(Source: Washington Post)
Here’s a look at what drivers will encounter during the construction phase of Virginia DOT’s HOT lanes project at the Braddock Road interchange. The project will create special lanes on the Beltway open to high-occupancy vehicles, or those willing to pay a toll.
(Source: Washington Post)
Metro knocked down one of the bigger barriers to competition in the D.C. area’s wireless-phone market Friday afternoon by announcing thatall four nationwide wireless carriers would offer service in its subway stations and tunnels.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s press release led off with words that many Metro riders have been waiting for years to read: “Metro riders will be able to call home from any cell phone.”
Today, the only signal to reach Metro’s underground stretches comes from Verizon Wireless; Sprint users can roam on that signal, but AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile subscribers are out of luck. It’s an awkward little detail that I’ve had make part of my standard guidance to people shopping for wireless-phone service.
That Friday-afternoon release went on to explain that Metro’s board approved an agreement with AT&T Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon to “build a new wireless infrastructure in the underground rail system during the next four years.” The first results will appear pretty soon:
Click here to read the entire article.
(Source: Washington Post)
In the viability plans General Motors and Chrysler submitted to support their federal aid requests, the companies pledged to try to meet new fuel economy standards.
GM said that within six years its cars would average 38.6 miles per gallon. Chrysler proposed 35.4 mpg.
Yet whether those levels will be enough to meet new federal fuel efficiency standards is unknown because even as the Obama administration is trying to revive the American car industry, it is simultaneously drafting tougher fuel economy standards of the kind that many in the industry had said were bad for business.
If the administration opts for tougher rules, it could make its own auto rescue efforts more expensive and more complex.
Balancing the two goals — saving the industry and the environment — has emerged as a test of the administration’s aims. And the decisions the president’s auto task force must make in the coming weeks give it broad leverage to shape not only the industry’s finances but its product lines.
Click here to read the entire article.
(Source: New York Times)
Kansas will widen U.S. Route 69 to remove a bottleneck outside Kansas City, along with three other expensive projects. Maryland will spend its money in smaller pieces, resurfacing dozens of rutted roads and highways. Colorado will build an interchange on Elk Creek Road in Jefferson County, complete with an underpass for the elk.
Click here to read the entire article.
(Source: PBS Blueprint for America)
Driverless cars, intelligent traffic signals, road signs that speak to cars and cars that speak to drivers… These are not the dreams of mad scientists working in a remote region of the country. These are not part of an upcoming episode of a new series on the Sci-Fi channel either. But, these technologies might help save 21,000 of the 43,000 deaths annually recorded on America’s highways.
Such cars and road infrastructure were showcased on the streets of New York City in November 2008 for the world’s largest Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems. Blueprint America was there and brought back this report.
(Source: Whitehouse.gov via Planetizen)
Excerpts from the Vice-President Biden’s address:
Just two weeks after signing that legislation, we’re about to start the biggest investment on our nation’s road, bridges, highways and tunnels since we built the Interstate Highway System over 50 years ago. It’s a big deal. The work is beginning now, with hundreds more projects getting underway in the next few months. Some project will start this month, some won’t get going until the summer. We’re going to do everything we can to get them moving as quickly as possible. But Americans didn’t get in this mess overnight. And unfortunately, unfortunately, it’s going to take some time for us to get out of this.
Mr. President, you also made it clear that we have an obligation to the taxpayers of this nation to make sure their money is being used wisely, to make it accountable and transparent. Folks, we’re going to ask of you a sense of diligence and transparency and responsibility as has not been asked before, because we’ve never made this kind of investment before. This is a big deal. Never before in the history of this country have the people been more able to see with such complete transparency how we’re going to put their money to work, not just in this agency but particularly here.
Excerpts from President Obama’s address:
Of the 3.5 million jobs that will be created and saved over the next two years as a result of this recovery plan, 400,000 will be jobs rebuilding our crumbling roads, bridges, and schools, repairing our faulty levees and dams, connecting nearly every American to broadband, and upgrading the buses and trains that commuters take every day. Many of these projects will be coordinated by Secretary LaHood and all of you at the Department of Transportation. And I want you to know that the American public is grateful to public servants like you — men and women whose work isn’t always recognized, but whose jobs are critical to our nation’s safety, security, and prosperity. You have never been more important than you are right now, and for that we are all grateful. (Applause.)
Now, in the coming days and weeks, my administration will be announcing more details about the kinds of transportation projects that will be launched as part of the recovery plan. But today, I want to speak about an investment we are making in one part of our infrastructure. Through the Recovery Act, we will be investing $28 billion in our highways, money that every one of our 50 states can start using immediately to put people back to work. It’s an investment being made at an unprecedented pace, thanks in large part to Joe Biden, who’s leading the effort to get the money out the door quickly. Because of Joe, and because of all the governors and mayors, county and city officials who are helping implement this plan, I can say that 14 days after I signed our Recovery Act into law, we are seeing shovels hit the ground.
(Source: Room for Debate, a New York Times blog)
(Photo: Librado Romero/The New York Times) In Times Square, pedestrians often find themselves maneuvering among cars blocking the intersections.
The pedestrian mall, the urban planner’s failed attempt to revitalize Main Streets during the 1960s and 70s, is back!
This week, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that cars would be barred from several blocks of Broadway, including Herald Square and Times Square. He said the changes would relieve traffic congestion and crowded sidewalks – far different problems from what spawned the pedestrian malls of the 70s. And it’s not just New York that’s rethinking this old idea. San Francisco is considering restrictions on private cars on Market Street, the city’s main artery.
When do these car-free zones succeed? And why have they left streets deserted and unappealing in the past?
Click here to read more.
Registration for the 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) is now open. The three-day conference, held June 1-3, 2009 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland (just inside the Washington, DC metropolitan area), provides the intelligent transportation systems (ITS) industry with a forum to learn about and share insights on the latest advancements in ITS technologies. Don’t miss this opportunity to find answers to your toughest transportation challenges, meet your legislators on Capitol Hill, see ITS solutions in action, and take home ideas for implementation, and learn from your peers. Be sure to take advantage of the early-bird registration rates which are available through March 31. Click here to register at the early bird rate or here for more information on the 2009 Annual Meeting.ITS America Annual Meeting 2009
Transportation Communications Newsletter
Tuesday, March 3, 2009 — ISSN 1529-1057
Registration Now Open for ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition
Registration for the 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) is now open. The three-day conference, held June 1-3, 2009 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland (just inside the Washington, DC metropolitan area), provides the intelligent transportation systems (ITS) industry with a forum to learn about and share insights on the latest advancements in ITS technologies. Don’t miss this opportunity to find answers to your toughest transportation challenges, meet your legislators on Capitol Hill, see ITS solutions in action, and take home ideas for implementation, and learn from your peers. Be sure to take advantage of the early-bird registration rates which are available through March 31. Click here to register at the early bird rate or here for more information on the 2009 Annual Meeting.
AVIATION
1) Airports Court Airlines in Speed Dating Event
Link to story in The Dallas Morning News:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/030309dnbusdfw.3c2e364.html
Link to further information from Network USA 2009: http://www.networkusa09.com/
GPS / NAVIGATION
2) Navigon Talks Up the Role of Voice in Safe Driving
New features on navigation devices include parking information and learning motorists’ driving styles.
Link to IDG News story:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/160465/navigon_talks_up_the_role_of_voice_in_safe_driving.html
Link to news release from Navigon:
http://navigonusa.com/about/press/default.aspx?d=2009-03-02b
3) Garmin Introduces Nuvi GPSs with Pedestrian Navigation
Link to story in PC Magazine:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2342262,00.asp
Link to news release from Garmin:
4) TomTom Keeps Up with Tech, Costs
Link to story in Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/03/tomtom-gps-goddijn-markets-face-0303_geneva_21.html
OTHER
5) Council Formed to Improve Access to Emergency Phone Services
The N11/8XX Essential Services Interoperability Council will promote interoperability and access to the suite of services provided through N11 and 8XX numbers.
Link to story in Government Computer News:
http://gcn.com/articles/2009/03/03/nesic-formed.aspx
6) Add-On Software Apps Make iPhone a Great Travel Partner
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2009-03-02-iphone-travel-apps_N.htm
PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION
7) US Stimulus Projects to Feature New Emblem
Link to story in the Washington Business Journal:
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/03/02/daily42.html
ROADWAYS
8) Philippine Department of Transportation and Communications Launches Road Safety Program vs Giant Billboards
Link to story in The Daily Tribune:
http://www.tribune.net.ph/metro/20090303met2.html
SAFETY / SECURITY
9) Some Texas School Districts Seek End to Bus Evacuation Drills
Link to story in The Dallas Morning News:
Link to further information from the National Transportation Safety Board:
http://www.ntsb.gov/events/journalist/lessons/LL_school_bus_training.pdf
TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT
10) Tennessee DOT Investigates Massive Backup
Agency plans new Web site procedures to alert drivers and improved information on 511 system.
Link to story and video on WMC-TV:
http://www.wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?s=9932373
11) The View from Above: Take Mass Transit
A profile of New York City traffic reporter Tom Kaminski.
Link to story in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/nyregion/03experience.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all
Link to further information from WCBS-AM:
http://www.wcbs880.com/pages/2432.php?contentType=4&contentId=93014
VEHICLES
12) BMW Explores the New ‘Key’ to Payments
Carmaker hopes to use vehicle keys for purchases and other purposes.
Link to story in ContaclessNews:
http://www.contactlessnews.com/2009/03/03/bmw-explores-the-new-key-to-payments
News Releases
2) Transite Technology Launches New Web Site and Marketing Initiatives
3) Connected Vehicle Proponents to Ask: Is It Time for Internet in Cars?
Upcoming Events
Maritime Security Forum – March 25 – New London, Connecticut
http://www.navysna.org/CGForum/Index.htm
Today in Transportation History
1879 **130th anniversary** – The United States Geological Survey was created.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/c1050/
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The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.
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Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast ati95berniew@aol.com.
© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast
The U.S. Department of Transportation today awarded the United We Ride/Mobility for All Americans joint demonstration grants to the following recipients:
1. Lower Savannah Council of Governments – $680,000 grant to provide enhanced, cost-effective transportation choices for older adults, people with disabilities and low-income populations in Aiken, SC. The Lower Savannah Council of Governments is using the funding for planning and designing an expanded human service transportation network to include more human service transportation providers and vehicle tracking abilities such as global positioning systems (GPS) and to enable customers to receive information and manage their own trips through a toll-free number and web-based applications.
2. Camden County Workforce Investment Board – $700,000 grant to provide enhanced, cost-effective transportation choices for older adults, people with disabilities and low-income populations in Camden County, NJ. The Camden County Workforce Investment Board is using the funding for planning and designing a transportation brokerage system supported by a comprehensive set of transportation modes, and for promoting fixed-route public transportation usage for human service clients through accessibility improvement.
3. Paducah Area Transit System – $1.4 million grant to provide enhanced, cost-effective transportation choices for older adults, people with disabilities and low-income populations in Paducah, KY. The Paducah Area Transit System is using the funding for the expansion of an existing call center to cover a larger geographic area and provide around-the-clock access to traveler support. The strengthened call center will add customer-oriented features, such as automated telephone and Internet-based trip reservations and management.
The United We Ride/Mobility for All Americans joint demonstration adopts a two-phased approach. Eight sites were selected to in 2007 participate in Phase 1, which is system planning and design. These three Phase 1 sites are selected to move forward to system deployment, the second phase of the program.
Funding for the demonstration is provided by the Intelligent Transportation System Joint Program Office of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration in Partnership with the Federal Transit Administration
