TransportGooru

Build your skills and expand your knowledge thru CITE’s upcoming blended course offerings

Telecommunications is the backbone of all ITS applications. It provides the means for sending data, voice, and video information between devices. This course is a primer on telecommunications for the ITS professional with little or no formal training in telecommunications. With so many ITS projects now requiring a telecommunications aspect, this course is a must for project managers. More information can be found here:http://goo.gl/ueHHr.

–  Advanced Telecommunications Technology- April 8 thru May 22, 2011 – The overall goal of this course is to provide a system-level understanding of the operation of modern broadband transportation communications networks. This course focuses on how to plan and implement telecommunications networks to support a major Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) infrastructure.  More information can be found here: http://goo.gl/upAQU.

All course materials are on-line but students have access to course instructors through three pre-scheduled conference calls. Cost is $250 each; $400 for two. Questions, please contact Denise Twisdale (301-403-4592) or Kathy Frankle (410-414-2925).

The Real-Time Data Capture and Management Program Announces a Test Data Sets Request for Procurement (RFP) and Request for Applications (RFA), issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on 2/5/11 with the proposal due date of 4:00 PM EDT on 3/15/11.

An initial offering to “Clean-up of Existing Data Sets to Support Dynamic Mobility Applications Development,” was issued on 2/5/11 with the proposal due date of 4:00 PM EDT on 3/15/11.  As a result of this solicitation, FHWA anticipates collecting multiple “cleaned up” research-ready data sets that meet the minimum requirements of this solicitation and program objectives, within available resources.

The Request for Applications (RFA) DTFH61-11-RA-00004 can be found on www.Grants.gov at:
http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/oppDTFH61-11-RA-00004-cfda20.200-instructions.pdf

A solicitation notice (synopsis) for a full and open competition entitled “Test Data Sets to Support Dynamic Mobility Applications Development,” was issued on 2/5/11 with the proposal due date of 4:00 PM EDT on 3/15/11.  The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) intends to make multiple awards to obtain existing well-documented, quality data sets available from recent or ongoing operations, field tests, or simulations of emerging technologies supporting mobility, environment, transit, freight, weather, and other surface transportation research. FHWA intends to award multiple contracts and/or cooperative agreements to fund the following tasks: data clean up of existing data sets, data integration, documentation of data set contents and formats, addition of meta-data to the data set, and provision of data sets in final form to FHWA.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) DTFH61-11-R-00010 can be found on http://www.FedBiz.Opps at:
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=db892596312f21e9508d6ae4f70faf31&tab=core&_cview=1

The Real-Time Data Capture and Management Program is a multimodal program of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office, a program office of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).Additional information can be found at: http://www.its.dot.gov/

Tuesday, February 8, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Discuss Federal Legislative Initiatives at IBTTA Legislative Conference – March 7-8, Washington, DC

The interest in new business approaches from all-electronic tolling to distance-based road charging will require new relationships and collaboration as well as new legislative and regulatory support.  Attend IBTTA’s Legislative Conference to better understand and influence federal and state policymaking.  Delegates will have the opportunity to visit with members of Congress during a reception at the U.S. Capitol.  Visit www.IBTTA.org to view the preliminary agenda, register, and learn about sponsorship opportunities. To view IBTTA’s entire 2011 Education Series, click here.

OTHER

1) ITS Market Snapshot: ITS Spending – A New Model

Link to further information from Katz Strategy:

http://www.katzstrategy.com/report.html

ROADWAYS

2) Bangalore Police Receive Award for Effective Traffic Management

Agency recognized for having the most modern technology-driven traffic enforcement system in India.

Link to article on DNA:

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_bangalore-police-lauded-for-effective-traffic-management_1504820

SAFETY / SECURITY

3) Bill Proposed in US Senate to Protect Airport Body Scan Images

Link to article in Computerworld:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9208651/Sens._Schumer_Nelson_propose_bill_to_protect_airport_body_scan_images

Link to news release from Senator Ben Nelson:

http://bennelson.senate.gov/press/press_releases/Inappropriate-Release-Of-Body-Scan-Images-Should-Be-A-Felony.cfm

TELEMATICS

4) Every Move You Make

The logistics industry has adopted a passive attitude toward GPS.

Link to article in LogisticsWeek:

http://logisticsweek.com/feature/2011/02/every-move-you-make/

TRANSIT

5) Refusal of Seattle Bus Ads Came on Fear of Attacks

Link to article in The Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014158893_busads08m.html

6) Melbourne SmartBus Fails IQ Test

Faulty electronic timetables are confusing passengers.

Link to article in the Banyule & Nillumbik Weekly:

http://www.banyuleandnillumbikweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/smartbus-fails-iq-test/2069869.aspx

7) Opening the Loop with Transit Programs

Bank-issued cards remove transit agencies from issuance game.

Link to article in ContactlessNews:

http://www.contactlessnews.com/2011/02/08/opening-the-loop-with-transit-programs

8) The Good Wait – What Those Subway Countdown Clocks do to Your Brain

Link to article in New York:

http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/70983/

9) MBTA General Manager: ‘We Must Do a Better Job’

Following month filled with snow, GM says agency must do a better job of communicating with riders.

Link to blog in The Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/02/mbta_general_ma_1.html

10) Online ‘Map Movies’: Useful?

Link to blog on Human Transit:

http://www.humantransit.org/2011/02/online-map-movies-useful.html

Link to map movie from Rotherham Metro Borough Council:

http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/info/10082/public_transport-information_and_advice/1614/rotherham_map_movie

11) DC Metro Trackwork Announcements Take Tentative Step Forward

Link to blog on Greater Greater Washington:

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9066/metro-trackwork-announcements-take-tentative-step-forward/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

12) Storm Points to Significance of South Dakota 511 System Changes

Link to editorial in the Argus Leader:

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20110208/VOICES01/102080314/-1/voices01/Editorial-Storm-points-significance-511-system-changes

VEHICLES

13) Electronic Flaws Did Not Cause Toyota Problems, US Says

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/business/09auto.html

Link to news release from NHTSA:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2011/U.S.+Department+of+Transportation+Releases+Results+from+NHTSA-NASA+Study+of+Unintended+Acceleration+in+Toyota+Vehicles

14) EPA Digs Up Way to Collect In-Use Emissions Data from Construction Vehicles

Link to article in Off Highway Engineering:

http://www.sae.org/mags/SOHE/9258

News Releases

1) Michigan DOT Posts Winter Safety Message on YouTube

2) Northrop Grumman Delivers Europe’s First Runway Status Light Control System at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris

3) City of Stockholm Calls for Intelligent Transport Solutions

4) GEWI Newsletter – January/February 2011 Edition

5) Waze Launches First Real-Time Community Voice Alerts to Warn Fellow iPhone Drivers of Road Hazards Ahead

6) Transit Buzz TV Reaches 30-Million Monthly Viewers

7) High-Resolution Cameras Now Standard for Transit and Rail Video Surveillance System

8) Global Alert Network and AccuWeather.com Partner to Launch National Location-Based Weather Alert System for Mobile Phones

9) Ford Launches National High School Safe Driving Tour

10) Wi-Fi Usage at Boston Logan Jumps 400% in 2010

Solicitation

–  Request for Procurement – Test Data Sets to Support Dynamic Mobility Applications Development – FHWA

http://www.its.dot.gov/procurements/procurement_announcement.htm

Upcoming Events

10^th Annual UK & European Rail Stations Conference – March 1 – London

http://landor.co.uk/railstations

Today in Transportation History

1971 **40^th anniversary** South Vietnamese forces enter Laos in an effort to disrupt logistics on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,876899,00.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

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

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

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

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

Monday, February 7, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Close Calls in the Skies: FAA Reporting Methods Questioned

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/04/AR2011020406956.html

2) British Airlines Warn Tories Not to Sell Stake in Air Traffic Control

Link to article in The Observer:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/feb/06/nats-airlines-government-stake-selloff

3) Air New Zealand to Allow Calls, Texts on New Plane

Link to article in The New Zealand Herald:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10704698

4) How Airports Can Use Technology to Improve the Customer Experience

Link to article on Tnooz:

http://www.tnooz.com/2011/02/04/how-to/how-airports-can-use-technology-to-improve-the-customer-experience

CAMERAS

5) Victorian Government Denies Release of Speed Camera Locations Will Raise Road Toll

Link to article in the Herald Sun:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/speed-camera-blitz-in-the-suburbs/story-e6frf7kx-1226001064979

GPS / NAVIGATION

6) ‘Death by GPS’ in Desert

Navigation devices being depended upon in wilderness areas with deadly results.

Link to article in The Sacramento Bee:

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/30/3362727/death-by-gps-in-desert.html

OTHER

7) Chat with Siddhartha Banerjee, Developer of Meter Down, a Rickshaw and Taxi Fare Calculator

Link to article on Tech2:

http://tech2.in.com/india/topstuff/mobiletablet-apps-software/chat-with-siddhartha-bannerjee-developer-of-meter-down/190942/0

8) Cairo Taxi Guide App Released for Free Due to Situation in Egyptian Capital

Link to further information from iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cairo-taxi-guide/id416874893?mt=8

9) Presentations from FOT-Net Webinar, ‘Cooperation Needs on Field Operational Tests’

Link to further information and presentations from FOT-Net:

http://www.fot-net.eu/en/news__events/events/past_fot_events/fot-net_webinar_took__place_on_03_february_1400_cet.htm

PARKING

10) A New App Can Help you Park in Hollywood

Link to story and video on KNBC-TV:

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/station/as-seen-on/A_New_App_Can_Help_You_Park_in_Hollywood_Los_Angeles-112355369.html

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

11) Sharing the Value of Transit

Link to blog in Mass Transit:

http://news.cygnusb2bmail.com/portal/wts/cgmcFeaAq9qbaC8DefjbsxcBjx37a

ROADWAYS

12) Kansas City, Kansas Police Use Forensic Mapping to Investigate Accidents

Link to article in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/public-safety/Kansas-City-Police-Use-Forensic-Mapping-to-Investigate-Accidents.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

13) Airport Checkpoints of the Future

Personal data will be used to score passengers.

Link to article in Aviation Week and Space Technology:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news/awst/2011/02/07/AW_02_07_2011_p43-279149.xml

14) February Issue of The Responder

Link to newsletter:

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnx0aW1uZXR3b3Jrc2l0ZXxneDozZDNmNzI5Mjg3YWJkMzEz

TRANSIT

15) Taking Mobile Digital Signage to a New Level

Link to article in Mass Transit:

http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2011/02/03/taking-mobile-digital-signage-to-a-new-level/

16) What’s the Best TriMet App Out There? Easy: PDX Bus (by a Mile)

Link to column in The Oregonian:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2011/02/andrew_wallace_inventor_of_pdx.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

17) South Dakota 511 Road Test

Link to story and video on KELO-TV:

http://www.keloland.com/News/NewsDetail6371.cfm?Id=110346

18) Spread of Smart Phones Eases Holiday Traffic Congestion in South Korea

Link to article in The Chosun Ilbo:

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/02/07/2011020700548.html

19) Rare Look Inside Virginia DOT Control Room

Link to story and video on WAVY-TV:

http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/rare-look-inside-vdot-control-room

20) More 411 Would have Helped Drivers Trapped on Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive

Link to column in the Chicago Tribune:

http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2011/02/more-411-would-have-helped-the-lsd-911.html

VEHICLES

21) Europe’s Cars Adopt Daytime Lights to Boost Safety

Link to AFP article:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hvkCrDH_d0tFk8c6t5DJ6bWfBFJg?docId=CNG.f633c1f93ead7c4ea82895634cdfeeaf.721

Link to further information from the EU:

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/pdf/projects/drl.pdf

22) Give Your Dashboard the Finger

An in-car interface helps drivers keep their hands on the wheel.

Link to article in Technology Review:

http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/32251/

23) For Car Cassette Decks, Play Time is Over

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/automobiles/06AUDIO.html

News Releases

1) Sensis to Design NextGen Airspace Procedures for High-Density Airport Terminal Areas

2) TripAdvisor Acquires EveryTrail, Expands Mobile Travel Offering

3) Digital Signage Federation Releases Digital Signage Privacy Standards

4) New Washington State Good to Go! Statewide Customer Service Center to Feature Enhanced Web Site and Pass Options for Electronic Tolls

Upcoming Events

Webinar: Organizational Change – Supporting Effective ITS Deployment in State and Local Government – February 9

http://webportal.itsa.org/Events/ViewEventDetail.aspx?code=68a25752-cb19-e011-9979-00142210ec9e

Today in Transportation History

1961 **50^th anniversary** The Manned Lunar Landing Task Group, chaired by George M. Low, delivered a report to NASA saying a manned landing on the moon was possible before the end of the decade.

http://www.lib.rpi.edu/Archives/history/presidents/low,gm.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

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

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

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

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

(Source: Huffington Post;  Daily Mail, UK)

We continue to hear from our officials how distracting cell phones are while operating a motor vehicle. Some states and law makers along with the Secretary of transportation have mounted a very vocal campaign to educate the driving public about this growing problem.

If that is not enough of a problem caused by the proliferation of mobile devices, now we have one more form of distraction – this one involving pedestrians totally distracted by their electronic devices such as cellphones and handheld music/gaming units.  Interestingly, some of these incidents are captured by surveillance cameras fitted at the facilities where such accidents happen. Here is one such incident involving a 10-yr old boy who was playing video games on his PSP.  The boy who was accompanied by his parents fell off the platform onto the tracks at a local station in Italy but was luckily there was no oncoming train and also a police officer on duty saw the boy go off the edge and jumped on the tracks to save him.

This other widely circulated video was taken at a shopping mall, shows a young woman, Cathy Marrero, walking straight into a pool of water in a decorative fountain all the while texting her friend on a cell phone. What’s more interesting is Ms. Marrero is now suing the mall management for publicizing the video.

Grrr.. Technology can be a boon and at times like this it can be bane too. There is nothing one can do to stop such incidents unless the users of such devices realize such potential dangers and walk carefully.  Amazingly, Cathy Marrero who suffered the humiliating fall in the mall has a message for everyone, especially the younger generation, out there – HANG UP and WALK or else you could risk getting hurt/killed/humiliated.

Thursday, February 3, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

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MARITIME

1) Integrated Maritime Monitoring System Launched in Bulgaria

Link to article in The Sofia Echo:

http://www.sofiaecho.com/2011/02/03/1036380_integrated-maritime-monitoring-system-launched-in-bulgaria

TELEMATICS

2) Auto Insurers Get New Window on Driving Habits

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704775604576120361954865544.html

TRANSIT

3) Edmonton Transit to Test System to Provide Real-Time Bus Updates

Link to article in the Edmonton Journal:

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/location+system+technology+costs+city+test/4215475/story.html

4) Beefed-Up MBTA Still Falters Under Blizzard of Visitors

Link to article in the Boston Herald:

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/on_the_t/index.php/2011/02/01/beefed-up-mbta-still-falters-under-blizzard-of-visitors/

Link to MBTA site: http://www.mbta.com/

5) Firms Make Deals with New York MTA to Sell Transit-Themed Signs, Apparel

Link to article in Crain’s New York Business:

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20110130/SMALLBIZ/301309982

6) What are Best Practices in Transit Branding, Marketing and Communications?

Link to blog on The City Fix:

http://thecityfix.com/what-are-best-practices-in-transit-branding-marketing-and-communications/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

7) New 24-Hour Traffic Channel on Philadelphia TV Finding Viewers

Link to article in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20110203_New_24-hour_traffic_channel_on_TV_here_finding_viewers.html

Link to further information on Tango Traffic: http://tangotraffic.com/

8) Motorists in Tennessee Hunger for Helpful Traffic Updates

State says it’s unlikely to provide updates on congestion due to limited information.

Link to article in The Tennessean:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110202/WILLIAMSON12/102020330/Motorists-hunger-helpful-traffic-updatesthe

9) American Idle: On the Road

To shorten ever-growing commutes, will drivers pay money to take faster lanes, avoid traffic?

Link to column in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703445904576118082299960882.html

VEHICLES

10) New Nevada Director Says ‘DMV in a Box’ Proposal Will Revolutionize Service

Proposal would provide self-service kiosks around state.

Link to Nevada News Bureau article:

http://www.nevadanewsbureau.com/2011/02/02/new-dmv-director-says-dmv-in-a-box-proposal-will-revolutionize-service/

11) Apple Update Foils Toyotas

Link to article in The Sydney Morning Herald:

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/cartech/apple-update-foils-toyotas-20110201-1abkq.html

News Releases

1) FAA, JetBlue Agreement to Bring NextGen Precision to East Coast, Caribbean Routes

2) Free Wi-Fi for 200,000 Sydney Ferries Commuters

3) Case Study: Opticom Traffic Signal Priority Control for Emergency Vehicle Preemption in Savannah, Georgia

4) Al McGowan Named CEO of TrafficCast

5) Luxembourg National Railway Offers iPhone App with Timetable Information

Solicitation

–  Call for Proposals – Telematics Applications for Rail Passengers’ Services – European Commission

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/grants/2011_03_21_en.htm

Upcoming Events

Positive Train Control World Congress – February 22-24 – Miami

http://www.ptcworldcongress.com

Today in Transportation History

1961 **50^th anniversary** Operation ‘Looking Glass’ began. A US Air Force aircraft was airborne at all times to provide command and control of the US nuclear arsenal in the event of an attack which destroyed the ground-based command center.

http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0900/stories/0901_0124.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

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

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

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

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

Wednesday, February 2, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

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GEWI FREE NEWSLETTER read by thousands worldwide.

GEWI’s newsletter provides useful and practical information about global traffic technologies, customer projects and trends, and is full of ideas about real-world solutions using GEWI’s TIC product. In the next edition: how TIC3 can be used to manage parking data, how TIC3 can be used to create randomized traffic data for system testing, and details on TIC’s flexible and scalable pricing solutions for both public and private sector customers to enable progress to be made on transportation projects (even under today’s era of budgetary constraints). Sign up today to receive GEWI’s next newsletter being distributed this Friday, Feb. 4th, and then continue to receive more news six times a year.  To subscribe, simply visit, www.GEWI.com and select Newsletter Subscription.  For more information contact jim.oneill@gewi.com

AVIATION

1) Airlines Face Obligation in EU Proposal to Give Passenger Data

Link to Bloomberg article:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-02/airlines-face-obligation-in-eu-proposal-to-give-passenger-data.html

Link to news release from the EU:

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/120

2) Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to Replace Confusing Road Signs this Year

Link to article in The Arizona Republic:

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2011/02/02/20110202phoenix-sky-harbor-international-airport-new-road-signs.html

3) Delta Sends Its 11,000 Agents to Charm School

Link to column in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704775604576120080627254652.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Social Surveillance Yields Smarter Directions

Link to article in Technology Review:

http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/32250/?a=f

OTHER

5) US DOT E-rulemaking Pilot Project Encounters Minor Glitch

Link to article in Federal Computer Week:

http://fcw.com/articles/2011/02/02/dot-erulemaking-pilot-project-encounters-minor-glitch.aspx

Link to Regulation Room: http://www.regulationroom.org/

6) Articles from January/February 2011 Edition of Public Roads

–  Managing Traffic Operations During Adverse Weather Events

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/11janfeb/01.cfm

–  Twisting Roads Still Spell Trouble

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/11janfeb/02.cfm

–  Using GPR to Unearth Sensor Malfunctions

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/11janfeb/04.cfm

–  Traffic Simulation Runs: How Many Needed?

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/11janfeb/05.cfm

–  Pooling Talent and Technologies – University Transportation Centers

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/11janfeb/06.cfm

PARKING

7) San Francisco Parking Meters to Alert Drivers When Spot is Open

Link to article in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/transportation/SF-Parking-Meters-Alert-Drivers.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) TSA Tells Freedom of Information Act Requestor to Define ‘Complaint’

Link to blog in The Examiner:

http://www.sfexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/02/tsa-tells-foia-requestor-define-complaint

TELEMATICS

9) Fleet Management’s Magic Box

Link to article in World Trade:

http://www.worldtrademag.com/Articles/Feature_Article/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000988410

TRANSIT

10) Three Toronto Transit Drivers to Lose Jobs for Texting While Driving

Link to article in the Toronto Sun:

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2011/01/31/17104666.html
11) Metro-North Drives Commuters to Frustration, and Back Again

Some riders say railroad’s messages are not reflective of reality.

Link to article on New Canaan Patch:

http://newcanaan.patch.com/articles/metro-north-drives-commuters-to-frustration-and-back-again-4

12) Transit Agency Compliance with Title VI: Limited English Proficiency Requirements

Link to report from the Transportation Research Board:

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/Transit_Agency_Compliance_with_Title_VI_Limited_En_164762.aspx

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) Delaware DOT’s ‘War Room’ Technology Helps Save Time, Money Throughout the Year

Link to article in The News Journal:

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110202/NEWS02/102020351/1007/DelDOT-s–war-room–saves-time–money

14) The ‘Mega-Storm’ Bears Down on the Nation – and Radio Gears Up

Link to article on Radio-Info.com:

http://www.radio-info.com/news/the-mega-storm-bears-down-on-the-nation-and-radio-gears-up

15) Webinar Recording: North American Traffic Technology Tour – Highlights from GEWI’s 2010 Tech Demos

Link to recording via ITS America:

http://itsa.na5.acrobat.com/p15318854/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

16) February Edition of Florida DOT’s SunGuide Disseminator

Link to newsletter:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/TrafficOperations/Newsletters/2011/2011-002-Feb.pdf

VEHICLES

17) New Car Technology Tells Tailgaters to Back Off

Link to story and audio on NPR’s All Things Considered:

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/31/133374309/new-car-technology-tells-tailgaters-to-back-off

WEATHER

18) Inside Storm Central for the Chicago Area

Link to article and video in the Chicago Sun-Times:

http://www.suntimes.com/3607236-417/birk-weather-storm-romeoville-monitors.html

19) Weather.gov Weak Even Without Blizzard, Study Says

Link to article in Federal Computer Week:

http://fcw.com/articles/2011/02/02/weather.gov-performance-blizzard.aspx

Link to report from Indeep 76:

http://www.indeep76.com/weather.gov/

News Releases

1) European Council Adopts Regulation on Rights of Bus and Coach Passengers, Including Information Updates

2) Registration Now Open for the 18^th World Congress on Intelligent Transportation Systems

3) FCC Announces Membership of the Emergency Response Interoperability Center Public Safety Advisory Committee

4) Lehigh University Launches Real-Time Bus Tracking Web Site

5) Telmap Introduces Multimodal Routing as Part of the European Commission’s In-Time Project

6) Seattle DOT Launches Online Map to Show Potholes’ Status

7) Healthy Demand Among Chinese Consumers for Integration of Apps in Cars

8) The iPhone Revolution Reaches Rail in an End to Ticket Office Queues in the UK

9) City of Melbourne, Australia to Examine New Parking Technology

Solicitation

–  Call for Abstracts – 2011 Mid-Continent Transportation Research Symposium

http://www.intrans.iastate.edu/events/midcon2011/callforabstracts/

Upcoming Events

ITS Minnesota 17^th Annual Meeting & Information Exchange – March 8 – St. Paul, Minnesota

http://www.itsmn.org

Today in Transportation History

1961 **50^th anniversary** Passengers aboard the Portuguese cruise ship Santa Maria were released following a hijacking.

http://www.oceancruisenews.com/bm4.htm

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

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

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

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

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

Tuesday, February 1, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Discuss Federal Legislative Initiatives at IBTTA Legislative Conference – March 7-8, Washington, DC

The interest in new business approaches from all-electronic tolling to distance-based road charging will require new relationships and collaboration as well as new legislative and regulatory support.  Attend IBTTA’s Legislative Conference to better understand and influence federal and state policymaking.  Delegates will have the opportunity to visit with members of Congress during a reception at the U.S. Capitol.  Visit www.IBTTA.org to view the preliminary agenda, register, and learn about sponsorship opportunities. To view IBTTA’s entire 2011 Education Series, click here.

AVIATION

1) Airlines Offer Free In-Flight Facebook

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-02-01-facebook-inflight-wifi_N.htm

2) Companies Visit FAA Tech Center to Explore Role in NextGen Control System

Link to article in The Press of Atlantic City:

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/article_b7375796-2afd-11e0-b265-001cc4c03286.html

BUSES

3) The High-Tech Bus is the Fastest Growing Form of Intercity Transportation

Link to story on Transportation Nation:

http://transportationnation.org/2011/01/31/34737riding-under-the-radar-the-high-tech-intercity-bus/

Link to report from DePaul University:

http://las.depaul.edu/chaddick/docs/Docs/2010_Intercity_Bus_Study_12-29.pdf

CAMERAS

4) Study Puts Spotlight on Red Light Cameras

Link to article and video in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-01-redlight01_ST_N.htm

Link to news release from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr020111.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) Data Shows Disastrous GPS Jamming from FCC-Approved Broadcaster

Link to article in GPS World:

http://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-system/news/data-shows-disastrous-gps-jamming-fcc-approved-broadcaster-11029

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) Technology Improving for Wireless Commercial Vehicle Inspections

Link to article in Transport Topics:

http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=26025

TRANSIT

7) Are Super Bowl Planners Getting the Word Out on Transit Service?

Link to blog in The Dallas Morning News:

http://transportationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/01/are-super-bowl-planners-gettin.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

8) Voice of Vietnam Plans to Launch Traffic Channel for National Highway

Link to story on the Voice of Vietnam:

http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/VOV-plans-to-launch-traffic-channel-for-national-highway/20112/123593.vov

VEHICLES

9) US Proposes Electronic Onboard Recorders for All Interstate Trucks

Link to article in Transport Topics:

http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=26021

Link to news release from US DOT:

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2011/fmcsa0111.html

10) In-Car Electronics Enter the Space Age, but Most Drivers are Still Cavemen

Link to commentary on BNET:

http://www.bnet.com/blog/auto-business/in-car-electronics-enter-the-space-age-but-most-drivers-are-still-cavemen/2250

11) Blurring the Line Between Luxury and Mainstream

Technology previously seen only on high-end vehicles now being offered in less expensive cars.

Link to blog in Automotive News:

http://www.autonews.com/article/20110201/BLOG06/110139978/1490

News Releases

1) inthinc Awarded Patent on Technology to Reduce Distracted Driving

2) Springfield, Missouri Airing Traffic Cameras on Government Access Channel

3) Wi-Fi Service Available on All Amtrak Cascades Trains

4) New York MTA Debuts BusTime, Providing Real-Time Updates

5) OnStar to Show Smart Energy Management Solutions

6) Toronto Transit Commission Improves E-alert Service to Include Route Filtering

7) First Nationwide GPS Guide to Offbeat US Tourist Attractions from RoadsideAmerica.com

8) Kapsch TrafficCom Names New CEO for Its North American Operations and Renames Mark IV IVHS

Upcoming Events

ITS Minnesota 17^th Annual Meeting & Information Exchange – March 8 – St. Paul, Minnesota

http://www.itsmn.org

Today in Transportation History

1911 **100^th anniversary** Explosives aboard the Katherine W exploded while cargo from the ship was being transferred to a freight car by the Central Railroad of New Jersey in Communipaw, New Jersey.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F70714FE3F5D16738DDDAA0894DA405B818DF1D3

1911 **100^th anniversary** The battleship HMS Thunderer was launched.

http://www.steelnavy.com/CombrigThunderer.htm

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

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

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

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

© 2011 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

Integrity, confidence, discipline and commitment define your career in Battelle’s National Security Division.  Battelle was built on a firm foundation of honesty, integrity, and outstanding service and the work we do in national security impacts lives around the world; whether we’re creating armor for military applications, testing a life-saving vaccine, or developing a more efficient hydrogen fuel cell. At Battelle, we reward the best work with more responsibility, positions to grow and develop, and the opportunity to make a positive impact on the world.  Are YOU ready for your Next Mission?

As part of our National Security Global Business, our Transportation business specializes in improving the factors that are critical to our country’s transportation systems – safety, efficiency, and environmental acceptability. Battelle develops and deploys creative technology solutions to meet challenges faced by the U.S. Department of Transportation, other federal and state transportation agencies, and the commercial transportation industry. We deliver high-value, technology-oriented answers to problems in the areas of highway, aviation, marine, rail, and transit by combining unique capabilities in transportation engineering, technology development and deployment, system safety, regulatory and operations analyses, and human factors.

Our Transportation Research and Engineering group is currently seeking a Transportation Engineer/Planner.   This position will be located in our Washington, DC offices.  Working with Battelle’s transportation staff, the successful candidate will use their solid background in engineering and planning work on national and state-level projects in the area of transportation systems management, highway policy, and intelligent transportation systems to contribute to our  research and technology evaluation programs.

The successful candidate will participate with the members of the Transportation Group in the proposal development, project management and technical analysis associated with planning and conducting transportation technology and policy studies in:

1.     Transportation Systems Management and Operations

2.     Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Research

3.     Transportation Policy

4.     Program Evaluations

THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION:

• Graduate Degree in Transportation Engineering,  Transportation Planning or a Transportation-related field, OR an undergraduate degree in Transportation Engineering,  Transportation Planning or a Transportation-related field with 2+ years of directly-relevant experience in similar job description
• ·Must have a minimum of 3.0 GPA for both undergraduate and graduate level degrees.
• Must be a US citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a government Security Clearance
• Ability to execute analyses, design reviews and evaluations of assigned projects using sound engineering principles, adhering to business standards and procedures in accordance with product/ program requirements
• Must have excellent communication skills, both written and oral.  This includes providing a writing sample (if selected for an interview) such as a thesis, research/technical report or other evidence of writing capability.
• Self starter, able to work independently with a sense of urgency and network effectively to gather data from different sources in a team environment
• ·Must be a detail-oriented individual, thoughtful and deliberate in your approach to conducting research and analyses.
• Be an effective listener and contributor at client meetings.  Demonstrated ability to document the pertinent information/action items/opportunities discussed in a client meeting and provide a written summary of that material for management and senior technical staff.  Excellent Microsoft Office software skills (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; also skills in Project preferred)
• Must possess a strong work ethic and be task focused.  Must be willing to “do what it takes” to get the job done within the allotted timeframe while maintaining the highest levels of quality in the products you produce.

THE FOLLOWING IS DESIRED, BUT NOT REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION:

• Experience in Project Management a plus, including ability to work with Microsoft Project.
• Formal project management training (i.e., coursework, continuing education, CAPM or PMP certifications) a plus.
• Demonstrated experience conducting research for USDOT a plus.

BENEFITS

Battelle’s competitive benefits program includes comprehensive medical and dental care, matching 401K, employee pension, tuition reimbursement, work/life balance, paid time off, flexible spending accounts, disability coverage, and other benefits that help provide financial protection for you and your family.

Battelle is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and supports diversity in the workplace. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or sexual orientation. For more information about our other openings, please visit www.battelle.org/careers.

Note:  Access the Job Posting Link directly here: https://performancemanager.successfactors.com/career?company=battelle (Select “Washington Navy Yard” as the location choice)

When: February 9, 2011  @ 1:00–2:30 P.M. Eastern Time

Register for the Webinar

Description

This webinar will summarize findings from two state of the practice assessments conducted for the USDOT‘s AERIS program. The first assessment identified applications that have demonstrated environmental benefits through use of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technologies. The second assessment focused on techniques that could be used to evaluate the environmental impacts of ITS deployments. The webinar will address the following topics:

• AERIS State of the Practice Assessments: Chris Pangilinan of USDOT will lead the webinar with an overview of AERIS state-of-the-practice assessments.
• Findings from the AERIS Applications State-of-the-Practice Assessment: Katie Miller of Noblis will discuss demand and access management applications, eco-driving applications, logistics and fleet management applications, traffic management applications, as well as freight and transit applications. She will also discuss how ITS can potentially support use of alternative fuel vehicles.
• State of the Practice of Techniques for Evaluating the Environmental Impacts of ITS Deployment: Richard Glassco of Noblis will discuss evaluation techniques in three categories including direct measurements of vehicle emissions and fuel use, infrastructure-based air quality measurements, and modeling.

Background

The transport sector accounts for approximately 28 percent of greenhouse gas in the U.S. Vehicles represent almost 80 percent of transport sector greenhouse gas. ITS can play a vital role in reducing vehicle miles traveled, improving vehicle efficiency, and reducing petroleum consumption—all of which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The AERIS program was launched in 2010 and is currently sponsoring research and working with stakeholders to assess the ways in which real-time transportation system data could improve the operation of the surface transportation network. The AERIS program vision is to generate, capture, and analyze vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure data to create actionable information that allows surface transportation system users and operators to make “green” transportation choices. The program aims to leverage existing and future research, data sets, and technologies to develop, enhance, and model ITS applications that are proven to reduce the negative impacts of transportation on the environment. Another program goal is to explore how AERIS data sets may improve or validate assumptions of environmental and other models.

Learning Objectives

• Understand AERIS program foundational research activities.
• Learn more and stimulate creative thinking about potential applications of real-time data to reduce vehicle emissions.
• Learn about methods to evaluate the environmental benefits of ITS deployment.

Intended Audience:

State and local DOT staff, policy researchers, ITS software and system developers, environmental advocates, consultants, academics, and others with an interest in the potential to use real-time transportation system data to reduce environmental impacts.

Host:

Chris Pangilinan, Special Assistant to the Deputy Administrator, USDOT Research and Innovative Technology Administration
Chris Pangilinan is the Special Assistant to the Deputy Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) at USDOT. Prior to joining the USDOT, Chris was a transportation engineer and planner at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), the city’s DOT and transit agency. Chris’s work in transit operations and planning while at the SFMTA provides the transit experience that he is able to bring to the AERIS team. He earned his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at Portland State University and his Master’s degree in Transportation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Chris is a registered Civil Engineer in the State of California.

Presenters:

Katie Miller, Lead Sustainability Analyst, Noblis Center for Sustainability
Katie is a Lead Sustainability Analyst within the Noblis Center for Sustainability where she manages projects relating to greenhouse gas emissions issues. Prior to joining Noblis, Katie was a Program Manager for the US General Services Administration (GSA). She led sustainable supply chain initiatives for the agency and served as the lead author for the Executive Order 13514 Section 13 Recommendations for Vendor and Contractor Emissions, including designing an interagency implementation strategy for the recommendations. Her prior experience includes serving as a Senior Program Manager at the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s Office of the Federal Environmental Executive and managing the GSA Fleet National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Program. Katie holds a Master of Arts in Environmental and Natural Resource Policy from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Millersville University.

Richard Glassco, Principal Systems Modeler, Noblis Transportation Systems Division
Richard Glassco is a Principal Systems Modeler at Noblis, Inc. He has 30 years experience in simulation, modeling, and data analysis, including 17 years in the field of Intelligent Transportation Systems. His other specialties are ITS standards, road weather management, and evaluation of safety systems. Before joining Noblis he consulted with the Federal Systems Integration and Management Center. He has a B.A. in Mathematics from Cornell University and an M.S. in Operations Research from George Washington University.

This webinar is brought to you by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) ITS Joint Program Office, Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA). Reference in this webinar to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by U.S. Department of Transportation.

Register for the Webinar