TransportGooru

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter – February 25, 2010

February 26, 2010 at 2:03 pm

Thursday, February 25, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

Register Now for IBTTA’s Organization Management Workshop – April 18-20, 2010 in Austin, TX

The toll industry is evolving at an astonishing rate. Driven by financial realities, political change, and technological innovations the industry is facing a wide range of challenges and opportunities and is being forced to respond to them at lightning speed. Join the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, April 18-20, 2010 in Austin, TX and keep your organization current on the latest industry trends toEnhance Mobility Through Innovation. Main topics will include: communications, winning with the news media, finance trends, reauthorization update, successful project implementation and more. This meeting is ideal for toll industry professionals focused in the areas of communications and marketing, human resources, finance, administration, management and advocacy. Click here for registration, hotel and travel information and to view the preliminary agenda. www.IBTTA.org

AVIATION

1) US Senate to Revive Long-Stalled FAA Bill to Modernize Air Traffic System

Link to article in The Dallas Morning News:

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/02/senate-to-revive-long-stalled.html

CAMERAS

2) Victorian Government to Use Noise Cameras from March

System designed to photograph excessively loud trucks.

Link to article in The Motor Report:

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/49893/victorian-government-to-use-noise-cameras-from-march

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) Fatal Yacht Crash Inquiry Blames GPS

Link to Australian Broadcasting Corporation story:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/25/2830316.htm

MARITIME

4) Where’s Your Ferry? Washington State Ferries Launches Real-Time ‘Vessel Watch’

Link to article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/transportation/archives/195289.asp

OTHER

5) Minister, a Monkey Could Have ‘Hacked’ Secret New South Wales Transport Site

Link to article in The Sydney Morning Herald:

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/minister-a–monkey-could-have-hacked–secret-transport-site-20100223-p085.html

6) State Departments of Transportation Lead the Way Using New Media

Link to report from AASHTO:

http://www.transportation.org/sites/publicaffairs/docs/New_Media_Research_Brief.pdf

Link to list of state DOT Twitter and Facebook sites:

http://www.transportation.org/sites/publicaffairs/docs/DOT_Twitter_Facebook_Sites.pdf

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) Human Performance, Information Systems, Simulations, and Visualization

Papers explore driver distraction issues.

Link to reports from the Transportation Research Board:

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/Human_Performance_Information_Systems_Simulation_a_163017.aspx

TRANSIT

8) DC Metro’s Mixing of Signal Part Brands Could Have Caused Crash, Maker Tells NTSB

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/24/AR2010022403006.html

VEHICLES

9) Deadline Looms to Fit All New UK Vehicles with Digital Radio

Link to article in Aftermarket News:

http://www.am-online.com/aftermarket/story/Deadline-looms-to-fit-all-new-vehicles-with-digital-radio/42901645

News Releases

1) Alaska Airlines to Offer Gogo In-flight Internet Service on All Aircraft

2) Port Authority of NY & NJ Improves Reliability of Newark Liberty International Airport Surveillance Cameras and Takes Other Measures to Upgrade Airport Security

3) FEMA Leadership Meets with National Weather Service and European Partners On Large Scale Disaster Preparedness and Ways to Ensure Effective Communication

4) Victorian Roads Get Smarter with New Network Plans

5) IBM Scientists Use Analytics to Break Traffic Gridlock with Personalized Trip Information

Upcoming Events

Aviation Outlook Middle East – North Africa – April 12-15 – Cairo

http://www.terrapinn.com/2010/aome/

Today in Transportation History

1910 **100^th anniversary** – Thomas Edison demonstrated a battery-powered trolley car in New York City.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9401E1D91539E433A25755C2A9649C946196D6CF%7C

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

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.

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The Rudin Center/APA Graduate Student Award in Transportation Planning

February 26, 2010 at 1:45 pm

The Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, in partnership with the American PlanningAssociation’s National Transportation Planning Division and the American PlanningAssociation’s New York Metro Chapter, is pleased to announce this new award competition.

The Competition: This new award will recognize student projects with a substantial transportation planning and design component.

Submission Requirements: Individual students or student teams should submit:

A summary ofno more than 500 words that clearly demonstrates the project’s application to transportationplanning and design;
Three to five images illustrating proposed solutions to transportationrelatedneeds or challenges; and
A brief letter of recommendation from a faculty member.

Eligibility and Rules:

Projects must have been originally created by a single student or group ofstudents for a graduate‐level studio or capstone project completed during the fall of 2009;
A project may be submitted only once; submissions may not be revised and resubmitted;
Atitlepage must be included with student name(s), address, degree program and school, date of projectcompletion, and a phone number. No name or other identification should be included on imagesor text summary;
Entries will only be accepted via e‐mail; PDF is the preferred format.

The Award: The winning submission will receive a modest honorarium and be announced on the APA Transportation Planning Division and APA NY Metro Chapter websites and in the RudinCenter’s New York Transportation Journal, an electronic publication viewed by thousands ofreaders. The winning project will be posted along with the submitted images and project summaryas part of the Journal’s New Voices feature.

Selection Criteria: A committee of Rudin Center staff, NYU Wagner planning faculty and APAmembers will review all submissions using blind review. The materials will be judged on:

Relevance to a current need or challenge in transportation planning and design;
Quality ofgraphic images and effectiveness in illustrating a solution to a transportation need or challenge; and
Innovation in approach to resolving a transportation need or challenge.

Submissions are due by 5:00pm on March 1st, 2010 to rudin.center@nyu.edu. Download the competition flyer here.

Please contact Emily Dowdall at (212) 998.7450 with any questions.

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – February 24, 2010

February 26, 2010 at 1:11 pm

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

Advanced Road Weather Information System by Lufft answers the crucial need for real-time, professional/scientific grade data. Road state information is collected at multiple sites, each containing various meteorological sensors collecting weather information such as temperature (road surface, sub-surface, ambient), relative humidity, water film height, wind speed/direction, road salt concentration and ice hazard, precipitation, and visibility—which is reported to a central location for an up-to-date viewing of incoming data.

Lufft environmental sensors are user-friendly, based on open system architecture and a modular concept, permitting the connection of any combination of Lufft digital sensors, or most analog sensors available on the market today. Please contact us toll–free for more information at 886.466.4836 or visit us on the web at http://www.lufft.us

AVIATION

1) NTSB Asks to Monitor Pilots’ Talk in Cockpits

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-02-23-recorders_N.htm

CAMERAS

2) Wilmington, North Carolina Test Wi-Fi in TV ‘White Spaces’

Initial uses include traffic camera monitoring.

Link to article in Television Broadcast:

http://www.televisionbroadcast.com/article/95214

OTHER

3) Build Smarter, Not Bigger

Link to commentary in The Hill:

http://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/83441-build-smarter-not-bigger

4) State of Transportation Planning 2010

Link to document from the American Planning Association’s Transportation Planning Division:

http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/207959/cb1d472c43/

SAFETY / SECURITY

5) Hackers Expose Security Flaws with ‘Elvis Presley’ Passport

Link to CNN story and video:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/02/19/passport.security/index.html

6) Women, Transit, and the Perception of Safety

Link to interview on Planetizen:

http://www.planetizen.com/node/42878

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

7) Clear Channel Outdoor Launches Traffic Net

Billboards to provide real-time traffic information.

Link to article in Mediaweek:

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/news/out-there/digital/e3ib108b71d68d61db9a1b0f3fa2f40465b

Link to news release from Clear Channel:

http://www.clearchannel.com/Corporate/PressRelease.aspx?PressReleaseID=2613

8) New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway Spend $11 Million on Real-Time Signs

Link to article in The Star-Ledger:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/nj_turnpike_garden_state_parkw.html

News Releases

1) EMS Aviation and OuterLink to Share Aircraft Tracking Data

2) Teletrac Partners with SpeedGauge to Deliver Fully Integrated GPS and Vehicle Tracking System with Real-Time Speed Notifications

Upcoming Events

AASHTO GIS for Transportation Symposium – April 12-14 – Charleston, West Virginia

http://www.gis-t.org/

Today in Transportation History

1950 **60^th anniversary** – President Harry Truman appointed an emergency board to forestall a threatened national railway strike.

http://www.trumanlibrary.org/executiveorders/index.php?pid=113&st=&st1

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

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.

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Unmanned awesomeness in the air: Israel unveils super drones to counter Iranian threat

February 23, 2010 at 8:33 pm

This week the Israeli Air Force (IAF) held a ceremony spotlighting the “operational acceptance” of its biggest unmanned aerial vehicle, the 4.5-ton Heron TP, or “Eitan.” The far-flying UAV, with a wingspan almost as long as a 737 airliner, appeared on the runway with a comparatively diminutive F-15 alongside it.

But how will Israel use them? The Eitan can carry a ton of payload and can reach Iran’s nuclear facilities, which the United Nations last week determined is hiding an active weapons program. But that does not mean these will be used as bombers. The IAF has been buying and upgrading airplanes specifically for long-distance strikes such as a potential attack against Iran. At least 50 F-15 Raam and F-16 Soufa aircraft have been converted by installing extra fuel tanks for greater range and countermeasures to defeat radar and missiles. So maybe the warplane/UAV tag team presented at the “operational acceptance ceremony” speaks to how manned and unmanned aircraft will work together on missions: The drone provides information while the manned airplanes drop the guided munitions. (Click here to read the Popular Mechanics coverage on this issue)

Some interesting nuggets of information:

Heron TP drones have a wingspan of 86 feet (26 meters) making them the size of passenger jets. It weighs nearly 4.5 tons.
The Eitan can carry a ton of payload and can reach Iran’s nuclear facilities (repeated from 2nd paragraph above)
The planes can fly 20 consecutive hours, and are primarily used for surveillance and carrying payloads.
It could provide surveillance, jam enemy communications and connect ground control and manned air force planes.
Apart from long range, long endurance Intelligence, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions, Eitan is designed to execute a large variety of operational missions, including aerial refueling and strategic missile defense.
The Heron TP has been in development for about a decade, but the aircraft first saw action during Israel’s offensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip just over a year ago. The IAF already rushed this UAV into action during the 2008–’09 war in Gaza, so the ceremony really served as a reminder to Iran that its drone fleets can reach the nation.

Israel considers Iran a strategic threat because of its nuclear program, long-range missiles and repeated references by its leaders to the Jewish state’s destruction.

Israel has hinted at the possibility of a military strike against Iran if world pressure does not halt Tehran’s nuclear program. Israel and the U.S. believe Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons; Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes.

Israeli companies are considered world leaders in drone technology and now export unmanned aircraft to a number of armies, including U.S.-led forces that have used them in Iraq and Afghanistan.

FYI – Back in 2009, TransportGooru brought to you an article published by the Esquire magazine that explored the use of UAVs in the United States armed forces in the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. Click here to learn more about the UAVs in the United States military.

Related articles by Zemanta

Israel Unveils New Drone Fleet That Can Reach Iran (huffingtonpost.com)
Jeremy White: Israel’s New Drone Not for Use Against Iran (huffingtonpost.com)
Israel unveils unmanned drones which can fly to Iran (telegraph.co.uk)
Israel Unveils Drones Able to Hit Iran (nytimes.com)
Unmanned drones set to give defence a lift (telegraph.co.uk)
Israeli Super Drones Put Iran Within Range (news.sky.com)
New Israeli Drone Can Fly to Iran (abcnews.go.com)
Israel’s new drones can reach Iran (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Israel Unveils New Drone Fleet That Can Reach Iran (abcnews.go.com)
Israel unveils new drone aircraft (news.bbc.co.uk)

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Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – February 23, 2010

February 23, 2010 at 6:19 pm

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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…

BICYCLES

1) California Bill Would Raise Hands-Free, Texting Fines, Extend Ban to Bicyclists

Link to article in The Sacramento Bee:

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitolalertlatest/2010/02/bill-would-rais.html

CARTOGRAPHY

2) Virtual Maps to Help in Indian Disaster Management

Link to article in The Hindu:

http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/23/stories/2010022358542000.htm

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) Jamming of GPS Signals Threatens Vital Services

Link to article in the Financial Times:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4fa1c68a-2094-11df-9775-00144feab49a.html

ROADWAYS

4) New Jersey Toll-Takers Rude, Lewd and Racist, Complaints Charge

Link to article in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/85042697.html?cmpid=15585797

5) Cities Shortening Yellow Traffic Lights for Deadly Profit

Link to commentary on AlterNet:

http://www.alternet.org/rights/145752/cities_shortening_yellow_traffic_lights_for_deadly_profit

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) Man Cited During Traffic Stop Fears His Picture Might End Up Online

Link to story and video on KENS-TV:

http://www.kens5.com/news/Do-you-realize-that-when-police-pull-you-over-for-a-citation-they-will-likely-take-your-picture–Is-that-wrong-85003517.html

7) ‘Embrace Life’ Goes Viral

PSA promoting seat belt use turns into a worldwide phenomenon.

Link to CNN video story:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2010/02/20/nr.levs.embrace.life.cnn

TRANSIT

8) Google Transit Launches in Europe

Link to IDG News Service article:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/189942/google_transit_launches_in_europe.html

9) Maryland Transit Administration Chief on How Agency Can do Better with Snow

Improved communications is at the top of his list.

Link to article in The Baltimore Sun:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/commuting/bal-md.cm.mta23feb23,0,3942742.story

10) Transit Smart Cards to be Adopted in Calgary by 2012

Link to article in the Calgary Herald:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Transit+smart+cards+adopted+2012/2601354/story.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Olympic Transportation Issues Being Dealt with as They Arise

Link to article in Pique:

http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/pique/index.php?content=Transportation

12) Dedicated Buses, 24×7 Monitoring of Transport for Commonwealth Games Athletes

Link to Sify article:

http://sify.com/news/Dedicated-buses-24X7-monitoring-of-transport-for-Games-athletes-news-National-kcxqOcbfegd.html

13) New Resources from US DOT

– Searchable Tool: Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Performance Measurement Knowledgebase

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=613

– A Domestic Scan of Congestion Pricing and Managed Lanes

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=612

– Federal Highway Administration Focus States Initiative: Traffic Incident Management Performance Measures Final Report

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=614

VEHICLES

14) Could Electronics be What’s Causing Runaway Cars?

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2010-02-23-Electromagnetic23_CV_N.htm

15) Technology Solutions Newsmaker Q&A: Michael Gile

Interview with the founder of Fuzzy Luke, creator of a vehicle diagnostic application for mobile phones.

Link to interview in Aftermarket Business:

http://aftermarketbusiness.search-autoparts.com/aftermarketbusiness/Industry+News/Technology-Solutions-Newsmaker-QampA-Michael-Gile/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/657942

News Releases

1) Inrix National Traffic Scorecard Reveals America’s Top 10 Most Congested Cities

Upcoming Events

High Speed Rail 2010 – March 4-5 – Orlando, Florida

http://www.ushsr.com/events/florida2010.html

Today in Transportation History

1940 **70^th anniversary** A squadron of British and French warships began a blockade of the north coast of Sweden, Norway and the Soviet Union.

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

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.

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2010 ITS America Annual Meeting Student Essay Competition

February 22, 2010 at 7:13 pm

ITS America’s 20th Annual Meeting & Exposition, scheduled forMay 3-5, 2010, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas will provide transportation professionals and policymakers the necessary tools and strategies they need to create communities that are safer, cleaner, more livable and less congested.

This year’s theme is “Connecting Communities through Smart Transportation Solutions.” We will also provide you with important policy insight from government officials and planning insights from leading transportation practitioners.

The competition, held in conjunction with the 2010 ITS America Annual Meeting & Exposition and sponsored by Southwest Research Institute, provides an opportunity for today’s transportation and engineering students to apply their knowledge in a thought-provoking and enjoyable competition and to build awareness of a career path with unlimited potential in the ITS industry. Contest guidelines are attached.

2010 Student Essay Competition Guidelines

The Student Essay Competition is designed to encourage student interest and future participation in the development of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and solutions. The objective of the essay competition is to provide an opportunity for today’s transportation and engineering students to apply their knowledge in a thought-provoking and enjoyable competition and to build awareness of ITS as a career path with unlimited potential. Essays will be judged on their creativity, quality of exposition, originality, depth of knowledge, and awareness of ITS issues and challenges.

Eligibility Requirements

Authors must be graduate or undergraduate full-time students enrolled in an accredited institution of learning in the U.S.
Entries are limited to one paper per student and should be original, unpublished work of an individual student.

Essay Topics

Essays must be based on one of the following topics. You may also focus the paper on the sub-topics listed:

Topic 1: Cooperative Systems

How cooperative systems will quantitatively improve the performance of standalone active vehicle safety systems?
One of the challenges of implementing cooperative systems is the penetration rate required. What are the barriers to achieving the necessary penetration rates in order to realize system level benefits of a specific cooperative system/application?
Describe relevant research into the application of multi-agent/intelligent agent theory on current transportation challenges.

Topic 2: How will Traffic Management evolve, possible subtopics:

What new technologies/approaches will be used for collecting traffic status data?
How will regions integrate their data to provide consolidated views for the traveling public?
How can the information dissemination to travelers be improved?

Essay Format Requirements

The cover page must include the title of the essay, author’s name, name of school, mailing address, phone number, and the student’s e-mail address and phone number. The author’s name and essay title should appear at the top of all other pages.
Essays should be typed, double spaced, and appear on 8 ½”x11” white paper.
A complete bibliography should be included, if appropriate.
Essays are not to exceed 2,000 words in length, must be written by only one person, and should not have appeared in any publications other than in school publications.
Essays will be evaluated considering: writing quality and clarity; interest of the topic and content to the broad Intelligent Transportation Systems industry; analysis and reasoning; timeliness, originality, and creativity; quality and use of research; and compliance with these rules.

AWARDS

The 1st, 2^nd , and 3rd place winners will :

receive $1,500, $1,000, or $500 respectively to cover expenses of their trip to the conference.
receive a complimentary full registration to attend the conference.
have the opportunity to present their winning essay at the dedicated Interactive Session area in the exhibit hall on Tuesday, May 4, 2010,
have their winning essay displayed on the Student Essay Competition Web page of ITS America’s
be featured in nationally-distributed press releases.

Application Procedure

Entries must be submitted in electronic formats. Essays must be accompanied by a cover letter from a faculty advisor or department chair. E-mail essays to Edgar Martinez at emartinez@itsa.org by 5 p.m. (EST) on March 15, 2010.

Selection

Entries will be reviewed and the final selections made by a selection committee comprised of ITS America members and Southwest Research Institute representatives. The winners will be notified on March 29, 2010.

ITS America and Southwest Research Institute strongly encourage the winners to be present for the awards ceremony on Monday, May 3, 2010, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

Questions should be directed to Edgar Martinez at 800-374-8472 ext. 4223 or emartinez@itsa.org. For more information, please visit the 2010 ITS America Annual Meeting website.

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – February 22, 2010

February 22, 2010 at 7:05 pm

Monday, February 22, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s 20th Annual Meeting & Exposition (May 3-5, 2010, Houston, Texas)

– The Stars Align. A stellar Closing Plenary will light up the George R. Brown Convention Center on Wednesday, May 5, from 10:30 a.m.-Noon. This rare event features US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and IBM Chairman, President and CEO Sam Palmisano. From their unique perspectives, both confirmed speakers will share their vision for a smarter 21^st Century transportation network founded on technological innovation.

Deadline for Best of ITS and Outstanding Chapter Awards February 26.
Register by March 1 and save money! And remember to make your hotel reservations here.
Student Essay Competition entries are due March 15. Send email to sslye@itsa.org for information.
Exhibit space is still available. Be a sponsor!

AVIATION

1) French Air Traffic Controller Plan Four-Day Strike Over European Reforms

Link to AP article:

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9E18A8O0

2) American Airlines Tests New GPS Luggage Tracking

Link to story and video on WBIR-TV:

http://www.wbir.com/news/watercooler/story.aspx?storyid=113840&catid=141

CAMERAS

3) Tennessee Attorney General Approves Traffic Camera Bill

Link to article in the Knoxville News Sentinel:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/feb/21/tennessee-attorney-general-approves-traffic-camera/

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) ETC to be Applied Comprehensively on Taiwan Freeway by the End of 2012

Link to article in the Taiwan News:

http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1185246

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) GPS Modules Line Expands Beyond Portable Navigation Niche

Link to article in Electronic Components:

http://www.electroniccomponents.globalsources.com/gsol/I/Tuner-module/a/9000000108616.htm

OTHER

6) Massive Storms Don’t Halt DC IT Ops

Link to article in ComputerWorld:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/347044/Massive_Storms_Don_t_Halt_D.C._IT_Ops

7) Profile of Pennsylvania Traffic Reporter ‘Rusty Fender’

Link to article in The Dispatch:

http://www.timesleader.com/pittstondispatch/news/_lsquo_Rusty_Fender_rsquo__first_subject_of_new_Dispatch_feature_02-21-2010.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) No Provisions to Track Texting Violations in New Hampshire

Link to article in The Telegraph:

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/statenewengland/642589-227/dots-tweeting-service-raises-its-own-questions.html

TRANSIT

9) ‘Real-Time’ Arrival Screens to be Placed at Dublin Bus Stops

Link to article in The Irish Times:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0222/1224264939076.html

10) Multimedia for Road Commuters?

Airline-style seat-back video for buses to be demonstrated at Dubai exhibition.

Link to article in Emirates Business:

http://www.business24-7.ae/Articles/2010/2/Pages/20022010/02212010_e2f501c7b19642538398445df240417d.aspx

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Washington, DC Uses Regional Transportation Information System to Combine Data for Emergency, Traffic Response

Link to article in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/746596

VEHICLES

12) Television that Streams, Even if Traffic Doesn’t

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/automobiles/21TEEVEE.html

13) Digital Driving

Display in hybrid car changes the way this person drives.

Link to commentary and audio on Vermont Public Radio:

http://www.vpr.net/episode/48020/

News Releases

1) LogicTree’s Wisconsin 511 IVR Delivers During Winter Storm

2) New Sample Bill from NHTSA Will Aid States in Banning Texting While Driving

Solicitation

– Request for Proposals – Onsite Media/Communications Provider for Disseminating Traffic and Traveler Information – New Jersey Turnpike Authority

http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/Travel_and_Transit_Media_Services.pdf

Upcoming Events

National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities – April 11-13 – Philadelphia

http://www.lifesaversconference.org/

Today in Transportation History

1935 **75^th anniversary** – Airplane flights over the White House became illegal.

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

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.

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Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – February 19, 2010

February 22, 2010 at 7:01 pm

Friday, February 19, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

Plan now to attend ITS Canada’s Annual Conference this June 13-16 in Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s National Capital!

The program for ITS Canada’s Annual Conference is shaping up to be the best ever, with a wide selection of papers and topics. Each day will be structured to maximize the value to delegates, reinforcing the Conference theme of “ITS: For Efficient, Safe and Clean Transport”. Morning plenary sessions will bring all delegates together to hear from key experts on the theme of the day. Monday will be our Connected Vehicle day, incorporating IntelliDrive^SM and networked vehicle concepts. Tuesday will focus on multi-modal urban issues: transit, active transportation and urban transportation management. Wednesday will concentrate on traveller information and 511, providing opportunities for national and cross-border forums on issues and directions. Experts from across Canada and around the world will present leading-edge projects and technologies. Keynote luncheon speakers will focus on broad issues and perspectives, while panel discussions will re-energize delegates with interesting and perhaps controversial positions. You can’t afford to miss this event! More information:www.itscanada.ca/ottawa2010

AVIATION

1) Gunfire Detection System Figures in California Plane Crash Probe

Link to article in the San Francisco Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/18/BA6C1C3LSP.DTL

BICYCLES

2) Turn Signal Bike Jacket

Link to article and video on GreenMuze:

http://www.greenmuze.com/green-your/fashion/2252-turn-signal-bike-jacket-.html

OTHER

3) Glimpse the Wireless Future of Transportation

Link to article in Wired:

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/02/intelligent-transportation-systems/

ROADWAYS

4) California Freeway Messages Stir Outrage in Some Drivers

Sign of trouble: Request to share the road with motorcyclists.

Link to article in The San Diego Union-Tribune:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/19/sign-of-trouble/

5) Unsafe at Any Speed

California governor’s freeway advertising plan rightly deserves to crash and burn.

Link to editorial in the Los Angeles Daily News:

http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_14377454

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) After Fatal Train Wrecks, Obama Administration to Crack Down on Cell Phone Use

Link to column in The Hill:

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/82087-after-fatal-train-wrecks-obama-administration-to-crack-down-on-cell-phone-use

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

7) Boston Area Commuters Receive No Warning of Drawbridge Opening During Rush Hour

Link to article in the Hull Sun:

http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/hull_blog/?p=32915

8) Use of Social Media for Travel Information

Link to presentations from I-95 Corridor Coalition webcast:

http://www.i95coalition.org/i95/Library/MeetingMinutes/tabid/143/ctl/ArticleView/mid/533/articleId/85/Use-of-Social-Media-for-Travel-Information.aspx

VEHICLES

9) Audi and Qualcomm’s 3G Car System Early Review: Web on Wheels

Link to review on CNET UK:

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/cartech/0,250000513,49305093,00.htm

News Releases

1) Massachusetts DOT Developers Real-Time Challenge

2) Canadian National Campaign Promotes Public Transit as a Solution to Smog Forming Emissions from Old Cars

Upcoming Events

35^th Annual FAA Aviation Forecast Conference – March 9-10 – Washington, DC

http://www.faa.gov/news/conferences_events/aviation_forecast_2010/

Friday Bonus

Do not try this at home (or in your local subway).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcdJYqfcRwM

Today in Transportation History

1945 **65^th anniversary** – US Marines land on Iwo Jima.

http://www.defense.gov/home/features/iwo_jima/iwo.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.

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Job Alert: Social Marketing/Transportation Internship – City of Cambridge, MA

February 18, 2010 at 8:56 pm

City of Cambridge – Community Development Department – Environmental and Transportation Planning Division

Contact: Rosalie Anders, Project Coordinator
Address: 344 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: (617) 349-4604
Fax: (617) 349-4633
Email: randers@cambridgema.gov

Agency Description

The Environmental and Transportation Planning Division has received a grant for a social marketing pilot project that will involve presenting transportation options information specific to individual residents’ travel patterns and needs. This approach, which is based on a model developed in Portland, OR, has been shown to be an effective way to change people’s travel mode choices. The program will test out how well the model can work in an East Coast city.

The division is nationally recognized for its pedestrian and bicycle programs and is responsible for improving the city’s quality of life by working to protect and improve the city’s natural resources and by planning improvements to the city’s transportation system. Environmental planning activities are mainly focused on implementation of the City’s Climate Action Plan. Transportation planning activities emphasize bicycle and pedestrian improvements and other vehicle trip reduction measures.

Intern Responsibilities
The intern will assist with the social marketing pilot project through the following duties:
• Coordinate mailings to the target area
• Respond to inquiries about the pilot project
• Help organize and staff promotional events (including some on weekends)
• Distribute promotional materials (posters, doorhangers, etc) within the target area
• Collate transportation options information specific to each respondent’s needs
• Coordinate with vendor for pick-up and delivery of information packets
• Coordinate with partner agencies to maintain supply of information
• Prepare updates for periodic team meetings and partner meetings
• Assist with preparing summary report at the end of the pilot project
• Assist with grant reporting and application for grant renewal
• Other duties as assigned

Desired Skills and Interests
The intern should have a strong commitment to the project goals, be well organized, able to take responsibility for aspects of the project, and be able to work well with groups. The intern should be outgoing and comfortable speaking with people at events and activities. He or she should be comfortable with word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. Previous related experience is desired. Knowledge and interest in transportation options, specifically in the Cambridge area and familiarity with municipal government operations and procedures would be a plus.

Starting Date: March-April 2010
Ending Date: December 2010; this position is grant funded, and time period may be extended by Department if additional grant funding is approved.
Hours: Average of 22.5 hours per week for remainder of calendar year. Hours are flexible, and will include evenings and weekends.
Compensation: $14/hour

Obtain via http://bostonbiker.org/2010/02/18/social-marketingtransportation-internship/

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Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – February 18, 2010

February 18, 2010 at 7:40 pm

Thursday, February 18, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s 20^th Annual Meeting & Exposition (May 3-5, 2010, Houston, Texas)

– Be sure to register by March 1 and save money! Public sector and first-time attendees qualify for special discounts. Save time and register through our website. And remember to make your hotel reservations here.

– Exhibit space is still available. Be a sponsor!

– Take a walk on the virtual side. Check out more than 100 exhibitors. Click on their names; see what’s in store for you in May!

– Listen, look, stop. For the first time ever, ITS America Forums feature exhibit hall theater briefings on safety, sustainability, personal mobility, commercial operations and cross-cutting issues, followed by topic-specific, guided tours of the exhibit hall.

AVIATION

1) Salt Lake City Airport, Federal Agencies Settle Trademark Suit

Link to article in The Salt Lake Tribune:

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14421023

2) Airlines Making Big Push to Offer In-Flight Wi-Fi Service

Link to article in The Record:

http://www.northjersey.com/news/business/business_news/84432557_Airlines_in_big_push_for_Wi-Fi.html

OTHER

3) Lag in Intelligent Transportation Could Hurt Economy

Link to article in Wired:

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/02/us-lags-asia-in-its/

4) Report on ‘Intelligence into Urban Mobility’ Breakfast Workshop on February 4