Thursday, May 21, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Register Now for IBTTA’s Upcoming Meeting – Incident Management, Safety and Security, July 19-21, 2009, Denver, CO 

Join the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association in Denver, CO to learn about best practices from around the world in Incident Management and Emergency Response. Sessions will explore the most effective tools and communication methods available to promote toll facility safety and security, maintain operations in the face of disruption, and effectively communicate with customers during all phases of an incident – from prevention to recovery. Other topics include crisis management during special events, Post Traumatic Distress Disorder and psychological impacts to employees, the role of engineering and maintenance in prevention and safety, and business continuity during disasters. Visit IBTTA’s website to view the preliminary agenda and register today! 

AVIATION

1) Virgin America Completes Installing Wi-Fi on Fleet

Link to Dow Jones story:

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200905200936DOWJONESDJONLINE000643_FORTUNE5.htm

CAMERAS

2) Louisiana House Committee All but Kills Plan to Regulate Red Light Cameras

Link to story in The Times-Picayune:

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/05/committee_all_but_kills_plan_t.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) US Air Force Waves Off Warnings About GPS Accuracy

Link to story in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/21/AR2009052103127.html

4) Microsoft: ‘We Touch Every Piece’ of Auto Business

Link to ZDNet column:  

http://blogs.zdnet.com/gadgetreviews/?p=4375

5) Calling the Real Race in GNSS

Link to story in GPS World:

http://sidt.gpsworld.com/gpssidt/Latest+News/Calling-the-Real-Race-in-GNSS/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/599294?contextCategoryId=33831

RAILROADS

6) The Interstate Rail Defense Network

Would a name change increase public support for high-speed rail proposal? 

Link to The No. 13 Line blog:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/blueprintamerica/blogs/13line/the-no-13-line-the-interstate-rail-defense-network/635/

7) Freight Rail Security: Actions Have Been Taken to Enhance Security, but Federal Strategy Can Be Strengthened and Security Efforts Better Monitored

Link to US Government Accountability Office report:

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09243.pdf

ROADWAYS

8) Virginia DOT to DC Department of Transportation: You Need to Communicate Better

Link to story on WTOP Radio:

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1680248

SAFETY / SECURITY

9) Nebraska State Patrol Scanning Plates for Info About Drivers

Link to AP story:

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10638791

SPACE

10) A New Frontier: Astronaut Using Twitter in Space

Link to story in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2009-05-20-astronaut-twitter_N.htm

TELEMATICS

11) Telematics and GPS Go in the Right Direction

Navigation assistance gets more user-friendly with help of technology.

Link to story on MSNBC:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30526005/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

TRANSIT

12) Transit Travels to Cyberspace to Reach Riders

Link to story in Metro Magazine:

http://www.metro-magazine.com/Article/Story/2009/05/Transit-Travels-to-Cyberspace-to-Reach-Riders.aspx

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) Waze: The Traffic of the Crowds

Link to CNET News story:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10246268-2.html

News Releases

1) Delaware Welcome Center Travel Plaza Web Site Launched

2) TRW’s Capacitive Touch Sensing – Interior Control at Your Fingertips

Upcoming Events

American Association of Airport Executives Annual Conference and Exposition – June 14-17 – Philadelphia

http://www.aaae.org/meetings/annual2009/

Today in Transportation History

1894 **115^th anniversary** – The Manchester Ship Canal was officially opened by Queen Victoria.

http://www.shipcanal.co.uk/manchester-ship-canal/

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

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

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

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

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast ati95berniew@aol.com.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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With TIC, you can let your imagination flow, so let us know…at ITS America

Did you know that TIC is not just for traffic? For example, did you know that some customers uses TIC for radio program associated data (PAD) such as song title, artist photo, and schedules, for broadcasting over FM radio data service (RDS) and digital audio broadcast (DAB)? And there’s much more.

With the new TIC architecture, you can let your imagination flow, so why not let us know your ideas, requirements, and even your problems, at ITS America.  TIC is a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) platform solution proven in over 100 projects operating worldwide, and can be deployed faster, more affordably, and with less risk than build-your-own solutions.

See TIC at GEWI booth #329 at ITS America or contact jim.oneill@gewi.com to discuss your requirements.

AVIATION

1) Airline Mechanics Who Can’t Read English

Link to story and video on WFAA-TV:

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa090515-_lj_harris.7a4a7d4.html

2) FAA to Hold First-Ever International Runway Safety Summit

Link to story on AviationNews:

http://www.aviationnews.net/?do=headline&news_ID=167477

CAMERAS

3) Illinois Lawmakers Reject Speed Cams in School, Hospital Zones

Link to story in the Daily Herald:

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=294790&src=109

CARTOGRAPHY

4) Google Threatened with Sanctions Over Photo Mapping Service in Germany

Link to story in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/technology/companies/20google.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

OTHER

5) Ohio Democrats Restrict Open Internet Auctions for Construction Projects

Link to story in The Plain Dealer:

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/05/open_internet_auctions_for_ohi.html

ROADWAYS

6) States Roll Out Plans for ‘Smarter’ Roads

Link to story on Stateline:

http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=401357

7) Span of Control

A new generation of ‘smart’ bridges use electronic sensors to warn of impending danger.

Link to story in The Economist:

http://www.economist.com/science/tm/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13687092

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) Officials Draft Changes to Bush-Era Mandate on ID Cards

Link to story from CongressDaily:

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=42759&dcn=e_hsw

9) New Database Created with Thousands of Emergency Shelters Nationwide

Link to story in the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-hurricane20-2009may20,0,4925727.story

TELEMATICS

10) Vehicle Telematics Concept Benefits Responders, Victims

Link to story in Occupational Health & Safety:

http://ohsonline.com/articles/2009/05/20/vehicle-telematics-concept.aspx

TRANSIT

11) Popular Smart Card Can be Hacked, Researchers Show

Link to story in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/689811

12) Campaign Urges Commuters to Send Postcards in Support of Public Transport

Link to story in The New Zealand Herald:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10573411

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) With Holiday Ahead, Massachusetts Turnpike Announces Traffic Info Upgrade

Link to story in The Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/05/with_holiday_ah.html

Link to Mass Turnpike traffic cameras:  http://www.masspike.com/travel/cameras.html

14) Praise Washington State DOT for Alerting Drivers to Bridge Closure

Link to commentary in the Issaquah Press:

http://www.issaquahpress.com/2009/05/19/off-the-press-21/

News Releases

1) Waze Announces Driver-Generated Live Map Platform; Launches Private Alpha for Mobile Application

2) BART Unveils New Web Site to Keep Riders, Public Informed on Labor Negotiations

3) Live Video from Florida Traffic Cameras to Gain Wider Audience with TrafficLand

4) OnStar Creates Injury Severity Prediction to Improve Automatic Crash Response

5) Tennessee DOT Now Using Twitter to Provide Information About Delays on Roadways

Upcoming Events

ACI-NA Public Safety & Security Fall Conference – August 24-27 – Arlington, Virginia

http://www.aci-na.org/conferences/detail?eventId=149

Today in Transportation History

1939 **70^th anniversary** – Regular trans-Atlantic air service began with a Pan American flight from Port Washington, New York to Europe.

http://www.airliner.net/pan-am-clipper-flying-boat/transatlantic-airline-service/

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

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

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

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

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

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Registration Still Open for ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting & Exposition, June 1-3, National Harbor, Maryland 

Join U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, members of Congress, and other transportation, technology, business and policy leaders at ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting & Exposition – located just 15 minutes away from the nation’s capitol. If you are in the transportation industry, you cannot afford to miss this event.  ITS America has put together an exciting program of nearly 100 educational and Congressional fact-finding sessions, opportunities to interact with members of Congress and senior government officials, 150,000 square feet of exhibits, tours of local ITS facilities and projects, a “City Streets” technology demonstration staged right outside of the convention center, and a closing reception and technology showcase in the new Capitol Hill Visitors Center.  For more information on the program and to register, visit http://www.itsa.org/amregistration.html.  

AVIATION

) Boeing’s Ambitions Crushed Its Wi-Fi Project, Paving Way for Small Competitor

Link to column in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-tue-greising-aircell-boeing-may19,0,6380328.column

) Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Launches Mobile Phone Web Site

Link to story in The Dallas Morning News:

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/05/dfw-airport-launches-mobile-ph.html

CARTOGRAPHY

) Google Street View Trike Captures the Roads Less Driven

Link to story in Wired:

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/05/google-street-view-trike-captures-the-roads-less-driven/

OTHER

) Miserable Commute? It’s Time to Vent

Web site created by Transportation for America wants an improved transportation system.

Link to column in the Detroit Free Press:

http://www.freep.com/article/20090519/COL12/90519018

Link to My Commute Sucks:  http://www.mycommutesucks.org/

RAILROADS

) Web-Only Rail Discounts Condemned in UK

It is ‘unacceptable’ that low-cost rail fares are easily available only to those with Internet access, MPs say.

Link to BBC News story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8056021.stm

Link to report from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmpubacc/191/191.pdf

SAFETY / SECURITY

) Airport Security Questioned

Privacy advocates: suspend ‘virtual strip search.’

Link to story and video on KMGH-TV:

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/19499650/detail.html

Link to further information from the Electronic Privacy Information Center:

http://epic.org/privacy/airtravel/backscatter/

TRANSIT

) DC Metro ‘Flight Attendant’ Provides Safety Tips in Video

Link to story in Metro Magazine:

http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2009/05/D-C-Metro-flight-attendant-provides-safety-tips-in-video.aspx

Link to video: 

http://www.metro-magazine.com/MetroTV/?id=445BB529-D7A6-4A8E-99B5-DD5134199BB5&CategoryID=1017

) Feasibility Study on the Use of Personal GPS Devices in Paratransit

Link to report from the Federal Transit Administration:

http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/TRANSPO_Feasibility_GPS_Paratransit_Final.pdf

News Releases

1) The European Payments Council and GlobalPlatform Sign MOU to Align Mobile Contactless Technology

Job Posting

 –  Transportation Specialist – Federal Highway Administration – Washington, DC

http://tinyurl.com/pmc8fm

Upcoming Events

The Great American Trucking Show – August 20-22 – Dallas

http://www.gatsonline.com/

Today in Transportation History

1934 **75^th anniversary** – Police and striking Teamsters battled in Minneapolis during a general strike as a truck was attempting to unload.

http://www.mnhs.org/library/tips/history_topics/81truckersstrike.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

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

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

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

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast ati95berniew@aol.com.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

Monday, May 18, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Join the International Road Federation (IRF) and learn about the latest international best practices in Pavement Preservation at a newly developed international seminar “Preserving our Highway Infrastructure Assets: Affordable, Safer, and Environmentally Friendly Pavement Preservation Practices”“ August 4-7, 2009 Orlando, Fl. The workshop will focus on key issues such as the role of new materials and technologies for pavement preservation, new funding strategies and contracting models to sustain pavement preservation, and latest pavement management tools.

 

The seminar’s approach is truly global, due to its cast of international speakers including experts from the World Bank Group, U.S. FHWA, Colas (France), University of Texas El Paso (USA), Nippo Corporation (Japan), FDOT, CECA ARKEMA (France) Rubber Pavements Association (USA), and the Shell (Netherlands). Register Today!

CAMERAS

1) Traffic Camera Ban Fails in Louisiana

Link to story on WAFB-TV:

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=10382118&nav=menu57_2

2) Seventeen Cameras to Monitor Shanghai Taxi Drivers

Link to story in the Shanghai Daily:

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200905/20090516/article_401016.htm

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) GPS Upgrade Behind Schedule and Over Budget

Link to CNET News story:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13639_3-10243477-42.html

ROADWAYS

4) Rest Stop Hellos Get a Goodbye from South Dakota

Nonprofit groups no longer can host events at interstate rest stops after officials with the state DOT decided they are too much hassle.

Link to story in the Argus Leader:

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20090518/NEWS/905180330

5) Experimental Safety Sign Going Up on Wisconsin Highway

Link to story from KUWS Radio:

http://www.businessnorth.com/kuws.asp?RID=2936

6) Technology Could Stop Speeding and Crashes

Link to story in The Sunday Times:

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6294866.ece

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) TSA Improves Program to Check Airline Passengers Against Terrorist List

Link to story on Nextgov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090518_1856.php

8) Tennessee Enacts Texting-Behind-the-Wheel Law

Link to story in The Tennessean:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090516/NEWS0201/905160328/1009/NEWS02/Tennessee+enacts+texting-behind-the-wheel+law

9) Indiana Teens Ready to Mute the Ban on Driving with Cell Phones

Link to story in The Indianapolis Star:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20090518/NEWS0501/905180345/1008/LOCAL19/Teens+ready+to+mute+the+ban+on+driving+with+cell+phones

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) Former Dash Executive Raised $3 Million for Driver-Centric iPhone App

Link to story in GPS Business News:

http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/Former-Dash-exec-raised-$3M-for-driver-centric-iPhone-App_a1523.html

News Releases

1) Automakers Strive to Add Content Without Clutter

Upcoming Events

Mid-Continent Transportation Symposium 2009 – August 20-21 – Ames, Iowa

http://www.intrans.iastate.edu/events/midcon2009/index.htm

Today in Transportation History

1969 **40^th anniversary** – Apollo 10 was launched.

http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo10info.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

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

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

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

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

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

Friday, May 15, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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TIC from GEWI means Proven Interoperability

Whether you need to share, view, collect, aggregate, or distribute data between agencies, offices, control centers, districts, counties, states, or even countries, TIC can be configured to your interoperability requirements using this highly flexible commercial off-the-shelf solution (COTS). TIC has a 12 year track record and is proven worldwide, such as by the European Road Information Center (ERIC) which provides 100% live data interoperability between 22 countries in seven different languages. TIC is already operating in over 100 projects worldwide and can be deployed faster, more affordably, and with less risk than build-your-own solutions. Why reinvent the wheel?

To download a brochure and leaflets, please visit www.gewi.com  To discuss your requirements, please contact jim.oneill@gewi.com or visit the GEWI booth at ITS America booth #329.

AVIATION

1) Buffalo Plane Crash Hearings Consider Better Alert Systems

Link to story and video on NY1 News:

http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/99061/buffalo-plane-crash-hearing-considers-better-alert-systems/Default.aspx

2) Future of Military Aviation Lies with Drones – US Admiral

Link to AFP story:

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200905142002DOWJONESDJONLINE000783_FORTUNE5.htm

BICYCLES

3) Oregon DOT Deflates I-5 Bridge Bicycle Safety Proposal

City wanted signs to direct cyclists, but ODOT contends the signs don’t conform with federal or state design standards.

Link to story in The Oregonian:

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/124226612984470.xml&coll=7

CAMERAS

4) Close to Two-Thirds of Photos Taken by Arizona Speed Cameras Tossed

Link to story in The Arizona Republic:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/05/15/20090515dpsdata0515.html

OTHER

5) Digital Hubs

Three new research centers will focus on promoting digital technologies, including those for transport, to people who have difficulty accessing them.

Link to story in The Engineer:

http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/311144/Digital+hubs.htm

ROADWAYS

6) Arizona DOT Defends Replacing Metric Signs Along I-19

Link to story in the Nogales International:

http://www.nogalesinternational.com/articles/2009/05/15/news/doc4a0d9bc923609515374875.txt

7) Wi-Fi Hits the Highway

Link to story in The Christian Science Monitor:

http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/05/15/wi-fi-hits-the-highway/

TRANSIT

8) Metro Cell Phone Service Plan Faces Gaps

Link to story in The Examiner:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Metro-cell-phone-service-plan-faces-gaps_05_15-45053147.html

9) RTA Hopes Riders Go Along with Goroo

Web site allows Chicago-area riders to customize itineraries for travel in the region.

Link to column in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/autocorner/chi-getting-around_15may15,0,7778485.column

Link to Goroo:  http://www.goroo.com/

VEHICLES

10) Tennessee Attorney General: Church License Plate Likely Illegal

Plate would be first for a specific faith.

Link to story in The Tennessean:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090514/NEWS0201/905140357/1009/NEWS02/AG++Church+license+plate+likely+illegal

News Releases

1) Despite Automotive Slump, by 2010 12% of New Cars Will Ship with Embedded Telematics

Job Postings

 –  Supervisory General Engineer – Research and Innovative Technology Administration – Cambridge, Massachusetts

http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobId=81001026&AVSDM=5%2F15%2F2009+3%3A10%3A19+PM

Upcoming Events

Minneapolis I-35 Bridge Collapse – A Major Emergency Incident: TSAG Case Studies Workshop & Webinar – June 3

http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/t3/s090603_tsagi35.asp

Friday Bonus

When is a bus stop not just a bus stop?

http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2009/05/01/15-unusual-and-creative-bus-stops/

Today in Transportation History

1959 **50^th anniversary** – The Titan 1 B-4 rocket exploded during static testing.

http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/mwade/lvs/titan1.htm

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

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

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

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

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

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

Thursday, May 14, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Register Now for IBTTA’s Upcoming Meeting – Incident Management, Safety and Security, July 19-21, 2009, Denver, CO 

Join the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association in Denver, CO to learn about best practices from around the world in Incident Management and Emergency Response. Sessions will explore the most effective tools and communication methods available to promote toll facility safety and security, maintain operations in the face of disruption, and effectively communicate with customers during all phases of an incident – from prevention to recovery. Other topics include crisis management during special events, Post Traumatic Distress Disorder and psychological impacts to employees, the role of engineering and maintenance in prevention and safety, and business continuity during disasters. Visit IBTTA’s website to view the preliminary agenda and register today! 

AVIATION

1) EU Air Safety Agency Pledges Better Rulemaking

EASA has promised to incorporate more ‘communication moments’ into the rulemaking process.

Link to story on EurActiv:

http://www.euractiv.com/en/transport/eu-air-safety-agency-pledges-better-rulemaking/article-182169

2) Aviation IT Online News Launched

Link to Aviation IT Online:

http://www.aviationitonline.com/

CARTOGRAPHY

3) Google Street View has to Reshoot in Japan

Link to CNET News story:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10240459-71.html?tag=newsLatestHeadlinesArea.0

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) EU Sends Slovakia Formal Request on Electronic Toll Collection

Link to Dow Jones story:

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200905140654dowjonesdjonline000334&title=eu-sends-slovakia-formal-request-on-electronic-toll-collection

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) Garmin Adds Built-In Digital Camera to Waterproof GPS Units

Link to story on ZDNet:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/digitalcameras/?p=706

OTHER

6) US Government Spending $147.6 Billion for R&D Next Year

Expenditure includes $180 million for FAA next-generation projects such as upgraded air traffic control systems and $103 million for ITS.

Link to story in Information Week:

http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/stimulus/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=217500146&subSection=All+Stories

ROADWAYS

7) Calls for Expert Road Crash Teams in UK

Link to BBC News story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8048971.stm

TRANSIT

8) Boston T Says No to Driver Cell Phones

Link to story in The Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/05/14/t_says_no_to_driver_cellphones/

News Releases

1) Stay Alive When You Drive – Truck Safety Video Alerts Drivers to Railroad Crossing Tips

Upcoming Events

International Municipal Signal Association Annual Conference – August 18-26 – Orlando, Florida

http://www.imsasafety.org/2009conf/2009conf.html

Today in Transportation History

1804 **205^th anniversary** – The Lewis and Clark Expedition left Camp River Dubois for the official start of their journal to the Pacific Ocean.

http://www.campdubois.com/

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

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

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

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

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

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Continental Airlines to Shut Tampa Call Center, Cut 500 Jobs

Link to AP story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hUlxsCBAXmPJ5x8ysNH9MmQSkrLgD985EN6O1

2) Regional Routes Served by Big Carriers are Often Operated by ‘Feeder’ Airlines

Accident record information is available via the Web from the NTSB, but information on specific pilots is difficult to obtain.

Link to story in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124217348431613081.html

3) Hong Kong Airport Says It Now Uses Only RFID Baggage Tags

Link to story in RFID Journal:

http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/4885

4) No Way to E-Mail Frontier Airlines? Not Necessarily

Link to column on Elliott:

http://www.elliott.org/blog/no-way-to-e-mail-frontier-airlines-not-necessarily/

BUSES

5) Is This Your Stop? Pull the Cord, Like Old Times

Bell cord makes a comeback on New York City buses.

Link to story in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/nyregion/13cords.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

CARTOGRAPHY

6) A Look Into the Future of Mapping

Link to interview with Maarten Oldenhof, CEO of Automotive Navigation Data on The Where Business:

http://social.thewherebusiness.com/content/look-future-mapping

7) Electronics Replace Old Fashioned Maps

US/Canadian Map Co. shuts down.

Link to story and video on WLUK-TV:

http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/local_wluk_electronics_replace_old_fashion_maps_200905121736_rev1

GPS / NAVIGATION

8) Navigation Boon for Stalled WiMax?

Link to Reuters story:

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSSEO34908020090513

MARITIME

9) US Coast Guard Releases Anti-Piracy Rules

New regulations for US-flagged ships include lookout for pirates and requirement to submit new security plans.

Link to story in Navy Times:

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/05/coastguard_piracy_051209w/

OTHER

10) EU Adopts RFID Privacy Recommendations

Link to story in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/gt/673788

ROADWAYS

11) Vail, Colorado Looks for Better Road Sign System

Electronic signs might also expand to pedestrian paths and integrate with Vail Resort’s on-mountain information system.

Link to story in the Vail Daily:

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20090512/NEWS/905129939/1078&ParentProfile=1062

12) Los Angeles Wants to Limit Digital Billboards to 21 Areas

Link to story in the Contra Costa Times:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_12358604

13) Electronic Billboards Nixed Along West Virginia Highway

Link to AP story:

http://www.dailymail.com/ap/ApTopStories/200905130118

SAFETY / SECURITY

14) 8,000 New Yorkers Got Emergency E-Mails, Phone Calls and Texts on Aborted Flyover

Link to story in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/05/13/2009-05-13_city_hotline_provides_411_on_danger.html

15) New DVD Shows Dangers of Texting and Driving

Link to AP story:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UT_NO_TEXTING_AD_UTOL-?SITE=CODEN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

SPACE

16) A Twitter First: NASA Astronaut Sends First Tweet from Space

Link to story in Computerworld:

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9132979

Link to Twitter feed:  http://twitter.com/Astro_Mike

TELEMATICS

17) New Sync Begins Rollout May 18

Link to story in TWICE:

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6658004.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

18) Arizona DOT Now Using Twitter, Facebook to Report US 93 Updates

Link to story in The Kingman Daily Miner:

http://www.kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=1&articleID=31402

News Releases

1) FAA Virtualizes Critical International Communication Application with Stratus

2) OnStar Enhances Emergency Response with Microsoft Virtual Earth

3) CVIS: Connected Vehicles for Next-Generation Mobility

Upcoming Events

ITE Annual Meeting & Exhibit – August 9-12 – San Antonio, Texas

http://www.ite.org/AnnualMeeting/default.asp

Today in Transportation History

1829 **180^th anniversary** – The Stourbridge Lion, the first steam locomotive to operate in the US, arrived in New York.

http://www.bridge-line.org/blhs/stourbridge_lion.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

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

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

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

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

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Register Now for ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting & Exposition, June 1-3, National Harbor, Maryland 

 

Join U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, U.S. Chief Technology Officer-designate Aneesh Chopra, Members of Congress, and other transportation, technology, business and policy leaders at ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting & Exposition – located just 15 minutes away from the nation’s capitol. If you are in the transportation industry, you cannot afford to miss this event.  ITS America has put together an exciting program of nearly 100 educational and Congressional fact-finding sessions, opportunities to interact with members of Congress and senior government officials, 150,000 square feet of exhibits, tours of local ITS facilities and projects, a “City Streets” technology demonstration staged right outside of the convention center, and a closing reception and technology showcase in the new Capitol Hill Visitors Center.  For more information on the program and to register, visit http://www.itsa.org/amregistration.html.  

AVIATION

1) Transcript from Buffalo Crash Reveals Breakdown in Communication

Link to story in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124212789938210353.html

2) AirTran to Offer Wi-Fi on All Flights

Link to story in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2009-05-11-airtran-flights-wifi_N.htm

3) A New Route to Easing Air Traffic Congestion

Link to story in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124208754280908923.html

CARTOGRAPHY

4) Greece Bars Google’s Street View Pending Details

Link to AFP story:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.35c2e98a13639c54adb496c3f97d16bf.21&show_article=1

5) Google Puts York, Maine Off the Map

Internet users who search for York via Google find, instead, references to Kennebunk.

Link to story in the York County Coast Star:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090510-NEWS-905100343

GPS / NAVIGATION

6) Debate Heats Up Over Cancellation of GPS Backup System

Link to story on Nextgov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090511_1364.php

ROADWAYS

7) Massachusetts Politicians Spending Millions of Stimulus $ on Signs

Link to story and video report on WBZ-TV:

http://wbztv.com/local/route.128.signs.2.1007345.html

8) Florida International University Integrated Intelligent Transportation System Laboratory Helps Students Study Traffic Flows and Woes

Link to story in The Miami Herald:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1044048.html

9) There’s an (Electronic) Sign Post Up Ahead

Link to column in the Naples Daily News:

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/may/11/brent-batten-theres-electronic-sign-post-ahead/

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) State: Pennsylvania DOT Endangers Public by Issuing Fake IDs

Link to story in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20090512_Grand_Jury_finds_PennDOT_laxness_threatens_national_security.html

11) Mobile Computers Allowing Police in Wisconsin to Issue More Tickets

Link to story in the Journal Sentinel:

http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/pi/44756612.html

TRANSIT

12) CTA Bus Tracker: E-Mail Alerts Coming for All Bus Routes

Link to story in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-cta-bus-tracker-12-may12,0,5939804.story

13) SUBWAY Monthly Newsletter to Debut

Link to further information and sign-up:

http://subwayblogger.com/2009/05/09/subway-monthly-newsletter/

News Releases

1) Wayne County Airport Authority Online Auction Site Takes Flight

2) Iridium OpenPort Completes Successful Sea Trials

3) New NOAA System Improves Safety and Efficiency of Ships in Lake Charles

4) ‘Eye On Your Metro Commute’ New Service Being Offered by King County Metro Transit

5) Navteq Unveils Content Showcase Beta at NAVTEQ.com

6) Ford Engineers Pit Shopping Carts, Water Cannons and Metal Whips Against New Safety Technologies

Upcoming Events

Preserving Our Highway Infrastructure Assets – August 4-7 – Orlando, Florida

http://www.irfnews.org/news-events/event-detail/preserving-our-highway-infrastructure-assets/

Today in Transportation History

1949 **60^th anniversary** – The Berlin Blockade ended. 

http://www.german-way.com/airlift.html

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

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

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

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

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

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

Monday, May 11, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Buffalo Crash Sparks Debate Over Use of Cockpit Recordings

Link to story in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124201244946205809.html

BUSES

2) New Web Site Lets You Compare Bus Tickets

Link to AP story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iobWfqqU3VtjrCrbWiJMixP6Wu0QD9846SKG0

Link to BusJunction:

http://www.busjunction.com/

3) New York MTA’s Bright Idea

Agency to roll out LED screens on bus exteriors with full-motion ads.

Link to story in the New York Post:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05092009/news/regionalnews/mtas_bright_idea_168407.htm

CAMERAS

4) Red Light Cameras Could Vanish in Texas

Link to story on KVIA-TV:

http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=10333861&nav=menu193_2

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

5) Bridge Transponders Pass Test in Rhode Island

Link to story in The Providence Journal:

http://www.projo.com/news/content/Bz_Ezpass_a_hit_05-09-09_3FEALMP_v9.3471bdc.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

6) Blanket GPS Coverage in the Cross Hair

Link to story in PC World:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/164621/blanket_gps_coverage_in_the_cross_hair.html

OTHER

7) Innovation Beats Recession

A profile of New Zealand’s HMI Technologies, a provider of custom-built intelligent traffic systems and products.

Link to story in Business to Business:

http://www.btob.co.nz/cms/features/southern_focus/2009/05/innovation_beats_recession.php

PARKING

8) San Jose and Los Angeles Use Technology to Ease Downtown Parking Congestion

Link to story in PublicCEO:

http://www.publicceo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=226:san-jose-and-la-use-technology-to-aleviate-downtown-parking-congestion&catid=156:information-technologies-publicceo-exclusive&Itemid=39

ROADWAYS

9) Kansas City Scout Signs Don’t Warn About Closed Boulevard

Project manager says they didn’t use signs because it didn’t affect interstate or the entire off-ramp.

Link to column in The Kansas City Star:

http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1188257.html

10) May Issue of Florida DOT’s SunGuide Disseminator Online

Link to newsletter:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/TrafficOperations/Newsletters/2009/2009-005-May.pdf

SAFETY / SECURITY

11) Air Marshals’ Secret Communication Weapon

Link to story in Wired:

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/05/air-marshals-secret-communication-weapon/

Link to further information on FAMSCOM:

http://honeywell.com/sites/aero/technology/avionics3_CA0A2F626-AEE9-48DE-12E5-47CBFC1208EB_H3D4AB53C-7757-A1BA-5C83-F07CF6FEF1AC.htm

12) Boston T to Ban Workers’ Phone Use on the Job

Link to story in The Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/05/10/t_to_ban_workers_phone_use_on_the_job/

Grim Message: Texting Can Kill

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/05/10/grim_message_texting_can_kill/

13) US-Canada Border Ready for New Era

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative to have full implementation June 1.

Link to AP story:

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090511/NEWS03/90510013/Border+ready+for+new+era

14) Threat-Spotting Cameras Raise Question: Is Surveillance Better When Big Brother is a Computer?

Link to AP story:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-tec-smarter-cameras,0,7689983.story

TRANSIT

15) Bank Card System Weighed for DC Metro

Link to story in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/09/AR2009050902459.html

16) Atheists Sue Bloomington Transit Over Ad Rejection

Link to story in the Indiana Daily Student:

http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=68218 

17) Capitol Corridor Wants Internet-Equipped Trains

Link to story on Wi-Fi Net News:

http://wifinetnews.com/archives/2009/05/capitol_corridor_wants_internet-equipped_trains.html

Link to additional information from the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority:

http://www.capitolcorridor.org/aboard_the_train/wi_fi.php

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

18) Web Site Helps Baltimore Drivers Plan Morning Commute

Link to story on WJZ-TV:

http://wjz.com/seenon/traffic.cameras.commute.2.1006225.html

VEHICLES

19) Speed-Restricted Car: A Review

Link to story in the Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/5300462/Speed-restricted-car-a-review.html

News Releases

1) European Consumers are Ready to Embrace Low Cost Navigation Systems, Finds Frost & Sullivan

2) UK Highways Agency Receives Industry Award for Keeping Roads and Information Flowing

Upcoming Events

Webinar: Next Generation 911 (NG 911) Summit for Large Cities – May 21

http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/t3/s090521_nxtgen.asp

Today in Transportation History

1924 **85^th anniversary** – Mercedes-Benz was created through the merger of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschat and Benz & Cie.

http://www.museum-mercedes-benz.com/

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

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

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

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

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast ati95berniew@aol.com.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

Friday, May 8, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Register Now for ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting & Exposition, June 1-3, National Harbor, Maryland 

Join U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, U.S. Chief Technology Officer-designate Aneesh Chopra, Members of Congress, and other transportation, technology, business and policy leaders at ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting & Exposition – located just 15 minutes away from the nation’s capitol. If you are in the transportation industry, you cannot afford to miss this event.  ITS America has put together an exciting program of nearly 100 educational and Congressional fact-finding sessions, opportunities to interact with Members of Congress and senior government officials, 150,000 square feet of exhibits, technical tours of local ITS facilities and projects, a “City Streets” technology demonstration staged right outside of the convention center, and a closing reception and technology showcase in the new Capitol Visitors Center.  For more information on the program and to register, visit http://www.itsa.org/amregistration.html.  

AVIATION

1) Tech, Ops Changes Eyed to Cut Bird Strikes

Link to story in Aviation Week:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/BIRD050709.xml&headline=Tech,%20Ops%20Changes%20Eyed%20To%20Cut%20Bird%20Strikes

2) Wi-Fi Slow to Become Ubiquitous Onboard Airlines

Link to AP story:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Wi-Fi-slow-to-become-apf-15189287.html?.v=2

3) Alaska Company Manufactures Safety Technology for Airports

Link to story in the Alaska Journal of Commerce:

http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/050809/loc_img_local001.shtml

Link to ADS-B Technologies:  http://www.ads-b.com/

OTHER

4) Latest Issue of Thinking Highways Online

Link to magazine:

http://www.thinkinghighways.com/#/54  (North American Edition)

http://www.thinkinghighways.com/#/142  (Europe/RoW Edition)

ROADWAYS

5) Google Phenomenon Factor in Border Delays

Map directions lead to delays at Lewiston-Queenston Bridge.

Link to story on WGRZ-TV:

http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=66530

TRANSIT

6) Chicago Transit: Illinois House Panel OKs Bill to Require Updated Fare System

Link to story in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-transit-legis-smartcards-08-may08,0,7249507.story

7) BART Dials Into Phone-Pay System

Link to story in The Examiner:

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/BART-dials-in-to-phone-pay-system-44573062.html

News Releases

1) Finalists Revealed for Telematics Awards 2009

2) Virginia DOT Launches Interactive Road Construction Map on Web

3) ITS United Kingdom Publishes Intelligent Transport Systems Guides for Local Authority Personnel

Upcoming Events

National Transit Institute Course: Implementing Contactless Fare Collection Systems – May 18-19 – Pittsburgh

https://www.ntionline.com/CourseInfo.asp?CourseNumber=TRI-29

Friday Bonus

In honor of the opening of Star Trek, I present the world’s first car-cloaking device.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/8030766.stm

Today in Transportation History

1989 **20^th anniversary** – STS-30 landed after successfully deploying the Magellan spacecraft, the first deep-space probe to be launched from a shuttle.

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-30/mission-sts-30.html 

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

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

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

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

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

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast