MBTA, the San Francisco Bay Area MTC and the North Texas Tollway Authority.  The session will be from 8 am-10 am at the Suffolk Law School.  To attend, or for more information, please contact Shannon Garber at sgarber@pioneerinstitute.org or 617-723-2277 ext 217.

Today in Transportation History

1980 **30^th anniversary** Mount St. Helens in Washington State erupted.  The resulting ash cloud caused the first documented case of jet power loss from a volcanic eruption.

http://gallery.usgs.gov/videos/234

Bernie’s Notes

Many of you received multiple copies of yesterday’s TCN.  It appears this was due to a glitch on the part of Google Groups since I only sent the newsletter once.  I apologize for the inconvenience.

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit:

http://groups.google.com/group/tcnl/subscribe

If you have any difficulties please contact me at 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.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

Early Registration deadline extended to April 30!

This conference brings together more than a dozen TRB Energy and Environmental committees meeting jointly with the AASHTO Standing Committee on the Environment and serves as a platform to develop better transportation solutions through the integration of diverse environmental (human and natural) and transportation perspectives.

Join nationally recognized experts in transportation along with forward-thinking professionals in environmental, planning, community and economic analysis, environmental justice, land use, sustainability, climate change, and transportation fields in a frank and open discussion aimed at sharing experiences, examining the realities of major complex issues, and developing common sense approaches to environmental and transportation challenges.

A preconference workshop on Sunday, June 6, will provide participants with the opportunity to identify critical environmental research needs.

The Conference will be held at the Raleigh Convention Center, a beautiful new facility, centrally located in downtown Raleigh, NC.

Registration

• Early Registration has been extended!
• The conference registration fee of $350 will be in effect until April 30.
• After April 30, the fee will increase to $425.  Conference Participants should register now to save!

Conference Hotel

• A block of rooms will be reserved at the new Raleigh Marriott Hotel City-Center adjacent to the convention center. A conference rate of $92/night plus tax has been established but you must reserve your room by May 8, 2010.

Be a Sponsor

• Overall conference sponsorship provides significant opportunities for relationship building among agency, university, corporate, and non-governmental professionals. Let participants know who you are by getting your information prominently displayed. Find out how you can be a sponsor!

Click here to access the event website for preliminary program and other event related details.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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CAMERAS

1) Taxi Cameras to be Compulsory in New Zealand

Link to article on Stuff:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3533679/Taxi-cameras-to-be-compulsory

2) University of New Mexico Gets Green-Light to Study Traffic Cameras

Link to story and video on KOB-TV:

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S1491721.shtml

OTHER

3) Hail a New York City Cab with Your Apple iPhone and Android Device Via Location Analytics

Link to article on SmartPlanet:

http://www.smartplanet.com/business/blog/smart-takes/hail-a-nyc-cab-with-your-apple-iphone-or-android-device-via-location-analytics/5571/

4) ERTICO’s i-Mobility Newsletter – March 2010

Link to newsletter:

http://webhouse.ipapercms.dk/ERTICO/Newsletter/NewsletterMarch2010/

ROADWAYS

5) What Happens When You Remove All Traffic Signs? A German Town Finds Out

Link to article in The Christian Science Monitor:

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2010/0331/What-happens-when-you-remove-all-traffic-signs-A-German-town-finds-out

6) New Jersey Toll Takers to Get Customer Service Training

Link to story on WCBS-TV:

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/rude.toll.collectors.2.1600194.html

7) A Portable Weigh Station for Rural Roads

Link to article in Sensor:

http://www.its.umn.edu/Publications/Sensor/2009/03/portableweigh.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) US Government Set to Ban Texting by Truck, Bus Drivers

Link to AP article:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=10250915

Link to news release from US DOT:

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2010/dot5510.htm

9) Banning Texting in Trucks Raises Other Questions

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/banning-texting-in-truck-raises-other-questions/

10) National Work Zone Awareness Week 2010: Work Zones Need Your Undivided Attention

Link to article in Focus:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/focus/10mar/01.cfm

TRANSIT

11) New York MTA Rejects Subway Ads

Say acronyms used in ads imply obscene language.

Link to article in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/03/31/2010-03-31_mta_bigs_derail_texty_ads_targeting_bloomy.html

12) Eight Essential Transit Agency Blogs

Link to article in the Los Angeles MTA’s The Source:

http://thesource.metro.net/2010/03/30/8-essential-transit-agency-blogs/

13) Shenzhen Tong Card and Hong Kong Octopus Card to Reach Interoperability

Link to article in the Shenzhen Post:

http://www.szcpost.com/2010/03/shenzhen-tong-card-and-hong-kong-octopus-card-to-reach-interoperability.html

14) Walt Disney World Uses Their Monorail for Advertising for the First Time

Link to article on Jaunted:

http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/3/31/8415/94345/travel/Walt+Disney+World+Uses+Their+Monorail+For+More+Than+Just+Transportation

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

15) I-81 Corridor Coalition Hosts Traffic Incident Management and Clearance Workshop

Link to article in The Sentinel:

http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2010/03/31/news/local/doc4bb33e1bac62c764669740.txt

16) Meet ‘Cal North,’ the Imaginary Direction-Giver of 511

Link to column in SF Weekly:

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2010/03/511_voice_cal_north.php

17) Voice of Bay Area 511 Often Calls Himself

Link to column in SF Weekly:

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2010/03/voice_of_511_often_calls_himse.php

VEHICLES

18) How Ford’s Sync Technology Will Turn It Into America’s Most Surprising Consumer Electronics Company

Link to article in Fast Company:

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/144/fords-big-reveal.html

19) Ford, Microsoft to Work on Electric-Car Charging

Link to article in The Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011487820_apusfordelectricity.html

News Releases

1) US Cites Celebrate Transportation Innovation in Film Series

2) ITS Georgia Chapter Reviews Plans to Upgrade NaviGAtor ITS System

3) i95travelinfo.net Spells Relief for Holiday Travelers on the East Coast

4) Cellport Marks 15^th Anniversary of Its Invention of Internet-Connected Vehicle

Upcoming Events

LaGuardia Airport Kiwanis Club Charity Ball Honoring ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ First Officer – May 21 – Great Neck, New York

http://laguardiakiwanis.com/2010HONOREEGALA.aspx

Today in Transportation History

1980 **30^th anniversary** The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad operated its last train.

http://www.rits.org/www/histories/RIHistory.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit:

http://groups.google.com/group/tcnl/subscribe

If you have any difficulties please contact me at 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.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

The 16th IRF World Meeting will be held in Lisbon from 25 to 28 May 2010, and will be attended by major international players from the road sector.   The aim of the 16th IRF World Meeting is to provide a forum for debates, discussions and proposals leading to tomorrow’s solutions.

The IRF 16th World Road Meeting will bring together top-level representatives of the road construction industries, the engineering companies, the road equipment companies, the concessionaires, the road authorities, the researchers and the interest groups. Their common aim will be sustainable mobility for the 21st century, a multi-faceted issue that will require innovative and elaborate solutions.

With this in mind, World Road Meeting delegates will hear about road safety issues, environmental concerns, financial challenges, educational offers, latest research and applications, and many more topics.

The IRF 16th World Road Meeting offers a unique platform for the Road Infrastructure Community to showcase their latest research and proposals in a friendly, peer group, result-oriented environment. It also offers good opportunities for technology transfer and business development. Road industry leaders from both the public and private sectors from around the world will be in Lisbon for this one-of-a-kind event.

Who should attend?

The 16th IRF World Road Meeting invites people from across the road infrastructure sector, may they come from construction companies, government agencies, funding bodies, research, concessionnaires, ITS and other road furbishing companies.

Exhibitor profile:
Road construction and maintenance, Road equipment, Horizontal and vertical road markings, Street furniture, Vehicle manufacturers, Tyre manufacturers, ITS Technology, Tolling Systems, Traffic Emergency systems, Road Safety material, Engineering companies, Consultancy & research, Education, Publications and any other related industry.

Visitor Profile:
IRF World Road Meeting’s delegates are coming from all over the world. Most visitors come from construction companies, government agencies, funding bodies, research, engineering forms, research institutes, concessionaires, ITS and other road furbishing companies. The visitors of the exhibition are at decision making level, highly qualified professionals from the road infrastructure and transport industries.

Note: Visitors must hold a valid passport; a visa may be required in some cases. For more information about visas, please consult the nearest Portuguese Embassy.

Click here to Register and click here to download the Preliminary Programme.  For those in a hurry, I’ve attached the Preliminary Progamme below.

Tuesday, February 23rd

1:00 to 2:30 PM EST

Please join us for a free Webinar hosted by the National Transportation Operations Coalition on Tuesday, February 23rd from 1:00 to 2:30 PM EST. Click on the URL below to register.

Integrating operations into a metropolitan transportation plan can lead to important improvements that customers care about: increased efficiency, reliability, safety, security, travel options, and more. The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration have developed a desk reference that can help metropolitan planning organizations and their planning partners meet the challenge of integrating operations into the plan and realize the benefits. The desk reference assists planners and operators in using specific operations objectives and performance measures to plan for operations. It contains an extensive menu of operations objectives and performance measures that planners and operators can draw from for their own plans. Excerpts from a sample plan illustrate the integration of operations into a plan.

This seminar will offer a preview of this new tool. Audiences will have an opportunity to hear how two MPOs are using an objectives-driven, performance-based approach to plan for operations and the desk reference. This is the second in a series of two Talking Operations Webinars on the objectives-driven, performance-based approach. Tune in to hear about the experiences of two more metropolitan planning organizations.

The speakers will be:

• Richard Backlund, FHWA Office of Operations, Egan Smith, FHWA Office of Planning, and John Sprowls, FTA Office of Planning
• Deena Platman, Principal Transportation Planner, Metro, Portland, Oregon
• Lance Wilber, Central Region Director, Alaska Department of Transportation and former Municipality of Anchorage Traffic Director.

To Register, Click this URL: https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webconfid=19485

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Discuss Federal Legislative Initiatives at IBTTA Legislative Conference – March 22-23, 2010 in Washington, DC

Join the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association on March 22-23, 2010 in Washington, DC and participate in discussions on federal legislative initiatives with leaders in the transportation policy debate. Topics will include transportation authorization, electronic tolling interoperability, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) charging, the proposed Office of Public Benefit, and other important issues affecting tolling and road pricing. Participants will spend Tuesday afternoon visiting their congressional representatives to advance tolling initiatives on Capitol Hill. This meeting is ideal for toll industry professionals interested in US Federal and transportation legislation and regulations affecting the toll industry. Visit www.IBTTA.org for registration, hotel and travel information and to view the preliminary agenda. [More…]

AVIATION

1) Work on NextGen Aviation Park has Begun in New Jersey

Link to article in The Press of Atlantic City:

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic/article_462038c8-1543-11df-9df6-001cc4c002e0.html

OTHER

2) US DOT Intelligent Transportation Systems Panel Getting to Work

Link to article in Occupational Health & Safety:

http://ohsonline.com/articles/2010/02/09/its-panel-getting-to-work.aspx

3) Coalition Says New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority Wasting Money

Politicians say agency spending too much on ‘spin.’

Link to article in The Sydney Morning Herald:

http://www.smh.com.au/national/coalition-says-rta-wasting-money-20100209-nptc.html

4) Smart Transportation is About More than Wires and Chips

Link to commentary from the Regional Plan Association:

http://www.rpa.org/2010/02/spotlight-vol-9-no-3-smart-transportation-is-about-more-than-wires-and-chips.html

5) Tracking People with RFID Passports

Link to commentary in the RFID Journal:

http://www.rfidjournal.com/blog/entry/7375/

ROADWAYS

6) DC Government Puts Plow Data to Use with Snow Map

Link to column in The Hill:

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/80197-dc-government-puts-plow-data-to-use-with-snow-map

TRANSIT

7) Toronto Transit Employees Launch Facebook Group to Defend Themselves

Link to CP article:

http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=10687

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

8) A Glimpse Inside Minnesota DOT’s Regional Transportation Management Center

Link to story and video on KARE-TV:

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=841155&catid=396

VEHICLES

9) Drivers, Cars are Ill-Equipped When Panic Sets In

Link to AP article:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Drivers-cars-are-illequipped-apf-3293715433.html?x=0&.v=3

10) Mobile Convergence with the Connected Car Gears Up

Link to article on GPS Business News:

http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/Mobile-Convergence-with-the-Connected-Car-Gears-Up_a2026.html

News Releases

1) New ‘Twitter’ Option Providing Real-Time Traffic Alerts for Interstate 93 in New Hampshire

2) Lufthansa Navigator: To the Right Gate Using the Right App

3) SwRI Models Traffic Behavior Associated with Mass Evacuation of Urban Areas

Job Postings

–  Intelligent Transportation Systems Manager – DeAngelo Brothers, Inc. – Hazelton, Pennsylvania

http://gms.dbiservices.com/misc/DBi_ITS.doc

Upcoming Events

Cooperative Mobility Conference 2010, Smart Vehicles on Intelligent Roads – March 23-26 – Amsterdam

http://www.cooperativemobilityshowcase2010.eu/

Today in Transportation History

1870 **140^th anniversary** – The United States Weather Bureau is created.

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2009/02/dayintech_0209

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit:

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If you have any difficulties please contact me at i95berniew@aol.com.

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

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

Thursday, November 26, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) FAA to Improve Landing Operations at Newark Airport Two Years After Whistle-Blower Detailed Safety Risks

New software will give controllers a better picture of when planes will land at converged runways.

Link to article in The Star-Ledger:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/faa_to_improve_landing_pattern.html

Link to news release from the US Office of Special Counsel:

http://www.osc.gov/documents/press/2009/pr09_21.pdf

Link to report:

http://www.osc.gov/FY2010/Scanned/DI-07%20DI-08-2225/DI-08-2225%20Agency%20Report%20(Part%201).pdf (part 1)

http://www.osc.gov/FY2010/Scanned/DI-07%20DI-08-2225/DI-08-2225%20Agency%20Report%20(Part%202).pdf (part 2)

Link to letter to the president:

http://www.osc.gov/FY2010/Scanned/DI-07%20DI-08-2225/DI-08-2225%20President%20Letter.PDF

2) Complaints Against Airlines Fall Sharply

Critics say the reason isn’t better service; it’s that frustrated passengers have given up voicing grievances.

Link to Tribune Newspapers article:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-tc-biz-trav-complaints-1121-nov26,0,421005.story

Link to Air Travel Consumer Report from US DOT:

http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/2009/November/200911ATCR.PDF

3) FAA Foregoes Public Process in Test Program at Santa Monica Airport

Link to article in the Santa Monica Mirror:

http://www.smmirror.com/MainPages/DisplayArticleDetails.asp?eid=11364

Link to further information from the City of Santa Monica, California:

http://www.smgov.net/departments/cmo/content.aspx?id=2029

CARTOGRAPHY

4) Is It the End of the Line for London’s Iconic Tube Map?

Link to article in the Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/nov/26/london-tube-map-design

MARITIME

5) South Korea, US Adopt Joint Maritime Safety Declaration

Link to Yonhap article:

http://balita.ph/2009/11/26/s-korea-u-s-adopt-joint-maritime-safety-declaration/

OTHER

6) European Parliament Rubberstamps Law on Tire Labeling

Link to article on EurActiv:

http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy-efficiency/parliament-rubberstamps-law-tyre-labelling/article-187693

Link to news release from the European Parliament:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/051-65051-327-11-48-909-20091123IPR65050-23-11-2009-2009-false/default_en.htm

RAILROADS

7) November Issue of Signal, the Newsletter of the European Rail Traffic Management System

Link to newsletter:

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/rail/interoperability/ertms/doc/015_signal_2009_11_en.pdf

ROADWAYS

8) Graffiti on Highway Signs Costing Utah DOT Big Money

Link to story and video on KSL-TV:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=8807401

9) Solar-Powered Sensor Controls Traffic

Link to article in EDN:

http://www.edn.com/article/CA6707783.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) US Transportation Security Administration Launches Airport Security Innovations Project

Link to article on AviationNews.net:

http://www.aviationnews.net/?do=headline&news_ID=173927

TELEMATICS

11) ARENA Trial in Sweden

Link to article from ERTICO – ITS Europe:

http://www.ertico.com/en/news/ertico_newsroom/arena_trial_in_sweden.htm

TRANSIT

12) Pilot Project Starts in Ontario for ‘Smart’ Transit Cards that Load Online

Link to article in the Toronto Star:

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/731022–pilot-project-starts-for-smart-transit-cards-that-load-online?bn=1

13) Portland’s TriMet Fires MAX Operator Who Ignored Father’s Calls for Help

Link to article in The Oregonian:

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/11/trimet_xxxx_max_operator_who_i.html

14) AC Transit Cuts a Model for Public Input

Link to blog in the San Francisco Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inoakland/detail?&entry_id=52362

Link to commentary on A Better Oakland:

http://www.abetteroakland.com/ac-transits-extensive-service-reduction-planning-process-yields-great-results/2009-11-25

Link to further information from AC Transit:

http://www2.actransit.org/news/articledetail.wu?articleid=0d1850ca&PHPSESSID=7c448dea44ded466173a3b52e170d3a2

15) The Zoo that is Grand Central, at Full Gallop

Coordinating trains on its busiest day of the year requires improvisation.

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/nyregion/26gct.html

16) Tunisia Promotes Use of Information Technology and Communication in Public Transport

Link to story and video on Tunisia Online News:

http://www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/?p=29995

Upcoming Events

NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Show– April 10-15 – Las Vegas

http://www.nabshow.com/2010/default.asp

Today in Transportation History

1959 **50^th anniversary** – Pioneer P3, a lunar probe, was launched.  The flight failed 45 seconds after launch.

http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=PIONX

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

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.

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast