TransportGooru

(Source: Times Online, UK)

Fiat has pulled out of talks with the German Government about Opel, blaming “unreasonable” funding demands, but emphasised that it was not withdrawing its bid for General Motors’ European unit, which owns Opel and Vauxhall.

Sergio Marchionne, Fiat’s chief executive, said that Germany had asked his car group to provide emergency funds for Opel, which would expose it to “extravagant risks”.

Mr Marchionne said “The last round of requests which would require Fiat, among other things, to fund Opel on an emergency basis while the German Government determines the exact timing and conditions of interim financing, would expose Fiat to unnecessary and unwarranted risks.”

Mr Marchionne said that he had not been granted full access to Opel’s financial records and so it was unreasonable to ask Fiat to provide emergency funds. Because today’s meeting will focus specifically on Opel, Fiat would not be attending, he said. However, he said that Fiat remained interested in a potential deal with GM.

“We remain committed to finding ways to bridge the expectations of both General Motors and the German Government, but the emergency nature of the situation cannot put Fiat in a position to take extravagant risks,” he said.

Gareth Thomas, the Trade Minister, will attend the emergency talks in Brussels today. A Commission spokeswoman said: “The aim of the meeting is to exchange information and ensure a level playing field for co-ordination.”

(Source: Financial Times)

Reducing America’s reliance on oil by raising petrol prices to European levels through increased taxes or regulation is not politically feasible, says Steven Chu, US secretary of energy.

The admission comes as Congress considers a cap- and-trade system that opponents say will substantially increase petrol prices just as oil prices soar to their highest level in six months.

In the past Mr Chu, a Nobel laureate, has argued that, if the US wanted to reduce its carbon emissions, policymakers would have to find a way to increase petrol prices to levels in Europe. But in an interview on Wednesday with the Financial Times, Mr Chu said: “At this moment, let me be frank, it is not politically feasible.”

(Source: Autobloggreen & Royal Automobile Club Foundation)

A new study by the Royal Automobile Club Foundation found that as many as 6.75 million British drivers are thinking about or could consider buying an electric vehicle – once they become available, of course. RAC surveyed 1,000 motorists over two weekends this month and asked the question: “Would you consider or are you planning on purchasing an electric car within the next five years?” Twenty percent picked either “Yes, would consider” or “Yes, planning on purchasing an electric car.” We’re right there with you, says the UK government, which will offer incentives worth up to £5,000 for EVs starting in 2011.

Also, the RAC points out that 20 percent of 33.8 million drivers means there could be a lot of people who want but can’t buy an EV. They say, “The RAC Foundation has discovered that by the Government’s own reckoning electric vehicles won’t be available on the mass market until at least 2017, leaving millions of potential buyers frustrated.”

Commenting on the findings, the director of the RAC Foundation Professor Stephen Glaister had the following words:

• “What the Government is in danger of doing is putting the cart before the horse. It is actively promoting the purchase of electric vehicles long before there is any chance of manufacturers making them widely available.”
• “It has gone out of its way to encourage people to make green choices, yet these choices are not yet realistic.”
• “Ministers’ thinking on green technology is all over the place. They talk of incentives of up to £5,000 for prospective buyers of electric cars from 2011. Yet at that stage there will be almost nothing in the showroom for people to purchase.”
• “The RAC Foundation fully supports the introduction of green vehicles. But electric cars are not the short-term solution. What the Government should be doing is improving the road network and encouraging manufacturers to refine existing technology. That means increasing road capacity to cut congestion and CO2 emissions; focussing on producing leaner petrol and diesel engines; and making smaller and lighter cars.”

On Friday, June 19, America 2050 will be co-hosting the next “Rebuilding and Renewing America” forum, focused on infrastructure strategies for the Southwest Megaregion, encompassing Southern California, the Las Vegas metropolitan area and Baja California.    The forum will aim to build support for a national infrastructure plan needed for America to respond to the big challenges of rapid population growth, our dependence on foreign oil, climate change, global competitiveness, and deteriorating infrastructure, and identify the major transportation, energy and water infrastructure priorities in the Southwest Megaregion that are issues of national significance. 

Likewise, we hope to find common ground among metropolitan areas in the Southwest Megaregion on programs and policies that would help regions and subregions meet their core infrastructure challenges.  The forum marks the first major convening of the west coast office of America 2050, housed at the USC Bedrosian Center. The forum aims to establish a network of business, civic, government and academic organizations through the America 2050 west coast office who will continue to work on building the Southwest Megaregion and pushing its collective agenda.    

The forum will take place at the Davidson Conference Center on the campus of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles on Friday, June 19 from 8:00am to 3:30pm. There is a fee of $25.00 to attend.  Register online here.

Thursday, May 28, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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TIC3 From GEWI – One Platform, Multiple Deployment Options

Whether you are looking to provide Interoperability between legacy systems, launch or upgrade a 511 Service, generate Traffic Flows & Predictive models, Traffic Alerts, Traffic Plans & Simulations, report on Work Zones & Road Conditions, run an automated Radio Traffic Advisory system, or produce Navigation Quality Data, TIC3 from GEWI is the solution.  All of these services, and more, can be achieved by simple configuration of this single commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software platform, already in use in over 100+ projects worldwide. To discuss your requirements, contact jim.oneill@gewi.com and look for GEWI in booth #329 at ITS America.

AVIATION

1) Connexion by Boeing’s Former King Marketer Uncensored

Link to column on Flightglobal:

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/runway-girl/2009/05/connexion-by-boeings-former-ki.html

BICYCLES

2) Online Mapping Tool Promotes Bike Safety

Link to story and video in The Seattle Times:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009270653_bikewise28m0.html

Link to bikewise:  http://www.bikewise.org/

OTHER

3) Q&A with US Coast Guard Rear Admiral Gary Blore About the New National Security Cutter Bertholf

Link to interview in Federal Computer Week:

http://fcw.com/articles/2009/05/28/q-and-a-with-coast-guard-acqusition-rear-admrl-gary-blore.aspx

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

4) Courtesy-Minded Metro Stands Up for Riders Who Shouldn’t Have to

Link to story in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/26/AR2009052603286.html

RAILROADS

5) Latest Edition of Signal Online

Link to newsletter of the European Rail Traffic Management System:

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/rail/interoperability/ertms/doc/012_signal_2009_05_en.pdf

ROADWAYS

6) New Sign Will Count and Display Accident-Free Days on US 2 in Washington State

Link to story in The Snohomish Times:
http://www.snohomishtimes.com/snohomishNEWS.cfm?inc=story&newsID=563

7) Rolling Wheel Deflectometer – Network-Level Pavement Structural Evaluation – Measuring Deflection at Highway Speeds

Link to further information from the Federal Highway Administration:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/management/rwd/index.cfm

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) US-VISIT Tests New Approaches to Exit System

DHS will start testing two methods for electronically collecting and transmitting biometric data on non-citizens as they leave the US through airports.

Link to story in Federal Computer Week:

http://fcw.com/articles/2009/05/27/web-us-visit-pilots.aspx

9) Ohio Troopers to Power Radios with Solar

Link to story in The Columbus Dispatch:

http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/05/28/z-apoh_greencruisers_0528.ART_ART_05-28-09_B6_1KE0FQ4.html?sid=101

TELEMATICS

10) Sync Gets Traffic Application

Link to story in the Detroit Free Press:

http://www.freep.com/article/20090528/BUSINESS01/905280459/1210/BUSINESS/Sync+gets+traffic+application

TRANSIT

11) Is God Dead? Or Just Not Riding the Bus?

Link to story in Time:

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1901301,00.html

12) Laval Commuters to Receive GPS Bus Updates

Link to story in The Gazette:

http://www.montrealgazette.com/Technology/Laval+unveil+updates/1636772/story.html

13) DC Metro Posting Signs for Next Bus Return

Link to column in The Washington Post:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2009/05/metro_posting_signs_for_next_b.html

News Releases

1) NTSB Expands Release of Accident Investigation Public Dockets Available on Web Site Beginning Next Week

2) DOT Secretary LaHood, US CTO Chopra, EPA Advisor Sussman, T&I Chairman Oberstar, Ranking Member Mica, Other Officials to Explore ITS Solutions to Nation’s Transportation, Economic, Environmental Challenges

3) Flyte Systems Installs Live Airline Information at LAX Airport Parking Complex – Will Also Include National Weather and Traffic Information for the Los Angeles Area

4) Brighter Lights On Roads at Night May Make Older Drivers Less Cautious: Ryerson Study

Upcoming Events

Intelligent Transportation Systems in the Airport Environment – August 3-5 – Salt Lake City

http://events.aaae.org/sites/090801/index.cfm

Today in Transportation History

1959 **50^th anniversary** – Two monkeys became the first living creatures to survive a space flight.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/28/newsid_3725000/3725961.stm

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

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

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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

(Source: TreeHugger; HuffingtonPost & Bike Europe)

While news of the four-wheel variety remains bleak with news that GM is on the brinkof bankruptcy, news for the two wheel set is mostly good. In fact, more bicycles were bought in the first quarter of 2009 than cars and trucks. Dennis Markatos @ HuffingtonPost points out, the news isn’t all good. Overall, bicycle sales are down 30 percent for the year, but the good news is that bikes are outperforming cars. In total, around 2.6 million bicycles were sold, compared to less than 2.5 million cars and trucks.  That doesn’t mean all is well for the American bicycle market and it is hard to say that bicycle sales are unfazed by the recession.  In units the Americans imported 1.1 million bicycles less this year. Remarkably the average value increased by 37.2% in the same period. The average FOB value now stands at US$ 96.60 against US$ 70.41 in 2008.

But that percentage drop is slower than the35+% drop in sales for cars and trucks. Since nationwide gasoline prices are now rising above $2.40 per gallon at the pump, we may see another wave of US residents shifting to bicycles for their everyday trips. The large savings from riding a bike over short distances rather than driving can help consumer confidence and support economic recovery.

From the AASHTO Press Release:

State transportation officials are asking motorists to take a brief detour down memory lane before setting off on their summer vacations this year.  The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and its Are We There Yet? We Can Be! campaign are looking for America’s Great Road Trip stories. AASHTO is gathering these stories throughout the summer as part of a nationwide effort to highlight the joys and discoveries associated with the open road.

“It might be your first family vacation or the last one you took together before leaving home. It might be a cross-country adventure to the Grand Canyon or a trip to the ocean for the very first time. Everyone has a great road trip story,” said John Horsley, AASHTO Executive Director. “And no matter what or where you traveled, we want to share your stories in the hopes that they’ll inspire others to discover America.”

To share your “Great American Road Trip,” go to http://AreWeThereYet.transportation.org and tell your story in 300 words or less. Then check back to read what others have posted. Prizes will be awarded through random drawings each month. All great stories are welcome.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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OpenTMS – Provides Real-Time Operations System Solutions

 Open Roads’ Open TMS Enterprise is a proven off-the-shelf solution that incorporates data gathering, information dissemination, and real-time decision-making into a single, user-friendly interface.  OpenTMS is your gateway to visualizing all transportation data sources, while communicating with system operators and other users.  Our integrated platform provides a consolidated operational view of incidents, traffic congestion, weather, 911 dispatch information, and other decision-making tools.  OpenTMS is easy to use, highly scalable and configurable in all dimensions. Open Roads will be demonstrating OpenTMS at ITS America, and can be found at booth #840.  For appointments and customized demos, please call 757-546-3401 or email Steve Beckwith at slbeckwith@openroadsconsulting.com.  You can also visit us online at www.openroadsconsulting.com. 

AVIATION

1) FAA Bird Radar Tests to Expand this Summer

Link to story on AVweb:

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FAABirdRadarTestsToExpandThisSummer_200444-1.html

2) On the Radar: Bird-Proofing US Air Traffic

Link to column in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124328722028652079.html

3) Ethnic Tamil Malaysians Want Tamil Announcements at Airports

Link to story in The Hindu:

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200905261756.htm

CAMERAS

4) Texas Cities Speed Up to Beat Red Light Camera Contract Deadline

Link to story in The Dallas Morning News:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-redlights_27met.ART.State.Edition1.5100182.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) The GPS Revolution: Location, Location, Location

Link to story in BusinessWeek:

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/may2009/id20090526_735316.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index+-+temp_innovation+%2Bamp%3B+design

OTHER

6) From Traffic Signs to Furniture

Link to story in the San Francisco Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/26/DD8Q17F8MN.DTL

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

7) Transportation Security Administration to Promote Secure Flight Program

Link to story on AviationNews.net:

http://www.aviationnews.net/?do=headline&news_ID=167713

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) Aviation Groups Fight Airport Badging Rule

Link to story in Aviation Week:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=businessweekly&id=news/BADG052609.xml&headline=Aviation%20Groups%20Fight%20Airport%20Badging%20Rule

9) Transport Canada Agrees to Release Results of Child Car Seat Tests

Link to CBC News story:

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/05/26/child-car-seat-safety987.html

TRANSIT

10) Plan Would Let Chicago Transit Riders Pay with Phone

Link to story on WLS-TV:

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6832883

11) Subsidized Passes Problem for Phoenix-Area Light Rail

When riders don’t scan cards, Metro can’t recoup fares.

Link to story in The Arizona Republic:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/traffic/lightrail/articles/2009/05/26/20090526lostfares0526.html

12) It’s Open Sesame: New New York City Buses Feature Exit Sensors to Unclog Back-Door Bottleneck

Link to story in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/05/26/2009-05-26_new_buses_feature_exit_sensors.html

13) Twitter Largely Untapped by Campus Bus Services

Link to story in Metro Magazine:

http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2009/05/Twitter-largely-untapped-by-campus-bus-services.aspx

14) Israel Admits Tube Advert Map ‘Mistake’

Link to BBC News story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8063435.stm

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

15) Vancouver Braces for Olympic Traffic Nightmare with Interactive Web Tool

Link to story on itbusiness.ca:

http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=53282

News Releases

1) Pennsylvania DOT and Telvent Select Inrix Traffic for New 511 Pennsylvania Traveler Information Service

2) WirelessCar Selected to Telematics Service Provider for BMW in Europe

Upcoming Events

Workshop on Roundabouts – August 18 – Maitland, Florida

http://trc.ce.ufl.edu/Roundabouts_Workshop_2009.html

Today in Transportation History

1919 **90^th anniversary** – The NC-4, a flying boat, became the first aircraft to complete a trans-Atlantic flight.

http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/ww2Timeline/firstflight.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

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

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

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

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

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

(Source: The Brookings Institution)

The Obama administration’s move to increase vehicle fuel economy standards and reduce greenhouse gas emissions addresses the source of one-third of U.S. CO2 emissions—transportation. In this report, the authors analyze the current state of carbon emissions by metropolitan area, listing the places that emit the least per capita and proposing policy avenues to move the entire nation toward reduced climate impact.   

America’s Challenge

The nation’s carbon footprint has a distinct geography not well understood or often discussed. This report quantifies transportation and residential carbon emissions for the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, finding that metro area residents have smaller carbon footprints than the average American, although metro footprints vary widely. Residential density and the availability of public transit are important to understanding carbon footprints, as are the carbon intensity of electricity generation, electricity prices, and weather. 

Limitations of Existing Federal Policy
Numerous market and policy distortions inhibit metropolitan actors from more aggressively addressing the nation’s climate challenge. Economy-wide problems include underpriced energy, underfunded energy research, missing federal standards, distorted utility regulations, and inadequate information. Policy impediments include a bias against public transit, inadequate federal leadership on freight and land-use planning, failure to encourage energy- and location-efficient housing decisions, and the fragmentation of federal transportation, housing, energy, and environmental policies. 

A New Federal Approach
Federal policy could play a powerful role in helping metropolitan areas—and so the nation—shrink their carbon footprint further. In addition to economy-wide policies to motivate action, five targeted policies are particularly important within metro areas and for the nation as a whole:

• Promote more transportation choices to expand transit and compact development options
• Introduce more energy-efficient freight operations with regional freight planning
• Require home energy cost disclosure when selling and “on-bill” financing to stimulate and scale up energy-efficient retrofitting of residential housing
• Use federal housing policy to create incentives for energy- and location-efficient decisions
• Issue a metropolitan challenge to develop innovative solutions that integrate multiple policy areas

Click here to Read/Download Full Report