SALARY RANGE: $89,924.00 to $138,136.00 / Per Year
OPEN PERIOD: Friday, July 11, 2014 to Sunday, July 20, 2014

This position is located in the Office of Innovative Program Delivery (HIN), Project Delivery Team, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in Washington, D.C. The Office of Innovative Program Delivery, an organizational element within the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), provides national leadership, direction, and consulting services in new approaches for project finance, procurement (e.g., public-private partnerships (P3s)), and revenue generation (e.g., congestion pricing).  The office also provides for the oversight and stewardship of projects with a total cost in excess of $500 million.  HIN brings together experts on transportation credit assistance; project cost estimating and financial plan development; innovative finance; policy development; P3s; and tolling. 

This position is for the implementation of stewardship and oversight activities to monitor the cost, schedule, and performance of Federal-aid transportation infrastructure projects, especially major projects (those costing over $500 million) to identify problems and initiate action to mitigate implementation risks.  This position provides technical assistance and authoritative consultant services to FHWA field offices, State agencies, and other Federal agencies to assure that Federal regulations and policies are met in the development and delivery of major highway projects.

The ideal candidate will be a mid-career transportation specialist with a specialty in the stewardship and oversight of the major highway project delivery process.

Click here to learn more and to apply

via Young Professionals in Transportation

(Salary: $75,600 – $104,300)
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation, an urban multi-modal transportation agency with primary responsibility for the City’s roadways, bridges, transit systems, and traffic safety is seeking a dynamic professional to function as the City’s Chief Traffic Engineer and manage the Traffic Management Center.

The Chief of the Traffic Division will lead a team of professional engineers, managers and  technicians to:

• Authorize installation of Traffic Control Devices including signals, signs and pavement markings
• Operate and maintain the city’s 1,350 traffic signals
• Conduct Traffic Studies
• Develop measures to enhance all modes of transportation in the City;
• Implement the City’s Complete Streets Program
• Oversee multi-disciplinary planning and design teams for roadway improvement projects, ITS projects, transportation safety projects, bicycle and pedestrian projects, and other transportation-related projects;
• Oversee consultant resources through the planning and design project development processes;
• Recruit and hire professional traffic engineers
• Manage agency-wide data collection and GIS programs;
• Manage the agency’s transportation safety improvement program;
• Manage the agency’s transportation management center;
• Manage the signal electronics and signal construction maintenance shops; Conduct training of staff and consultants;
• Conduct traffic policy research and analysis on a range of topics;and
• Other duties as required.

Desirable qualifications: Master’s degree from an accredited college or university, five years of experience managing engineering projects as a licensed professional engineer, certification as a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer, and a minimum of five years directly supervising senior engineers, junior engineers and engineering technicians. Consideration may be given to a combination of experience and/or education. This position reports directly to the Deputy Director and will have frequent contact with the Director of Transportation, the Mayor’s Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations, and members of City Council. This is a benefited, at-will position serving at the pleasure of the Director of Transportation.

Qualified candidates should submit a cover memo and resume, which specifically addresses the experience relevant to this position, to Kathy Litz, Baltimore City Department of Transportation, 417 E. Fayette Street, Room 546, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 or email to: Kathy.litz@baltimorecity.gov. Submission deadline is March 31, 2014.

An equal opportunity employer.

RITA strongly encourages comments on the Real-Time System Management Information Program Final Rule Request:

Rule: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2010_register&docid=fr08no10-4 Comments: http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R=0900006480b84022 BACKGROUND The concept for establishing a Real-Time System Management Information Program was included in federal transportation legislation in 2005 (specifically known as Section 1201 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, or SAFETEA-LU). The Real-Time System Management Information Program would provide the capability to monitor in real-time the traffic and travel conditions of the major highways across the U.S. and provide a means of sharing these data with state and local governments and with the traveling public. The SAFETEA-LU legislation required the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to establish a formal rule in order to define minimum parameters and requirements for states to make available and share traffic and travel conditions information via real-time information programs. The Federal Highway Administration has released the proposed rule, and is seeking comments from stakeholders across the public and private sectors. The Research and Innovative Technology Administration, which oversees the U.S. Intelligent Transportation Systems Program, is actively encouraging innovation in data collection, management, and dissemination across a wide array of communications platforms, and also encourages stakeholders to provide detailed comments regarding this rule. RITA is particularly interested in responses to questions below from the Notice:

1. Given the research investment into wireless communications systems in the 5.9 GHz spectrum for Intelligent Transportation Systems applications, to what extent could systems in this spectrum also be used to fulfill the requirements of this rule and/or enable other applications?
2. Given that there are legacy technologies in place now, and that there are new technologies on the horizon that are being adopted, how can we ensure that investments made today to comply with this rule are sustainable over the long term?

DATES:

This rule will be effective December 23, 2010. Establishment of the real-time information program for traffic and travel conditions reporting along the Interstate highway system will be completed no later than November 8, 2014. Establishment of the real-time information program for traffic and travel conditions reporting along the State-designated metropolitan area routes of significance will be completed no later than November 8, 2016. We request that comments be submitted via the link above no later than December 23, 2010.

(Source: APTA)

Have you ever wondered what is the key to a good health and long life – I knew that it has to be the public transport.  Look at the Europeans —  healthy & happy– riding their bikes, trains, trams, buses, etc.  If you still don’t believe what I’ve said, you now have the proof.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has released a report that explores ways that public transportation affects human health, and ways to incorporate these impacts into transport policy and planning decisions.

Evaluating Public Transportation Health Benefits, a study conducted for APTA by Todd Litman of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute aggregates the findings of several recent studies and concludes that people living in transit-oriented “smart growth” communities enjoy several health benefits, not seen in other communities, including residents drive less, exposing them to a lower risk of fatal vehicle accidents.

People who live or work in communities with high quality public transportation tend to drive significantly less and rely more on alternative modes (walking,cycling and public transit) than they would in more automobile-oriented areas. This reduces traffic crashes and pollution emissions, increases physical fitness and mental health, andprovides access to medical care and healthy food. These impacts are significant in magnitude compared with other planning objectives, but are often overlooked or undervalued inconventional transport planning.

Various methods can be used to quantify and monetize(measure in monetary units) these health impacts. This analysis indicates that improving publictransit can be one of the most cost effective ways to achieve public health objectives, and publichealth improvements are among the largest benefits provided by high quality public transit andtransit-oriented development.

Some of the key findings from the report are listed below:

Related articles by Zemanta

• APTA Report Prescribes Public Transport to Improve Public Health (streetsblog.org)
• Does driving make you fat? Can public transportation, biking and walking keep you skinny? (green.autoblog.com)
• Two transport reports (energybulletin.net)
• Report Says Public Transportation Makes You Skinny (inhabitat.com)
• Transit Benefits Your Health and Saves Your Life (cleantechnica.com)
• Save $9,330 a Year by Riding Transit (cleantechnica.com)
• Residents Who Live Near Public Transportation Live Healthier, Longer Lives (urbanplanningblog.com)
• Evaluating the Economic Impact of Transit-Oriented Development in California (thecityfix.com)

Monday, July 19, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Glitch of New Hijack Warning System Leads to Israeli Fighter Intercept of Ethiopian Airlines Flight

Link to article in Haaretz:

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/air-force-fighter-jets-intercept-ethiopian-airlines-flight-in-hijack-scare-1.302696

CAMERAS

2) New South Wales Mobile Speed Cameras Send ‘Security’ Info Back to Base

Link to article in TechWorld:

http://www.techworld.com.au/article/353601/mobile_speed_cameras_send_security_info_back_base

3) Speed Cameras: Good or Bad?

Link to story and audio report on American Public Media’s Marketplace:

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/07/16/pm-speed-cameras-good-or-bad/

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) North Texas Tollway Authority Acknowledges Camera Problems, Vows to Boost Billing

Link to article in The Dallas Morning News:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-nttabilling_19met.ART0.State.Edition2.295a0d9.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) GPS Warns of Red Light Cameras, but Database Isn’t Reliable

Link to McClatchy Newspapers review:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100718/BIZ/707189971/1005

MARITIME

6) Inside the World’s Most Advanced Submarine

Link to CNET News blog:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-20010868-52.html

7) COMSAR Initiates Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Review

Link to article in IMO News:

http://www.imo.org/includes/blastDataOnly.asp/data_id%3D28953/IMO_News_No2_10_LOW.pdf (page 15)

PARKING

8) Pay-by-Phone Parking Tested in DC

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/dc/pay-by-phone-parking-tested-in.html

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

9) Toyota Educates Customers as Floor Mat Alert Ignored

Link to Bloomberg article:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-07-16/toyota-educates-customers-as-floor-mat-alert-ignored.html

10) Montana Develops App for Driver’s Exam Practice

Link to AP article:

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_eb78e516-90ec-11df-982c-001cc4c002e0.html

11) Failure to Bash

Former road industry publication editor recounts his experience dealing with FHWA PR staff.

Link to commentary in Better Roads:

http://www.betterroads.com/kirk-landers-16/

RAILROADS

12) Eurostar Launches First TV Spot in Three Years

Link to article and video on Brand Republic News:

http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/1016852/eurostar-launches-first-tv-spot-three-years/

ROADWAYS

13) Fixed Electronic Road Signs in New Zealand Will Not be Used to Warn Drivers About Ice

New Zealand Transport Agency says mobile warning signs are sufficient.

Link to article in The Nelson Mail:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/3932761/Clash-over-Rai-ice-warnings

SAFETY / SECURITY

14) US Public Safety Officials to Kick Off Lobbying Blitz for Spectrum

Link to article on Nextgov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100716_2547.php

15) US Customs to Promote Registered Traveler Program

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-07-19-airportcheckin19_ST_N.htm

16) West Virginia Amber Alert Gets New Look

New logo designed to catch drivers’ attention on highway signs.

Link to story on WSAZ-TV:

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/98750174.html

17) Mobile Mapping While Driving: Is It Risky?

Link to CNN story:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/07/19/mapping.while.driving/#fbid=mO40HJ3Mn2C

18) Distracted Driving Solution Hits Market After 17 Years in Making

Link to article in Wireless Week:

http://www.wirelessweek.com/News/2010/07/Mobile-Content-Distracted-Driving-Solution-Hits-Market-Mobile-Applications/

TELEMATICS

19) Cross Country Provides Drivers Critical Info

Link to article in Highlands Today:

http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2010/jul/18/la-cross-country-provides-drivers-critical-info/news/

TRANSIT

20) DC Metro Seeks to Ease Congestion on Busy Bus Routes, Saving Time and Millions

Transit agency uses GPS data to identify slow zones for buses.

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/17/AR2010071702507.html

21) KSRTC to Introduce ITS for Mysore Public Transport

Link to Sify article:

http://sify.com/finance/ksrtc-to-try-its-hand-at-intelligent-transport-system-news-news-khtc4lcabii.html

22) Shield for Metro Near Chennai Airport to Prevent Interference with Radar Signals

Link to article in The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Shield-for-metro-near-airport-to-prevent-interference-with-radar-signals/articleshow/6185330.cms

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

23) Wisconsin Company has Eye on Traffic so You Can Avoid Jams Ahead

Link to article in the Wisconsin State Journal:

http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_da73d316-9137-11df-9ed0-001cc4c002e0.html

Number of BlueTOAD Devices in Wisconsin is Growing

http://host.madison.com/article_5f634c7a-9136-11df-a1d1-001cc4c002e0.html

24) Driven to Distraction by Twits’ Signs

Motorists groups say message signs advertising traffic information on Twitter are a safety risk.

Link to article in The Scotsman:

http://news.scotsman.com/news/Driven-to-distraction-by-twits39.6426027.jp

25) Idaho 511 Expands to Include Bus Schedules

Link to video report on KBOI-TV:

http://apps.itd.idaho.gov/Apps/MediaManagerViewer/NewsClipping/Video.aspx?Id=1193

26) Clearwater, Florida Earns Patent for Device to Control Traffic Remotely

Link to article in the St. Petersburg Times:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/clearwater-earns-patent-for-device-to-control-traffic-remotely/1109425

27) ViaMichelin Launches Free iPhone Traffic App

Link to article in Tyres & Accessories:

http://www.tyrepress.com/News/business_area/e-Commerce/20034.html

VEHICLES

28) Subaru Outback to Double as Wi-Fi Hot Spot

Link to CNET blog:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20010774-48.html

News Releases

1) TrafficLand Adding Caltrans Los Angeles and Orange County Traffic Cameras to Its National Network

2) Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to Implement More Technology-Based Improvements

3) California’s MTC Invites Bay Area Residents to Shape Strategy for Expanding Public Involvement

Upcoming Events

2010 ITS Tri-Chapter Information Exchange Summit – August 18-19 – Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

http://www.itspennsylvania.com/Portals/0/2010%20ITS%20Tri-Chapter%20Information%20Exchange%20Summit%20Registration%20Forms.pdf

Today in Transportation History

1985 **25^th anniversary** US Vice President George H.W. Bush announced that Christa McAuliffe would become the first teacher, and the first private citizen, in fly in space.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=38909

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit:

http://groups.google.com/group/tcnl/subscribe

If you have any difficulties please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

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

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

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

(Source: Backgrounder, Council on Foreign Relations) 

 

Author:	Robert McMahon, Deputy Editor

Introduction : 

Transportation experts view the call for dramatic federal government action in response to the economic crisis as an opportunity to overhaul the U.S. system of highways, bridges, railways, and mass transit. A series of sobering report cards from the American Society of Civil Engineers documents the inadequacy of this system. President Barack Obama took office pledging to act; his February 2009 stimulus package provides nearly $50 billion for transportation infrastructure. But many experts look beyond the stimulus and call for shifts in longer-term policy that will fundamentally alter the approach to planning and funding infrastructure and bolster U.S. competitiveness, quality of life, and security. In the past, the United States has revamped its transportationinfrastructure to build canals, transcontinental railways, and a federal highway system, in each case helping usher in periods of economic growth.

A State of Disrepair