Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – August 10, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057
IBTTA 78th Annual Meeting & Exhibition — Register Today! Early Bird Discount Ends August 22, 2010
Join your colleagues in San Diego, September 12-15, 2010, for IBTTA’s 78th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, the year’s most highly-anticipated learning and networking event — attracting more than 700 toll industry experts and decision makers from across the globe. Under the theme, Sustainable Transportation, the technical program offers tracks focused on innovation, policy, the economy, and the California tolling experience. Hosted by the California Toll Operators Committee (CTOC), this event features interactive seminars, influential speakers, technical tours and special events, informative exhibits and more! Breaking News! The Hilton San Diego Bayfront has reduced the contracted room rate from $241/night to $219/night. The new rate applies to all existing confirmed reservations and any new reservations. Customized sponsorship and exhibitor packages are available. Visit IBTTA’s website for details.
BICYCLES
1) Momentum Grows for Federal Policy Breakthrough that Would Fast-Track Bikeway Innovations
Link to blog on BikePortland.org:
CAMERAS
2) Maryland to Store License Plate Scanner Data at Intel Fusion Center
Link to blog from the Center for Investigative Reporting:
CARTOGRAPHY
3) As Google Street View Ramps Up in Germany, Korea Clamps Down
Link to article in The Christian Science Monitor:
ELECTRONIC TOLLING
4) Technology is Making Tolls (Almost) Painless
Link to article in the Reading Eagle:
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=240518
GPS / NAVIGATION
5) Putin Wants Russian Satnav System in New Cars from 2012
Link to AFP article:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gXennqUAYggivPoWReBOHGilIFhg
MARITIME
6) Vessel Traffic Management System May Get Some Blame for Indian Ship Collision
Link to article in the Bangalore Mirror:
7) Family of Fishing Guide Presumed Drowned Calls for GPS Locators
Link to article in the Times Colonist:
http://www.timescolonist.com/Family+fishing+guide+presumed+drowned+calls+locators/3380188/story.html
OTHER
8) Orange County Transportation Authority to Post Employee Pay, Benefits
Link to article in The Orange County Register:
http://www.ocregister.com/news/octa-261321-board-grand.html
9) New York Lauds Using Facial-Recognition for Driver’s Licenses
Link to article in The Washington Times:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/10/ny-lauds-facial-recognition-technology-licenses/
10) Commuter ‘Pain’ Fuels Smart Solutions
Link to article in InformationWeek:
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2010/08/commuter_pain_f.html
11) Can ‘Webinars’ Make Planning Workshops Obsolete?
Link to article on Planetizen:
http://www.planetizen.com/node/45478
PARKING
12) New Technology May Solve Your Parking Problems
Link to column in the Contra Costa Times:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/bay-area-news/ci_15722439
RAILROADS
13) Positive Train Control: Railroads, Suppliers Still Have a Ways to Go to Meet the 2015 Positive Train Control Mandate
Link to article in Progressive Railroading:
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/pr/article.asp?id=24053
ROADWAYS
14) Using Tech to Curb Deaths on Minnesota’s Roadways
Link to story and audio on Minnesota Public Radio:
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/08/10/minnesota-traffic-deaths/
15) Seattle’s ‘Smart Highway Signs’ Go Online Today
Link to story and video on KING-TV:
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Seattle-Smarter-Highways-go-online-Tuesday-100320979.html
16) Vermont Shows Off New Signs Warning Drivers to Give Room to Emergency Vehicles
Link to article in The Burlington Free Press:
SAFETY / SECURITY
17) Driver Ed Battles Texting Obsession
Link to article on BrookfieldNOW:
http://www.brookfieldnow.com/news/100379259.html
TRANSIT
18) New York City Buses to Get Ads Opposing Islam Center
Link to article in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/10/nyregion/10mta.html
19) NTSB Criticizes DC Metro Board Over Fatal Crash in 2009
Link to article in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/09/AR2010080905986.html
Link to news releases from WMATA:
http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4601
http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4602
TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT
20) Drawls Welcome: Texas DOT Tests Phone Info Line
Link to AP article:
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory?id=11367583
Link to news release from Texas DOT:
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/news/035-2010.htm
21) Twin Cities Ahead of Curve in Managing Congestion
Link to article on Twin Cities Daily Planet:
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2010/08/09/twin-cities-ahead-curve-managing-congestion
VEHICLES
22) After 12 Years, EU License Plate Gets Traction
Link to AP article:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gsMi_PefCSEbXt0sO7Vfm6zzIZmAD9HGNJQ82
News Releases
1) Federal Highway Administrator Mendez Helps Launch Smarter Highways on I-5 in Seattle
2) Telvent to Implement Light Rail Priority System in Algeria
3) Automated Valet Creates Customized iPhone App for DFW Airport Valet
4) Lockheed Martin-Built GPS Satellite Surpasses 10 Years On-Orbit
5) Waze 2.0 Available for Download, Featuring New Driving Groups
6) ReportLinker Adds Collecting and Distributing Traffic Information in China
Upcoming Events
National Unified Goal for Traffic Incident Management Summit – September 21-22 – Linthicum Heights, Maryland
http://www.i95coalition.org/i95/Portals/0/Public_Files/Whats-New/NUG%20Summit%20updated.pdf
Today in Transportation History
1990 **20th anniversary** Magellan reached Venus to begin extensive radar mapping of the planet’s surface.
http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/magellan/
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