TransportGooru

Your colleagues are already taking advantage of the USDOT’s web-based textbook on intelligent transportation systems, the ITS ePrimer. It’s not too late to jump on the bandwagon. Visit the USDOT website and explore the electronic resource’s in-depth modules describing key ITS topics.

The ITS ePrimer helps transportation professionals and students better understand how ITS is integrated into the planning, design, deployment, and operations of surface transportation systems. It’s both a stand-alone reference document for practitioners as well as a text for education and training programs.

Image Courtesy: ITS JPO @ USDOT

Each module includes interactive content via video and web links. Learn more about:

• Systems Engineering
• Transportation Management Systems
• Traffic Operations
• Personal Transportation
• Freight, Intermodal, and Commercial Vehicle Operations
• Public Transportation
• Electronic Toll Collection and Pricing
• Supporting ITS Technologies
• Rural and Regional ITS Applications
• Sustainable Transportation
• Institutional Issues
• Connected Vehicles
• Emerging Issues.

The ePrimer is a free resource offered via the USDOT website. All materials can be downloaded for later use.

What are you waiting for? Click here and expand your knowledge now!

Strategic Economics is a consulting and research firm specializing in urban, regional and real estate economics.  The firm assists local governments, transit agencies, developers, and non-profit organizations in understanding the economic and development context in which they operate. The outcome of our work is to help organizations take strategic steps towards creating high quality places for people to live and work.

Strategic Economics is seeking to hire an Associate I, with knowledge and interest in urban planning and real estate economics.

This position will work on a variety of projects that may include: real estate market analysis; fiscal impact analysis; transit-oriented development strategies; and regional economic development strategies. The following skills and experience are required:

• Masters degree in city planning, public policy or a related field is required.
• Strong analytical skills – The applicant must have experience analyzing various data sources, including Census and employment data.
• Familiarity with one or more of the following areas: statistical analysis, regional economic analysis, pro forma modeling, market analysis, and/or fiscal analysis.
• Strong proficiency with Excel, ArcView (GIS), Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint
• Excellent writing skills
• Some consulting experience preferred

Creative thinkers are encouraged to apply. The ability to manage budgets, deadlines, and other staff as well as demonstrated experience with independent work and leadership is highly desirable.

The position is full-time and available immediately.  Salary is commensurate with experience.

Qualified candidates please submit your cover letter, resume and work sample to hr@strategiceconomics.com.  Incomplete submittals will not be considered or reviewed.

Strategic Economics is an equal opportunity employer.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

Please join us for Session 651, The Six-Minute Pitch: Transportation Start-up Challenge

Tuesday, January 14, 2014 3:45PM – 5:30PM, Marriott Salon 3

Sponsored by the TRB Young Members Counci

In this exciting session, young professionals pitch their ideas for the “next big thing” to a panel of successful transportation industry entrepreneurs and investors in just 6 min or less. Following each pitch, the panel will provide immediate feedback on the market potential, business model, and the incorporation of innovative technologies or techniques and the latest research in the pitch. An honorary winner will be declared at the end of this fast-paced, interactive session.

Event Date & Time: January 15, 2:30PM-5:30PM

Venue:
Organization of American States
Padilha Vidal Meeting Room (Terrace Level)
1889 F Street NW
Washington DC 20006

GTFS in the World, a follow-up to the GTFS for the Rest of Us event in November 2013, kicks off on January 15th during the Transportation Research Board annual meeting week, and you’re invited to take part. Everyone is welcome and this is a free event.

To facilitate entry into the building, please RSVP, arrive a little early, and bring ID.

At the event’s end, we will continue conversations at an establishment close by TBA.

Click here to RSVP

The 2014 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas has already been abuzz with so many cool innovations targeting the transportation market.. here is one of the coolest gadget and it comes with three wheels from the famed stables of a Japanese OEM.. Say hello to the Toyota i-Road concept.   Check out the Verge doing a test drive of this cool two-seater around a parking lot and offer his 2 cents worth. As Josh noted, this would make for a perfect commuter vehicle, especially for those congested urban areas.   

Originally debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 2013, this battery operated beauty is a hybrid between a car and a motorcycle and rolls on three wheels.. Gizmag notes that the i-Road is an electric personal mobility vehicle with two in-line seats, that leans into the corners like a motorcycle. With only five horsepower, a top speed of 45 km/h (30 mph), and a range of 50 km (30 mi), the i-Road is aimed squarely at an urban transport market.

Check out this awesome video from Streetfilms.. This compilation of changes in New York City’s transportation infrastructure documented over a period of time clearly shows that streets and public spaces designed for people, and not for cars, inspire folks to come out and enjoy the facilities, there by making the community as a whole more vibrant and lively..

I can only imagine the economic vitality this has added to the businesses in the neighborhoods as more people stepped away from their cars and instead walked/biked to the businesses. Thanks to the bold vision (and the subsequent execution) set forth by the outgoing City Transportation Commission, Janette Sadik-Khan and her boss, Mayor Bloomberg, the city has now become a model to emulate when it comes to implementing sustainable transportation solutions.

University of Michigan is building/billing itself as the “go-to” place for testing autonomous vehicles (i.e., driverless cars). .. Check it out.

Image Courtesy: Victor Bezrukov @ http://www.victorbezrukov.com/

A beautiful capture of a busy intersection in TelAviv, Israel by photographer Victor Bezrukov that came to light when it got shared via National Geographic.  His commentary “one of the most loaded but the most beautiful junctions in TelAviv. Taken from the balcony located on the floor 45 of Electra building.”  A friend on Facebook had this much to say when he shared this: “Trying to solve traffic jams by widening roads is like trying to fight obesity adding holes to the belt”. There is so much truth to that profound statement.  Good thing is that in the middle of this monstrous interchange you can spot a dedicated transit infrastructure (my tired eyes tell me that it is a transit rail line; or a BRT?). And the next question that popped up in my mind is how many more cars would be there in that intersection if that transit infrastructure doesn’t exist?  Let’s not forget that this is just one intersection in one metropolitan city and there are many such cities with many mega intersections and now you can imagine the challenges we face from a mobility and environmental perspective.

via Reason.TV

Reason.TV has compiled this funny video (with a subtle jab at the Transportation Security Administration) in time for the holiday travel season. As you board planes this holiday, please be aware of 12 actual banned items from the TSA. :)