TransportGooru

There is still time to register for the Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety Systems (IVBSS) public meeting that will be held in the metropolitan Detroit area on October 20, 2010. Members of the industry and U.S. DOT project team will discuss test results from the one-year field operational test (FOT) in which 10 heavy trucks and 16 passenger vehicles accumulated 900,000 miles of driving data. The meeting will also include a discussion of the FOT data system and how it might be accessed for future research. The Heavy Truck FOT Key Findings report is now available.

Click here for registration and additional information. Online registration deadline is October 15.

AVIATION

1) FAA: Dangerous Runway Incidents Down 50%

Link to AP article:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jtLFHpu_Hv7WSJHYsPcr-yGUWGDAD9INM5VG0?docId=D9INM5VG0

Link to news release from the FAA:

https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=11959

CAMERAS

2) Louisiana Appeals Court Rules Against New Orleans Traffic Cameras

Link to article in The Times-Picayune:

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/10/appeals_court_rules_against_ne.html

CARTOGRAPHY

3) TomTom in Mapping Joint Venture with China’s AutoNavi

Link to Dow Jones Newswires article:

http://www.totaltele.com/view.aspx?ID=459236

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Chicago Should Track All Taxis by GPS, Inspector General Says

Link to article in the Chicago Sun-Times:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/2782372,taxicab-tracking-system-1100810.article

OTHER

5) 15 Top Transportation Apps for Planes, Trains, and Cars

Link to article in PCWorld:

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/206933/15_top_transportation_apps_for_planes_trains_and_cars.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) US Transportation Chief Weighs Urging a Ban on All Phone Use by Drivers

Link to Bloomberg article:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-08/lahood-weighs-urging-u-s-ban-on-all-driver-phone-use-in-cars.html

7) US Travelers Must Provide Personal Data to Airlines

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2010-10-08-airsecurity08_ST_N.htm

8) First Responders Looking Forward to New 4G Network

Link to article in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/wireless/First-Responders-Looking-Forward-to-New-4G-Network.html

TRANSIT

9) Smart Travel Card to Ease Global Travel

Link to article in The Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/8046477/Smart-travel-card-to-ease-global-travel.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) What is 511 PA?

Link to story on WNEP-TV:

http://www.wnep.com/news/countybycounty/wnep-mon-what-is-511-pa,0,2084811.story

VEHICLES

11) Ford Invites More Development of Car Apps

Link to IDG News article:

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/207295/ford_invites_more_development_of_car_apps.html

12) Ford, Audi Turning CES Into a Car Show

Link to CNET blog:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20019064-48.html

13) Plugging the Car Into the Future

Link to blog in The Irish Times:

http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/motors/2010/10/08/plugging-the-car-into-the-future/

News Releases

1) Michigan DOT And Taiwan to Collaborate on ITS Project

2) Washington State DOT Launches Online Highway Maintenance Survey

3) FAA’s Air Traffic Activity Data System (ATADS) Guide for Airport Operations

Upcoming Events

New England Electronic Commerce Users’ Group Fall Conference – October 21 – Westborough, Massachusetts

http://www.neecom.org/

Friday Bonus

Usually this spot is filled with a humorous item, but this week I’d like to dedicate it to Staff Sergeant Robert J. Miller of the US Army. This week he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan. Sgt. Miller is the son of Phil and Maureen Miller. Phil is an Associate VP for PBS&J.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2010/10/06/medal-honor-staff-sergeant-robert-j-miller

Today in Transportation History

1860 **150^th anniversary** The first telegraph line between San Francisco and Los Angeles opened.

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

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

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

The perks keep coming! Buy an electric car to become a magnet for attention –

October 7, 2010 at 5:30 pm

Going electric has its own benefits which include – Tax credits, rebate checks, personalized home visits, government giveaways — even customer service calls from top corporate executives.
Mr. McNaughton, a lawyer in Nashville, paid his $99 deposit, he has been bombarded with government incentives — promises of a $7,500 federal tax credit, a $2,500 cash rebate from the state of Tennessee, and a $3,000 home-charging unit courtesy of the Energy Department.

Amplify’d from www.nytimes.com

Precisely. It is all part of an unprecedented effort by federal, state and local governments to stimulate demand for cars that have zero tailpipe emissions — and Nissan’s pre-emptive bid to corner the all-electric market much the way that Toyota dominated the early hybrid market with the Prius.

The government subsidies are shaving thousands of dollars off the Leaf’s $32,780 sticker price, while other benefits are piling up, like free parking in some cities and the use of express lanes on highways usually reserved for cars with multiple passengers. In Tennessee, where a Leaf assembly plant is being built, Leaf drivers will be able to charge their vehicles free at public charging stations on 425 miles of freeways that connect Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.

“It’s almost shocking how many subsidies are available on the Leaf,” said Jeremy P. Anwyl, chief executive of the auto research Web site Edmunds.com. “We are putting a lot of money behind this technology.”

Read more at www.nytimes.com

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/aQvV1z

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Chris Christie at the helm of NJ’s MOST unintelligent decision, EVER!

October 7, 2010 at 5:16 pm

: Image via Wikipedia

This had to be one of the odd things that anyone has ever done in the state of New Jersey. Hope this is not what New Jersey residents asked for when they elected Chris Christie as their Governor. If they have not realized by now, this decision he made today to kill the $8.7B ARC Tunnel project will make them fully realize what they are dealing with. What the residents of NJ got now is a somewhat myopic politician who does not have a vision to lead the state in the face of adversity!

First, I advise you to read the extracted paragraphs below (from NY Times) to understand what is really going on before reading up any further. If you already know, what the context is, then read on.

Now that you are well-read into the issue, let’s start looking at the nuts and bolts of this madness. What bothers me is the fact that NJ is already suffocating with its ever growing congestion and this Governor decides to kill a project that would have ease the congestion (at least the cross-border traffic between NYC and NJ) quite a bit over the coming years. The state’s growing population is adding to the exploding traffic situation, which is already a nightmare for many to deal with. Many of its roads are already bursting at the seams and this decision is going to make it even worse.

The total annual cost of traffic congestion in New Jersey in lost time, operating cost, and fuel consumption is approximately $4.9 billion. The average annual cost of congestion for New Jersey is estimated at $880 per licensed driver. Mind you these numbers are from a study, done almost a decade ago, that was partially supported by a grant from the Foundation of the New Jersey Alliance for Action, and the National Center for Transportation and Industrial Productivity, a member center of the University Transportation Centers Program, at NJIT. You can be safe to assume that these above mentioned congestion-induced numbers might have ballooned over the years to a much higher level, given the amount of economic and population growth experienced over the past decade.

By spending on this ARC tunnel, it would have encouraged more people to take their trains to work in NYC rather than to drive. Imagine what it would be like 20 years from now. What happens at that time? Will Chris Christie be around to undo this decision? Nope. Probably not and by then the state would have slipped so far behind other states in economic competitiveness and lost its value as a livable community, it will look more like a sorry state than an attractive state. It will no longer be the state that appeals to people as a destination to move to, buy houses, live, educate and raise their children.

It took 20 years to plan and several million dollars to get to this point and now the stakeholders and the general public have to go home, with nothing to show for, only crying over spilled milk! It is going to make the stakeholders, such as the Port Authority of NY & NJ, to run for cover when New Jersey proposes another big project of this kind. Trust me, this is a pretty good move to lose any trust you had earned with your stakeholders.

Alright, aside from the monetary impact there are numerous other undesirable impacts that are going to sprout from this decision-making! The growing congestion is going to worsen the air quality in the entire region and possibly harm the health of the people living in the region. This is not only going to affect the bottomline but also the well being of the resident of the state and the entire tri-state region (NY, NY & CT). It will cost them more money to care for its resident’s health at some point than to pay for this tunnel.

Is this what it all boils down to – undoing the progress of a state/Nation in the face of financial challenges? Where is the political will to march forward in times of adverse challenges!

I thought I was the only one who is puzzled by this decision but there is plenty of good company and they pretty much everyone has their own reason to be be upset. Here is Paul Krugman taking issue with Christie.

Amplify’d from www.nytimes.com

Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said on Thursday that he has decided to terminate the construction of a commuter train tunnel between northern New Jersey and Manhattan because of escalating estimates of the project’s cost.

The federal government and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had pledged $3 billion each toward the tunnel, but Mr. Christie said New Jersey could not afford to pay the balance.

All told, about $600 million had been spent. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, a Democrat from New Jersey who supported the project, said that about half of that money came from the federal government and would have to be repaid by New Jersey.

The move would scuttle a project that has been in the planning for two decades and was supposed to double the capacity on trains into New York City and alleviate congestion on the region’s roads.

Read more at www.nytimes.com

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/9veawW

Paul Krugman Goes To War With Chris Christie Over Planned Tunnel To New York (businessinsider.com)
Governor of New Jersey Blocks Hudson Tunnel Project (nytimes.com)
Hudson River tunnel project is officially canceled by Gov. Christie (nj.com)
New Jersey’s Tunnel Vision (theatlantic.com)
NJ gov. scraps long-planned NJ-NY rail tunnel (sfgate.com)
Chris Christie Is Really A Fool For Canceling The New York Rail Tunnel Project (businessinsider.com)
NJ Gov. Scraps Long-Planned NJ-NY Rail Tunnel (nytimes.com)
You: Christie’s Silence Spurs Worry for Train Tunnel (nytimes.com)
Christie to Construction Workers: Drop Dead (news.firedoglake.com)
N.J. governor scraps $10 billion rail tunnel (msnbc.msn.com)

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The Mean & Green Fighting Machine! The U.S. Military Makes Moves to Rid Itself of Oil-Dependency

October 6, 2010 at 6:57 pm

We all know the American military is now engaged in two wars (one in over-drive – Afghanistan; and the other in a subdued mode in Iraq) for nearly a decade. The costs of these wars are taking a toll on the country’s morale and also on the budget. Did I say it is freaking expensive to fight a war in the punishing terrains of Afghanistan? If you haven’t already known this by now, here is something to perk you up. According to an article published in Slate, the Army and Marines pay only $1 a gallon for the fuel itself but up to $400 a gallon for the truck convoys that move it through Pakistan and up the Khyber Pass. Whoa! That’s some ungodly amount of greens for fueling our fight against the enemy!

Sometimes it is not even the money you pay but it is the amount of pain you have to endure to get this fuel safely across that makes this totally ridiculous! The insurgent on the border areas often burn the NATO -commissioned tankers to the ground as they travel from Pakistan to Afghanistan. here are some stunning stats, courtesy of NY Times (via HuffingtonPost)

Fossil fuel is the number one thing the military imports into Afghanistan (30 to 80 percent of convoy loads)
The military spends $1 per gallon of gas, but can then spend up to $400 more per gallon to get it to forward operating bases
For every 24 fuel convoys, one soldier or civilian working on transport was killed

Apparently, there is another dimension to the toll it is taking – this one is on the environment. In light of all these impacts, the Pentagon is now making a serious push to rid itself of oil, at least in meaningful levels. If done right, this is could not only result in a significant agency wide monetary saving but also will create an environmentally-friendly fighting force that can reach.

Here is the link to the article on Slate and the one on HuffPost.

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/9qMdM7

NTOC Talks Newsletter: October 6, 2010

October 6, 2010 at 3:48 pm

If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view the online version

National Transportation Operations Coalition

NTOC Talks Newsletter: October 6, 2010

National NUG Summit Presentations Now Online

http://www.i95coalition.org/i95/Portals/0/Public_Files/pm/presentations/NUG%20Summit%20All%20PresentationsFINAL.pdf

Category >Now Available: October 6, 2010 (NTIMC)

A national summit on the National Unified Goal (NUG) for Traffic Incident Management took place September 21-22, 2010. The NUG Summit presentations are now available online on the I-95 Corridor Coalition’s Web site through the link above.

FHWA/Volpe will be providing a link to the NUG Summit September 21 Webinar Audio File, which will also be posted in the NTOC newsletter when available.

The NUG is a unified national policy developed by major national organizations representing traffic incident responders, under the leadership of the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition. The summit brought together fire, police, first responders, transportation engineers, and the towing industry to discuss best practices for responding to traffic incidents while keeping in mind the objectives of responder safety; safe, quick clearance; and prompt, reliable, interoperable communications. To learn more about NTIMC and the NUG, visit http://timcoalition.org/?siteid=41&pageid=1973.

Quantifying the Benefits of Coordinated Actuated Traffic Signal Systems: A Case Study

http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/11-cr2.pdf

Category >Now Available: October 6, 2010 (TRB)

The Virginia Transportation Research Council, a partnership of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the University of Virginia, has released a report that explores ways to quantify the benefits of coordinated actuated traffic signal systems. To read the report, click on the link above.

NCHRP 03-103 Request for Proposal: Update of the Signal Timing Manual

http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=2953

Category >Opportunity: October 6, 2010 (TRB)

The 2008 Signal Timing Manual provides a basic synthesis of signal timing practices in the United States. The manual covers fundamental signal timing related to intersection design, vehicle detection, and coordination of signalized intersections; but there are many concepts that could be addressed in greater detail. The current manual acknowledges some of these in its last chapter, “Advanced Signal Timing Concepts.”

The objective of the NCHRP research is to prepare an updated version of the Signal Timing Manual that expands its scope and depth. The guide should be suitable for adoption by AASHTO and be packaged in a manner appropriate for the various users of the manual. To read the complete request for proposal, click on the link above. The deadline is November 11, 2010.

Researchers Argue for Smarter Traffic Lights

Link to IDG News article:

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/206742/researchers_argue_for_smarter_traffic_lights.html

Category >Breaking News: October 6, 2010 (NTOC)

Those routinely stuck in urban traffic jams can take heart in the fact that scientists may have found a way to reduce congestion, by rethinking the way traffic lights should operate. Two European researchers, Dirk Helbing of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, and Stefan Lämmer of Dresden University of Technology in Germany, propose changing the way intersection traffic lights are timed, using a combination of sensing technology, analytics and networking.

Rather than the usual approach of coordinating the timing the lights along the road in a way that anticipates the usual flow of traffic, the researchers suggest letting traffic lights themselves judge when to turn green or red.

“Instead of waiting for a certain point in time before switching to green, we now wait for a critical number of vehicles ready for service at maximum rate which given by the saturation flow,” they argue in a Santa Fe Institute study. Such an approach could reduce congestion by as much as 10 to 30 percent, the researchers claim. Their study can be found at http://www.santafe.edu/media/workingpapers/10-09-019.pdf.

Tools to Evaluate Carbon Emissions from Transportation Agencies/Multipollutant Effects of Emission Control Strategies

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/878091352

Category >Opportunity: October 6, 2010 (TRB)

TRB is offering this Webinar on November 10, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EST.

A comprehensive set of reports issued by the National Research Council finds compelling evidence that climate change is occurring, and encourages the United States to act now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This Webinar will explore two projects administered by TRB that provide tools and information for transportation agencies seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One project has developed a tool that could assist transportation agencies in evaluating the carbon emissions of day-to-day activities, and may provide agencies with information on relevant carbon mitigation techniques. The second project provides transportation officials with information on the effects of different transportation air quality control strategies on a full range of pollutants, and identifies methods for evaluating tradeoffs among different pollutants when selecting control strategies. Panelists will discuss the assessment of various pollutants, including greenhouse gas emissions, ozone precursors, particulate matter, and air toxics.

Registration: Participants must register 24 hours in advance through the link above. There is no fee for current Chairs of TRB Standing Committees, Sections, or Groups. There is also no fee for employees of TRB Sponsors: http://bit.ly/9tduwj. TRB Sponsors: Please use your work email to register for the session.

Other sites must pay $99 per site. Questions? Contact Reggie Gillum at rgillum@nas.edu.

Synthesis of Active Traffic Management Experiences in Europe and the United States

http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop10031/index.htm

Category >New Resource: October 6, 2010 (FHWA)

This synthesis report describes both US and European techniques in Active Traffic Management (ATM). The primary focus of this synthesis is on European experience, which in some cases dates back a number of years. This report provides a compilation of lessons learned, experiences, operational results, and benefits associated with active traffic management applications. To access the report, click on the link above. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-10-031)

Motorists on New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway to Get High-Tech Traffic Forecasts

Link to article in The Star-Ledger:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/motorists_on_nj_turnpike_garde.html

Category >Breaking News: October 6, 2010 (NTOC)

The traffic version of Willard Scott and Al Roker will be coming soon to the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. Motorists on the state’s two biggest highways will be provided high-tech traffic “forecasts” to alert them about potential bottlenecks before they happen. Using complex computer models that have been said to predict traffic flows with up to 93 percent accuracy, the Turnpike Authority plans to put its new “Traffic Prediction Tool” into use early next year.

Drivers would see the forecasts on existing highway message signs or via e-mail or text. Motorists get real-time alerts now, but the traffic forecast has the ability to predict congestion before it happens, based on traffic patterns detected by transponders and road sensors, as well as historical traffic patterns. To read the complete article, click on the link above.

ITS-JPO Selects Eight Firms to Develop and Produce V2V and V2I Communications Devices

http://www.intellidriveusa.org/news/pr.php

Category >Breaking News: October 6, 2010 (ITS JPO)

The Intelligent Transportation System Joint Program Office (ITS-JPO) announces grants to eight contractors to develop prototype devices capable of generating “Here I Am” basic safety messages to other vehicles and devices using DSRC 5.9 GHz communication technology.

Each of the eight device manufacturers will produce five “Here I Am” units for qualification testing. Those vendors/products that pass DOT’s device certification testing will be placed on a Qualified Product List (QPL) and be eligible for supporting the upcoming IntelliDrive Safety Pilot model deployment which will involve approximately 2500-3000 vehicles. The devices will be used for identifying vehicle location, trajectory, and speed using the SAE J2735 basic safety message; messages will not include any personally identifiable information. The period of performance for device development and qualification testing is seven months, starting October 1, 2010.

The Safety Pilot research program is part of the USDOT’s IntelliDrive(SM)* initiative. For more information on IntelliDrive and Safety Pilot, see www.IntelliDrive.org.

Value Pricing Pilot Program April – June 2010 Quarterly Report Now Available

http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/tolling_pricing/value_pricing/projects/index.htm

Category >Now Available: October 6, 2010 (FHWA)

Each quarter, projects authorized under the Value Pricing Pilot (VPP) Program are updated to provide the most current VPP program information on active projects being studied as well as projects that have been implemented. To read the report, click on the link above.

T3 Webinar: Open Source Alternative to Deploying Transportation Management Systems

http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/t3/s101020_opensource.asp

Category >Opportunity: October 6, 2010 (ITS JPO)

The purpose of this T3 Webinar, taking place October 20, is to gain insight into an open-source alternative for deploying transportation management systems for state departments of transportation, municipalities, or other agencies. Open-source solutions tend to be less expensive to deploy, maintain, and enhance. In addition, agencies may benefit through collaboration by investing their resources in a common product that is mutually beneficial in function and form.

To illustrate this approach, two state agencies—the California DOT (Caltrans) and the Minnesota DOT (Mn/DOT)—will discuss and demonstrate how each agency derived individual and mutual benefits using the open-source Intelligent Roadway Information System (IRIS) Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS).

The Webinar will explore the IRIS features and enhancements developed by the Advanced Highway Maintenance & Construction Technology Research Center at the University of California, Davis, in order to adapt and expand the IRIS for use within the Caltrans Stockton District 10 Transportation Management Center (TMC). For complete information and to register, click on the link above.

T3 Webinars are brought to you by the ITS Professional Capacity Building Program (ITS PCB) at 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.

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Change I Like! Census Bureau Says A Lot More People Are Biking to Work

October 6, 2010 at 3:44 pm

I knew it! I felt It! I sensed it! The number of people getting around by bicycle is growing steadily. According to American Community Survey, conducted annually by the Census Bureau, the number of bike commuters grew 0.3 percent between 2005 and 2009. Rise in gas prices or the hard-hitting recession, etc, etc are among the many reasons.

A couple of undeniable factors that influenced this trend are: (1) the rising awareness among the public about the health benefits of biking and (2) the forward thinking city administrators and staff (such as NYC Transp. Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and DC DOT’s Gabe Klein ) who have provided the necessary infrastructure that encourages safe biking.

Hope this trend continues and more cities take the cue.

Amplify’d from www.wired.com

You’re right. That’s almost nothing. But bear in mind that’s the median for the entire country, which includes a whole lot of rural and exurban areas where bike commuting isn’t viable. Bike commuting is still an infinitesimally small percentage of all commutes, accounting for just 0.55 percent of commutes last year, according to the League of American Bicyclists.

But if you look only at urban areas — where bike commuting makes far more sense — the gains are huge. Given the Obama Administration’s emphasis on bike-friendlier transportation policies, the growth almost certainly will continue.

The League of American Bicyclists dove into the numbers and found bike commuting in the 70 largest cities (.pdf) in the United States climbed 35 percent between 2005 and 2009. Kansas City, Missouri, saw the biggest increase, climbing an astonishing 1,095 percent. Indianapolis followed with a jump of 392 percent. New Orleans rounded out the top three with an increase of 155 percent.

See more at www.wired.com

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/bG98Q7

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Change I Like! Census Bureau Says A Lot More People Are Biking to Work

October 6, 2010 at 3:42 pm

Hope this trend continues and more cities take the cue.

Amplify’d from www.wired.com

You’re right. That’s almost nothing. But bear in mind that’s the median for the entire country, which includes a whole lot of rural and exurban areas where bike commuting isn’t viable. Bike commuting is still an infinitesimally small percentage of all commutes, accounting for just 0.55 percent of commutes last year, according to the League of American Bicyclists.

But if you look only at urban areas — where bike commuting makes far more sense — the gains are huge. Given the Obama Administration’s emphasis on bike-friendlier transportation policies, the growth almost certainly will continue.

The League of American Bicyclists dove into the numbers and found bike commuting in the 70 largest cities (.pdf) in the United States climbed 35 percent between 2005 and 2009. Kansas City, Missouri, saw the biggest increase, climbing an astonishing 1,095 percent. Indianapolis followed with a jump of 392 percent. New Orleans rounded out the top three with an increase of 155 percent.

See more at www.wired.com

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/bG98Q7

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Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – October 5, 2010

October 6, 2010 at 12:08 pm

Tuesday, October 5, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) Airlines Increase Fight Against Online Ticket Fraud

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2010-10-05-businesstravel05_ST_N.htm

GPS / NAVIGATION

2) Monitoring for Fatigue by GPS is ‘Dangerously Misguided’

Link to article in Supply Chain Review:

http://www.supplychainreview.com.au/news/articleid/70075.aspx

3) North Korea GPS Jamming Device ‘a New Security Threat’

Link to AFP article:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i068Bklyhb5SnQoiX_exXNpzDXmQ?docId=CNG.b4f78a36c7b572cde0d946ad2a4390fc.21

MARITIME

4) An Intelligent System for Maritime Surveillance has Been Created

Link to article from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid:

http://www.uc3m.es/portal/page/portal/actualidad_cientifica/noticias/maritime_surveillance

OTHER

5) Volpe Highlights – October 2010

Link to newsletter:

http://www.volpe.dot.gov/infosrc/highlts/10/oct/index.html

6) Latest Edition of Texas Transportation Researcher Online

Link to magazine:

http://tti.tamu.edu/publications/researcher/newsletter.htm?vol=46&issue=3&article=0

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

7) Taiwan Transport Ministry Launches Traffic Safety Quiz on Facebook

Link to CNA article:

http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?ID=201010050021&Type=aSOC

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) Devices Claim They’ll Help You Drive Safely While Texting, on the Phone

Link to article in the Detroit Free Press:

http://www.freep.com/article/20101005/NEWS09/10050370/1319/Devices-claim-theyll-help-you-drive-safely-while-texting-on-the-phone

TELEMATICS

9) CarTel Personalizes Commutes by Using Wi-Fi to Network Cars

Link to article from MIT:

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/car-sensors-tt1008.html

TRANSIT

10) New York MTA Plans Digital Displays for Trains, Buses and Stops

Link to article in the New York Post:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/mta_screen_play_14wb5SzpPjqSbZRHrhUwzM

11) Riders Like Wi-Fi on New Bay Area Light Rail Express Trains

Link to column in the San Jose Mercury News:

http://www.mercurynews.com/mr-roadshow/ci_16249129

VEHICLES

12) Toyota Shows Smart-Grid Technology for Its Plug-In

Link to AP article:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Toyota-shows-smartgrid-apf-3654683085.html?x=0&.v=2

13) Corporate Vanity Plates Under Study in Virginia

Link to article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2010/oct/05/mcdo05-ar-542425/

14) Road to the Future

New automotive technologies, including photonics, are about to change how and what we drive.

Link to article from SPIE:

http://spie.org/x42365.xml?highlight=x2422&ArticleID=x42365

15) Auto Dealers Facing Facebook: Is It Worth the Trouble?

Link to blog in Automotive News:

http://www.autonews.com/article/20101005/BLOG06/101009937/-1

News Releases

1) Singapore Airlines to Launch In-flight Connectivity

Upcoming Events

Road Weather Policy Forum – November 8-9 – Washington, DC

http://webservices.camsys.com/RWMP/page.html

Today in Transportation History

1930 **80^th anniversary** The British airship R 101 crashed in France during its maiden voyage.

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1930/untitled0%20-%201171.html

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No worries, mate! New study says Airplane Air Is No Riskier Than Other Enclosed Spaces

October 4, 2010 at 6:34 pm

Hmmm.. So, is this going to change the way we set our rules and regulations that now prohibit those who are suspected of carrying air-borne pathogens? Let’s see how the regulators and airline companies react to the findings..

Amplify’d from www.nytimes.com

“There is always an increased risk of infection whenever you enter a confined space, but an aircraft cabin is no worse an environment than the office you sit in every day,” said Dr. Mark Gendreau, an emergency and aviation medicine expert at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass.

Cabin air, he said, is refreshed about 15 times an hour, compared with less than 12 an hour in an office building. On most full-size jets, the air is also circulated through hospital-grade HEPA filters, which are supposed to remove 99.97 percent of bacteria and the minuscule particles that carry viruses. The cabin air is also divided into separate ventilation systems covering every seven rows or so, limiting the ability of germs to travel from one end of the plane to the other.

Still, that does not rule out the prospect of diseases spreading from passenger to passenger on a long flight. Travelers tend to ignore doctors’ advice to avoid flying if they are sick, exposing unsuspecting seatmates to a threat of infection, the research panel noted.

Read more at www.nytimes.com

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/bKdANp

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No worries, mate! New study says Airplane Air Is No Riskier Than Other Enclosed Spaces

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