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

Wednesday May 6, 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) Audit: US Air Traffic Systems Venerable to Attack

Link to story in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/06/AR2009050601882.html

2) Pilots Group Takes to the Airwaves

Link to story on Politico:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22138.html

3) A Look at Virgin Atlantic’s Cockpit Technology

Link to video on Gadling:

http://www.gadling.com/2009/05/06/gadling-gets-an-exclusive-look-at-virgin-americas-cockpit-tec/

4) Airlines Use Computers to Get ‘Personal’ with Customers

Link to story and video on KXAS-TV:

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/AIrlines-Use-Computers-to-Get-Personal-With-Customers.html

CARTOGRAPHY

5) Does GPS Mean the End of the Road for Street Directories?

Link to story in The Daily Telegraph:

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,25440716-5007185,00.html

MARITIME

6) US Coast Guard to Harness Ocean Data to Improve Search and Rescue

Link to story in Government Computer News:

http://gcn.com/articles/2009/05/06/noaa-ocean-data-tool.aspx

OTHER

7) Latest Edition of Horizons Online

Link to magazine from US DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration:

http://www.rita.dot.gov/publications/horizons/2009_05_01/pdf/entire.pdf

ROADWAYS

8) Boston Drivers Click to Fight Potholes

Link to story in Next American City:

http://americancity.org/daily/entry/1581/

Link to SeeClickFix:  http://www.seeclickfix.com/

9) Driving LED Signage Efficiently

Link to story in ECN:

http://www.ecnmag.com/article-Driving-LED-Signage-Efficiently-050609.aspx?menuid=334

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) Report: FBI Slow to Update Terror Watch List

Link to AP story:

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=42669

11) Ensuring Work Zone Safety and Mobility

Link to interview with the Maryland State Highway Administration in the NTOC Newsletter:

http://www.ntoctalks.com/articles/workzonesafety.php

TRANSIT

12) Mobile Commerce Apps Gaining Ground in US

But near field communications slow to arrive, conference panelists say.

Link to story in Computerworld:

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9132567&intsrc=news_ts_head

VEHICLES

13) Teens and Driving: Ford Gadget Seeks to Curb Teen Speeding, but 80 MPH Limit Draws Criticism

Link to story in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-talk-my-keymay06,0,881053.story

14) Car Talk

Could cars talk to each other directly to make the streets safer?

Link to story in Popular Science:

http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2009-04/car-talk

News Releases

1) FAA Commends ARINC’s Performance in Support of Oceanic Flight Communications

2) Operation Lifesaver ‘Shark’ Safety PSAs Will be Featured in Amtrak Stations May 9

3) EASi and NeST Announce Strategic Partnership

4) Icomera Introduces Rugged Wi-Fi Cellular Router for Rail and Road Vehicles

Upcoming Events

APTA Intermodal Operations Planning Workshop – August 3-5 – Salt Lake City, Utah

http://www.apta.com/conferences_calendar/intermod/

Today in Transportation History

1909 **100^th anniversary** – Loyd Sigmon, the originator of the ‘Sig Alert’ system used for major traffic problems in the Los Angeles area, was born.

http://harrymarnell.net/sigalert.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

Tuesday, May 5, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Looking for a Wi-Fi Hotspot? Try 10,000 Feet Up

Link to story on CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/business.travel/05/04/airplane.wifi/index.html

2) Airlines Boost Self-Service with Mobile Check-in

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

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103781402

OTHER

3) Bush-Era Secrecy Still Hiding Government Data

Information removed includes FAA enforcement actions and pipeline mapping data.

Link to ABC News story:

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=7496067&page=1

4) Latest Edition of Transport Business Online

Link to magazine:

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?referral=mypagesuite&refresh=J0r72B1i1qH3&PBID=8a22ef1c-9187-4d60-a8da-96ecddd9260a&skip

ROADWAYS

5) Honk if You’re Going to Report This on the Internet

Web sites where you can complain about bad parkers, slow mergers, and that jerk who cut you off.

Link to story in Slate:

http://www.slate.com/id/2217429/?gt1=38002

TELEMATICS

6) 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/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

7) Radio Road-Travel News is a Valuable Service in UK

Link to story on PublicTechnology:

http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=19887

8) Traffic Lights Covered Up by Ealing Council to Test Congestion ‘Cure’

Link to story in The Times:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6207518.ece

News Releases

1) Best Western First Hotel Chain to Offer New GPS and Online Mapping Service for North America/Caribbean

2) Traffic Sign Recognition Offers Additional Driver Safety

Upcoming Events

2009 Incident Management, Safety and Security – July 19-21 – Denver

http://www.ibtta.org/Events/eventdetail.cfm?ItemNumber=3857

Today in Transportation History

1494 **515^th anniversary** – Christopher Columbus landed on Jamaica and claimed it for Spain.

http://www.columbusnavigation.com/v2.shtml

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

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 4, 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) Colorado Airport May Get Cameras, Not New Tower

FAA committee expected to decide if Aspen airport can extend runway without new tower by using cutting-edge remote camera system.

Link to story in the Aspen Daily News:

http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/134390

2) Airlines Seek to Reassure Passengers in Outbreak

Link to story in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/04/business/global/04iht-air.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

3) Air Force Flight Over Lower Manhattan Showed Bad Taste, Worse Communication

Link to column in The Star-Ledger:

http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2009/05/communication_coach_flight_sho.html 

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Navigon Leaves North American GPS Market

Link to CNET News story:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10232879-48.html

5) New GPS Satellite’s Problems Indicated

Link to story in GPS World:

http://sidt.gpsworld.com/gpssidt/Latest+News/New-GPS-Satellites-Problems-Indicated/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/596465?contextCategoryId=33831

6) Smarter GPS to Let Cell Phones Point the Way

Link to story in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/automobiles/03DASHTOP.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

OTHER

7) With Twitter as Your Tour Guide, Hitting Los Angeles’ Hot Spots is a Breeze

Link to story in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2009-04-30-twitter-tips_N.htm 

RAILROADS

8) Union Pacific Makes a Game of Risk

Link to story from CIO:

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/043009-union-pacific-makes-a-game.html

ROADWAYS

9) Massive 14th Street Bridge Project to Begin in Washington, DC

Residents are questioning why the District didn’t give more advanced notice.
Link to story and video on WJLA-TV:

http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0409/618465.html

10) San Francisco to Try ‘Smart’ Meters

Link to story in The Examiner:
http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Muni-Port-team-up-to-try-smart-meters-44202792.html

TELEMATICS

11) Telematics Still an Option for Repair Shops to Consider

Link to story in Motor Age:

http://motorage.search-autoparts.com/motorage/Business+%26+Management+Solutions/Telematics-still-an-option-for-repair-shops-to-con/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/596366?contextCategoryId=2827

TRANSIT

12) Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority Lets Residents Comment on Transit Plan by Phone

Link to story in the St. Petersburg Times:

http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article997254.ece

13) Advertising Company Delivers Ads Between Stop Announcements on Buses and Trains

Link to story in BtoB:

http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090504/HOLD/305049983/1155#seenit  (scroll down to third article)

14) Googling the Future

Google Transit changes the way riders find their routes and alters the way they think about public transportation.

Link to story in More Riders Magazine:

http://www.trilliumtransit.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/googling-the-future.pdf

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

15) Minnesota Firm Keeps the Wheels Turning

Image Sensing Systems designs software and equipment that helps to deal with traffic trouble spots around the world.
Link to column in the Star Tribune:

http://www.startribune.com/business/44190017.html?elr=KArks:DCiU1OiP:DiiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

16) What Use are Traffic Reports?

What are the chances of getting a radio traffic report that is actually relevant to your current car journey?

Link to BBC News story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8029704.stm

Job Posting

 –  SHRP 2 Implementation Lead Program Manager – Federal Highway Administration – Washington, DC

http://tinyurl.com/cr3u8v

Upcoming Events

ITS Strategic Planning Workshop – National Harbor, Maryland – June 4

http://www.itsa.org/ITS_Strategic_Planning.html 

Today in Transportation History

1859 **150^th anniversary** – The Cornwall Railway opened in the UK.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornwall_Railway

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

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 1, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Make Reporting of Bird Strike Data Mandatory

Link to editorial in Newsday:

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vpfaa0112705871apr30,0,6873146.story

CAMERAS

2) Privacy, Cameras and Roadways

Link to story on Drivers .com:

http://www.drivers.com/article/1074/

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) GPS Evidence Too Unreliable for Legal Purposes

Link to story in InformationWeek:

http://www.informationweek.com/news/personal_tech/gps/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=217201050

4) US Department of Transportation Releases Civil Monitoring Performance Document

Link to story in GPS World:

http://sidt.gpsworld.com/gpssidt/System+Design+and+Test+News/Department-of-Transportation-Releases-Civil-Monito/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/596189?contextCategoryId=33831

OTHER

5) Cloud Computing Could Help Agencies Track Stimulus Funds

Link to story on Nextgov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090430_4418.php

6) Delaware DOT’s Diversity Coaching Backfires

Newsletter lists slurs, insults and stereotypes that shouldn’t be used in workplace.

Link to story in The News Journal:

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090501/NEWS02/905010383/1007/DelDOT+s+diversity+coaching+backfires

ROADWAYS

7) Coordinating, Planning and Managing the Effects of Roadway Construction with Technology

Link to information from US DOT:

http://www.its.dot.gov/press/2009/road_construction_tech.htm

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) South Dakota Drivers Sign Up for Sobriety Alerts

Link to story in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2009-04-30-policetexting_N.htm

Link to Act Civilized:  http://www.actcivilized.com/

TRANSIT

9) New Direction for San Diego-Area Transit System

Compass cards replacing paper passes with plastic.

Link to story in The San Diego Union-Tribune:

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/may/01/1m1compass213423-new-direction-transit-system/?metro&zIndex=91827

10) King County Metro Transit Develops New Tools to Keep You in the Loop

Link to story in the Auburn Reporter:

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/aub/community/44166027.html

VEHICLES

11) New Generation of Cars are ‘Mobile High-Tech Platforms’

Link to story in Engineering News:

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/auto-technology-2009-04-24

News Releases

1) Operation Lifesaver (Canada) Launches Web Site for Kids

2) South Florida Commuter Services Launches Public Transit Promotion to Feature Carpool Video on CNN

3) E-Railsafe Program Helps Union Pacific Ensure Railroad Safety and Security Awareness

Upcoming Events

ACI-NA Small Airports Conference – July 16-17 – St. Louis

http://www.aci-na.org/conferences/detail?eventId=136

Friday Bonus

Don’t expect to see these cars in the mall parking lot anytime soon.

http://www.myride.com/snacker-vehicle_category/2009_geneva_auto_show_15_hot_weird_and_wild_cars_youll_probably_never_drive-726-page1.html?id=30986

Today in Transportation History

1999 **10^th anniversary** – Liberty Bell 7, the space capsule flown by Gus Grissom in 1961, was found on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9907/20/grissom.capsule.01/

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

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

Thursday, April 30, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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TIC3 From GEWI – One Platform, Multiple Deployment Options

Whether you are looking to provide Interoperability between legacy systems, launch or upgrade a 511 Service, generate Traffic Flows & Predictive models, Traffic Alerts, Traffic Plans & Simulations, report on Work Zones & Road Conditions, run an automated Radio Traffic Advisory system, or produce Navigation Quality Data, TIC3 from GEWI is the solution. All of these services, and more, can be achieved by simple configuration of this single commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software platform, already in use in over 100+ projects worldwide.  To discuss your requirements, contact jim.oneill@gewi.com and look for GEWI in booth #329 at ITS America.

AVIATION

1) Aviation Industry Presses for ‘NextGen’ at Annual Summit

Link to story on NextGov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090429_7144.php

2) Airports Seek Thermal-Scan Solution to Swine Flu Spread

Link to story in Wired:

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/04/airports-seek-thermal-scan-solution-to-swine-flu-spread/

3) AAAE, FAA Host Airfield Safety and Signage Meeting

Link to story on AviationNews:

http://www.aviationnews.net/?do=headline&news_ID=166848

4) In-Flight Wireless Ban Needs More Study

Link to commentary in the San Jose Mercury News:

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_12257071

5) FAA’s Turn Toward Secrecy

Link to commentary on AVweb:

http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/AvWebInsider_PhotoOpTwo_200288-1.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

6) Norway Joins Galileo Project

Link to story in GPS World:

http://sidt.gpsworld.com/gpssidt/Latest+News/Norway-Joins-Galileo-Project/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/594438?contextCategoryId=33831

7) Communication on the Road

A low-cost GPS-based positioning architecture for V2V and V2I systems uses a scalable, flexible system that enables a range of in-vehicle safety features.

Link to story in GPS World:

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/gps0409/#/24 

OTHER

8) Latest Issue of ERTICO-ITS Europe’s iMobility Newsletter

Link to newsletter:

http://tools.emailgarage.com/Pub/iaOjBgAAAAA~/ViewEmail.ashx

PARKING

9) Maryland Program Lets You Pay Parking Meters Using Your Cell Phone

Link to story on WTOP Radio:

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=30&sid=1662418

ROADWAYS

10) Report Finds More Flaws in Seattle DOT’s Snow Response

Link to story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/405702_Storm30.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

11) Adirondack Northway Cell Gap Closed

Coverage expanded over sections of previously dark I-87.

Link to story in the Press-Republican:

http://www.pressrepublican.com/homepage/local_story_119233554.html

12) Illinois Lawmakers Propose School Bus Tracking Devices

Link to story in the Quad-City Times:

http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_9355348e-3544-11de-8944-001cc4c03286.html

13) The Dangers of Texting While Driving

Video captures what happens when bus driver is texting.

Link to story on NBC’s Today:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30472366#30472366

TRANSIT

14) Oregon Lawmakers Want ‘Greeters’ in Place at MAX Stations

Link to story in The Oregonian:

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/lawmakers_want_greeters_in_pla.html

 15) Mobile Transit Payment Project in the Works in France

Link to story in American Banker:

http://www.americanbanker.com/article.html?id=200904297V1PTSMA

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

16) Bringing Efficiency to the Infrastructure

A smart infrastructure wave may be coming.

Link to story in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/business/energy-environment/30smart.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

News Releases

1) Inrix Triples Real-Time Traffic Flow Coverage in North America to Over 160,000 Miles
2) More than a Gadget Every Mile Keeps the UK on the Move

3) Automotive DMB/DAB Will Feel Heat from Internet Radio

4) Sensys Networks Honored Among This Year’s Most Promising Private Technology Ventures in North America

Upcoming Events

International Congress on Sound and Vibration – July 5-9 – Kraków, Poland

http://www.icsv16.org/

Today in Transportation History

1939 **70^th anniversary** – The New York World’s Fair opened with several transportation exhibits, including GM’s Futurama.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74cO9X4NMb4

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

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, April 28, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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U.S. Chief Technology Officer Nominee Aneesh Chopra to Moderate CTO Roundtable at ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting & Exposition 

President Obama’s nominee for U.S. Chief Technology Officer and Virginia’s Secretary of Technology, Aneesh Chopra, will moderate the CTO Roundtable at ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting & Exposition from 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. on Monday, June 1 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.  Offered for the first time at an ITS America Annual Meeting, the CTO Roundtable will bring together the technology experts of several organizations to present their vision for a technology-savvy organization and offer insights that will help shape and implement ITS solutions in the transportation arena. Discounted registration rates are available through April 30.  For more information and to register, go to http://www.itsa.org/annualmeeting.html.

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

1) All-Electronic North Texas Tollway Authority Toll Booth System Delayed

Link to AP story:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6395867.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

2) Obama Lifts Up GPS in Speech to US Scientists

Link to story in Inside GNSS:

http://www.insidegnss.com/node/1475

OTHER

3) New Google Search Tool Aimed at Making Sense of Public Data

Link to story in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/28/AR2009042802280.html

ROADWAYS

4) Road Safety Interview: Sweden’s Vision Zero

Link to interview on Allianz Knowledge:

http://knowledge.allianz.com/en/globalissues/safety_health/road_safety/road_safety_vision_zero/article629.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

5) New York MTA a Tech Wreck

Lawsuit says high-tech security project can’t be completed.

Link to story in the New York Post:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04282009/news/regionalnews/mta_a_tech_wreck_166543.htm

6) Microsoft Launches Social Media Tool

Emergency managers could use Vine to communicate with citizens.

Link to story in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/648644

TELEMATICS

7) Mercedes’ OnStar Clone Tries Out Ads

Link to story in PC Magazine:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2346045,00.asp

TRANSIT

8) TransLink Fare Cards Pass BART Tests

Link to story in the San Francisco Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/27/BAPV17A4OD.DTL

9) Contactless Fare Collection Systems Moving Forward

Link to story in ContactlessNews:

http://www.contactlessnews.com/2009/04/27/contactless-fare-collection-systems-moving-forward

Link to news release from the Smart Card Alliance:

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/The-Smart-Card-Alliance-980102.html

10) Transit Alerts that Work

Link to story and video on WNYW-TV:

http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/good_day_ny/090427_transit_alerts_best_of

News Releases

1) OnStar Shines for GM, as Auto Telematics Becomes Mainstream

2) Celebrate National Train Day Online with Streaming Video Programming Featuring the History of American Passenger Rail Service and the California Zephyr

3) Navteq Unveils a New Look and Enhancements for Navteq Traffic.com

4) New Kentucky Traffic Safety Web Site Launched

Upcoming Events

The Great West Truck Show – June 25-27 – Las Vegas

http://www.greatwesttruckshow.com/

Today in Transportation History

1789 **220^th anniversary** – The mutiny on the HMAV Bounty took place.

http://www.fatefulvoyage.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

Monday, April 27, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Airports’ Reporting of Bird Strikes Inconsistent

Link to story in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-04-26-birdstrikes_N.htm

2) California Air Traffic Facilities Rely on Trainees

Link to AP story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iZVZ2TIKS6bAjzHKob0wTFPXjBUgD97QUKMO0

Link to further information from the US DOT Inspector General:

http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2453

3) ADS-B Enters US Air Traffic Management Arena

Link to story in Aviation Week:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news/aw042709p1.xml&headline=ADS-B%20Enters%20U.S.%20Air%20Traffic%20Management%20Arena

4) Air Force One Photo Op Triggers Panic in Manhattan

Normal system of public notification broke down.

Link to story and video on ABC News’ World News:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=7439287&page=1

5) Hot New Aircraft Features

From shower stalls to Wi-Fi.

Link to story from Forbes Traveler:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30195496/

PARKING

6) Evaluation of Transit Applications of Advanced Parking Management Systems – Final Evaluation Report

Link to report from US DOT:

http://www.itsdocs.fhwa.dot.gov/JPODOCS//REPTS_TE/14460.htm

ROADWAYS

7) Texas‘ Bush Turnpike Tolls to Go All-Electronic

Link to story in the Dallas Business Journal:

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2009/04/20/daily71.html

8) Arizona Group Wants I-91 Metric Signs Kept

Link to story in the Arizona Daily Star:

http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/290334

9) Could Timely Twitter Tweet Thwart a Ticket?

In Seattle drivers using Twitter to warn of speed traps.

Link to story on KOMO-TV:

http://www.komonews.com/news/tech/43742627.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) Thermal Imaging Scanners at Major International Airports in Malaysia to Spot Swine Flu

Link to story in the New Straits Times:

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/NewsBreak/20090427190025/Article/index_html

TRANSIT

11) More Bus Information Boards to be Installed in Seoul Area

Link to story in The Chosun Ilbo:

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/04/27/2009042700666.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

12) Managing Traffic in a New Way

Pennsylvania DOT’s new traffic center keeps watch of Harrisburg-area traffic.

Link to story on WHP-TV:

http://www.whptv.com/news/local/story/Managing-Traffic-in-a-New-Way/fW0n5W5OdEi7cK0FbJywqg.cspx

13) Hyderabad Cops Launch Web Site for Live Traffic Updates

Link to Press Trust of India story:

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=2996832

Link to site:  http://www.htp.gov.in/  

14) ITS Initiatives for Traffic Management in Bangalore

Link to story in the Deccan Herald:

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr272009/city20090427132723.asp

15) When Will Ahmedabad See Smart Eyes on the Road?

Link to story in The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/When-will-city-see-smart-eyes-on-the-road/articleshow/4452451.cms

VEHICLES

16) Florida May Issue Christian License Plates

Bill would allow plates with image of Jesus and one with a cross.

Link to story in The Miami Herald:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/1016751.html

News Releases

1) Al-Markazia Launches ‘Anta Muraqab’ (Traffic Safety) Campaign in Lebanon

2) Inrix Traffic to Enhance Live 411 Search – Mobile users now have free, instant voice-enabled access to local traffic

Upcoming Events

Snow and Ice Management Association 12^th Annual Snow & Ice Symposium – June 24-27 – Louisville, Kentucky

http://www.sima.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=7

Today in Transportation History

1909 **100^th anniversary** – An experiment in Washington, DC tested how well roads could handle high-speed automobiles.  The top speed reached was 70 mph.

http://www.transportation.org/?siteid=86&pageid=2219 

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

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