Bernie’s Transport Communications Newsletter – March 2, 2009

March 2, 2009 at 7:18 pm

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 Monday, March 2, 2009 — ISSN 1529-1057


Register Today and Prepare for the Approaching Recovery: IBTTA’s Workshop on Managing in an Era of Changing Economic Times, April 19-21, 2009 in San Francisco, CA 

Join IBTTA in San Francisco for power-packed educational sessions and walk away with a world of knowledge on better managing your organization today and preparing for the approaching economic recovery. Learn how global issues are affecting your organization and the toll industry, the goals and efforts of the U.S. stimulus program, how to build a cost-conscious culture and make tough decisions, how to position your agency for unique opportunities during this slowdown, solid financing strategies and more. This is one meeting you don’t want to miss! Visit IBTTA’s website to view the preliminary agenda, make your travel arrangements and register today!

AVIATION

1) Southwest Airlines Criticized for Promotion of Magazine’s Swimsuit Edition

Link to McClatchy Newspapers story:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/02/southwest-airlines-sports-illustrated-swimsuit

BUSES

2) High-End Buses to Make Bid for Lexus Commuters

Link to story in the San Francisco Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/01/MNOQ166F3C.DTL&type=business&tsp=1

3) Chicago Transit Authority Bus-Tracking Site to Add Service-Delay Alerts

Link to story on Chicago Breaking News:

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/03/cta-bus-bustracker-delay-alert-service-change.html

CAMERAS

4) Arizona Photo Radar Citations Can be Prosecuted Criminally

Link to story in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/624281

5) AAA Alerts Drivers to Arizona Speed Cameras

Link to story in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-03-01-speedcameras_N.htm

GPS / NAVIGATION

6) GPS Gadgets a Big Distraction for Male Drivers, Survey Finds

Link to AAP story:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25131239-12377,00.html

OTHER

7) Articles from Most Recent Issue of Texas Transportation Researcher

 –  Pay Attention! Enhancing Visibility to Improve Safety on Houston’s ‘Red Line’

http://tti.tamu.edu/publications/researcher/newsletter.htm?vol=44&issue=4&article=3&year=2008

 –  School Zones as Safety Zones: Helping Motorists Reduce Speed Near Schools

http://tti.tamu.edu/publications/researcher/newsletter.htm?vol=44&issue=4&article=6&year=2008

 –  Walk, Bike and be Counted: Automated Sensors are Watching Out for You

http://tti.tamu.edu/publications/researcher/newsletter.htm?vol=44&issue=4&article=9&year=2008

PARKING

8) A Los Angeles Parking Ambassador

Curbing motorists’ anger and confusion, traffic cop William Hartsfield has helped ease LA’s switch from meters to pay stations.

Link to story in the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-parking-meters2-2009mar02%2C0%2C1423549.story

RAILROADS

9) Los Angeles Metrolink’s Commitment to Safety Reforms Comes Under Scrutiny

Link to story in the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-metrolink-crash-redlights-2009mar02,0,2760811.story

10) Keeping the IT Trains Running

An interview with Ed Trainor, CIO of Amtrak.

Link to interview in CIO Insight:

http://www.cioinsight.com/c/a/Expert-Voices/Keeping-the-IT-Trains-Running/

ROADWAYS

11) Take the Virtual Road to the Super-Datacenter

Link to story in Traffic Technology International:

http://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/industry-blogs.php?BlogID=163

SAFETY / SECURITY

12) Canadian Trucking Alliance: Border Security Programs Need Coordination

Link to story in Today’s Trucking:

http://www.todaystrucking.com/news.cfm?intDocID=21289&login=i95berniew%40aol%2Ecom&datalogin=%269A6%3BNX%241%0A

13) Technology Promises Speedier US-Mexico Border Crossing

Link to AP story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iAVfE6A6Xae1RECw0u3OAGbMfEywD96K7EHO0

14) Orange County, California, May be Successful Model for Interoperable Communications Systems

Link to article in Emergency Management:

http://www.govtech.com/em/596643

15) Crisis Communication

Texas agencies maximized Web power before and after Hurricane Ike.

Link to story in Texas Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/tt/585985

TRANSIT

16) London Transport Lacked Snow Emergency Plan

Link to story on Sky News:

http://tinyurl.com/dapw5d

Link to report from the London Assembly Transport Committee:

http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/transport/snow-report-0309.pdf

17) South Koreans May Lose Subway Mobile TV as Broadcasters Face Cash Crisis

Link to mocoNews story:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/27/AR2009022701707.html

Upcoming Events

Fourth Joint Military/Civilian Conference on Intelligent Vehicle Technology Transfer (IVTT) – April 1-2 – Gaithersburg, Maryland

http://www.intelligent-vehicle.com/index.php/conference

Today in Transportation History

1949 **60th anniversary** – The first non-stop round-the-world flight was completed on a Boeing B-50A, the Lucky Lady II.

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2634

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

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

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – Feb 26, 2009

February 26, 2009 at 6:18 pm

Thursday, February 26, 2009 — ISSN 1529-1057


Register Today for IBTTA’s Toll Road Summit of Australia, New Zealand & the Asia Pacific Rim, March 15-18, 2009 in Sydney, Australia 

If you are interested in public-private partnerships, innovations in customer service and next generation technologies, you need to attend this meeting! Join IBTTA and ITS Australia in Sydney, Australia and learn about the explosive growth of tolling in Australia, New Zealand and the countries in the Asia Pacific Rim. Learn about toll concessions and operations, including the political, regulatory, public affairs and customer service aspects of startup and mature facilities, and lessons learned from successive implementation of all electronic toll collection. Visit IBTTA’s website to view the preliminary agenda, make your travel arrangements and register today

AVIATION

1) Transportation Budget Proposes NextGen Air Traffic Control Funding

Link to story in Business First of Louisville:

http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2009/02/23/daily40.html

2) Technology in the Sky

A photo essay in Time:

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1666378_1454387,00.html

CAMERAS

3) Mississippi May Blind ‘Eyes’ on Traffic

Bill to ban devices that photograph traffic scofflaws advances.

Link to story in The Clarion-Ledger:

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090226/NEWS010504/902260345/1001/news

 ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) FastLane Slips in Stealth Fees

Up to one million customers hit with faulty charges.

Link to story in the Boston Herald:

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2009_02_26_Fastlane_slips_in_stealth_fees:_Up_to_1_million_customers_hit_with_faulty_charges/srvc=home&position=0

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) Federal Commission Backs Mileage Fees Over Gas Taxes, Champions GPS Technology

Link to story in Inside GNSS:

http://www.insidegnss.com/node/1366

OTHER

6) New Weather Monitoring System Reaches to the Heavens

Microwave technology used for the first time in US.

Link to story and video report on KING-TV:

http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_022509WAB-weather-testing-KS.2f300ba.html

PARKING

7) Parking Meters Out to Destroy the Human Race

Washington, DC meters pretend to be broken then ‘self-correct’ to give you tickets.

Link to story on WRC-TV:

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Local-Parking-Meters-Develop-Artificial-Intelligence-Will-Destroy-Humans.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) US Department of Homeland Security Secretary: Agency Likely to Miss Cargo Scanning Deadline

Link to story from CongressDaily:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090225_7302.php

Link to further information from the House Committee on Homeland Security:

http://homeland.house.gov/Hearings/index.asp?ID=171

9) TSA: Mule Skinners Need Background Checks, Too

Employees who accompany historic canal boats required to get security credentials.

Link to CNN story:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/25/mule.skinner.blues/

TELEMATICS

10) Leverage Telematics and On-Board Diagnostics for Warranty Management

Link to story in Automotive DesignLine:

http://www.automotivedesignline.com/howto/214600030;jsessionid=3QLTBFFM2ABFAQSNDLPCKH0CJUNN2JVN

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Traffic Nerd Looks Through Numbers with CEO

Seattle traffic reporter meets with the president of Inrix to discuss new traffic data.

Link to story on KIRO-TV:

http://www.kirotv.com/traffic/18792881/detail.html

VEHICLES

12) ‘Talking’ Cars Could Hit the Road by 2012

Link to story in Wired:

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2009/02/talking-cars-co.html  

News Releases

1) SITA and WestJet Go Live with New Standard for Checking In and Boarding Passengers

2) US Department of Transportation Unveils 2010 Budget Framework

3) Toyota Adds to Pre-Crash Safety Technologies

4) Gresham, Smith and Partners Wins City of Memphis, City Engineer’s Award of Excellence for SmartWay Project

5) Raleigh-Wake Emergency Communications Center Offering Online Traffic Information

6) GeoSpot Deep Local Search Launches Nationwide on Web and Mobile

Upcoming Events

Carbon-Free Mobility Conference – March 6 – Oakland, California

http://www.advancedtransit.org/doc.aspx?id=2109

Today in Transportation History

1914 **95th anniversary** – The HMS Britannic was launched in Belfast.

http://www.atlanticliners.com/britannic_home.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

Bernie’s TCN Newsletter – February 25, 2009

February 25, 2009 at 6:32 pm

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 Wednesday, February 25, 2009 — ISSN 1529-1057


Register Today and Prepare for the Approaching Recovery: IBTTA’s Workshop on Managing in an Era of Changing Economic Times, April 19-21, 2009 in San Francisco, CA 

Join IBTTA in San Francisco for power-packed educational sessions and walk away with a world of knowledge on better managing your organization today and preparing for the approaching economic recovery. Learn how global issues are affecting your organization and the toll industry, the goals and efforts of the U.S. stimulus program, how to build a cost-conscious culture and make tough decisions, how to position your agency for unique opportunities during this slowdown, solid financing strategies and more. This is one meeting you don’t want to miss! Visit IBTTA’s website to view the preliminary agenda, make your travel arrangements and register today!

 AVIATION

 1) Key to Eliminating US Flight Delays? Redesign the Sky Over New York City

Link to story in Wired:

http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretransport/magazine/17-03/ff_airspace

 2) Could Radar Keep Birds from Colliding with Aircraft?

Link to story in Scientific American:

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=avian-aircraft-radar

 3) Airline Industry Seems to be Serious About Going Forward with Wi-Fi in Sky

Link to Scripps-Howard News Service story:

http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/41183

 4) American Airlines Aims to be On Time

Technology being used to improve performance.

Link story on The Street:

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10465948/1/american-airlines-aims-to-be-on-time.html

 CAMERAS

 5) Who’s Paying for New Missouri Red-Light Camera Advocacy Group?

Link to story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/political-fix/political-fix/2009/02/whos-paying-for-new-red-light-camera-advocacy-group/

 CARTOGRAPHY

 6) Officials Eye a Geospatial ‘Virtual USA’

Link to story in Federal Computer Week:

http://fcw.com/articles/2009/02/24/virtual-usa.aspx

 GPS / NAVIGATION

 7) Microsoft Sues TomTom for Patent Infringement

Link to CNET News story:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-10172068-75.html

 OTHER 

8) New Transportation Blog from ‘Gridlock Sam’ Schwartz: The Number Thirteen Line

Link to blog on PBS Blueprint America:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/blueprintamerica/category/blogs/13line

 9) 3D Simulation Solves Crime and Accidents

Link to story in Eureka:

http://www.eurekamagazine.co.uk/article/17221/3D-simulation-solves-crimes-and-accidents.aspx

 ROADWAYS

 10) WiMax System Warns Drivers on Dangerous Highway Prone to Dense Fog

Link to story in Computerworld:

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9128619&intsrc=hm_list

Link to news release from Proxim Wireless:

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0477064.htm

 SAFETY / SECURITY

11) US Department of Homeland Security to Use More Simulations in Infrastructure Protection

Link to story on Nextgov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090223_9398.php 

Link to National Infrastructure Protection Plan:

http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/NIPP_Plan.pdf

 12) FAA Will Use Software to Identify Sensitive Data

Link to story in Federal Computer Week:

http://fcw.com/articles/2009/02/25/faa-software.aspx

 TRANSIT

 13) Automated Subway Train Rolls Out in New York City

Link to story in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/02/24/2009-02-24_automated_l_train_rolls_out.html

 14) Wired BART Should Please Passengers

Link to story in the Contra Costa Times:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/traffic/ci_11776662

 TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

 15) Get Connected to Go

Link to profile on New York State’s 511 system.

Link to story in New York State DOT E-Zine:

https://www.nysdot.gov/e-zine/winter2008/initiative

 VEHICLES

 16) Intelligent Transportation System Demoed in Japan

Link to story on Tech-On:

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20090225/166272/  

News Releases

1) Recent Studies Highlight Effectiveness of Radar Speedcheck Signs for Use in Traffic Calming

2) Westwood One’s Metro Traffic Goes Live with the Most Comprehensive Video Traffic Information Network in the Country

3) Port Authority of NY & NJ Leads Alliance Urging Full Federal Funding to Unclog Air Traffic Control System and Ease Delays for Passengers

4) INX Awarded State of New Mexico DOT Contract for Rail Runner Train’s High-Speed Wireless System

5) Inrix National Traffic Scorecard Reveals Startling 30 Percent Decrease in Traffic Congestion in 2008

 

Upcoming Events

Talking Freight Seminar: Freight Corridor Programs – March 18

https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webConfID=16392

 Today in Transportation History

1919 **90th anniversary** – Oregon became the first state to impose a gasoline tax.

http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/CS/FTG/

 

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

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

Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter – Feb 24, 2009

February 24, 2009 at 8:25 pm

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 Tuesday, February 24, 2009 — ISSN 1529-1057

 


 Register Today for IBTTA’s Toll Road Summit of Australia, New Zealand & the Asia Pacific Rim, March 15-18, 2009 in Sydney, Australia 

  If you are interested in public-private partnerships, innovations in customer service and next generation technologies, you need to attend this meeting! Join IBTTA and ITS Australia in Sydney, Australia and learn about the explosive growth of tolling in Australia, New Zealand and the countries in the Asia Pacific Rim. Learn about toll concessions and operations, including the political, regulatory, public affairs and customer service aspects of startup and mature facilities, and lessons learned from successive implementation of all electronic toll collection. Visit IBTTA’s website to view the preliminary agenda, make your travel arrangements and register today

 AVIATION

 1) Final FAA-Weather Service Decision Delayed Again

Link to column in The Washington Post:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2009/02/post_4.html

 2) New Technology May Prevent Bird Strikes

Link to ABC News story:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/Travel/story?id=6940435&page=1

 PARKING

 3) ‘Smart’ Parking Meters Catching on Across US

Link to story in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2009-02-23-smartmeters_N.htm

 ROADWAYS

 4) The Bridge to Smart Technology

Smart technology that makes infrastructure safer and more efficient is ready just in time for a flood of government spending.

Link to story and video in BusinessWeek:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_09/b4121042656141.htm?chan=rss_topEmailedStories_ssi_5

 5) Let’s Stimulate Smart Highways

Link to commentary in Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/23/stimulus-transportation-hov-opinions-contributors_hot_highways.html

 SAFETY / SECURITY

 6) Privacy, Identity, and the Use of RFID and RF-Enabled Smart Card Technology

Link to story in Smart Card Talk:

http://www.smartcardalliance.org/pages/newsletter-200902-feature?issue=200902

 TRANSIT

 7) Utah Transit Authority Showcases Open Payment System

Link to story in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/621904

Link to further information from the UTA:

http://www.rideuta.com/ridingUTA/amenities/electronicFare.aspx

 8) Updates from APTA’s Marketing & Communications Workshop

Link to blogs:

http://blog.apta.com/?cat=1

 9) Light Rail Vehicle Collisions with Vehicles at Signalized Intersections

Link to report from the Transportation Research Board:

http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=10004

 News Releases

1) Economic Downturn Favors Cheaper Navigation Form Factors

2) US Departments of Defense, Transportation, and Homeland Security Release 2008 Federal Radionavigation Plan

3) QNX Changes the Rules for In-Vehicle Software Development

4) ATX to Seek Local Partners to Expand European Telematics

 Upcoming Events

Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Bus Safety Summit – March 5-6 – Arlington, Virginia

http://www.cvsa.org/events/Bus%20Summit%20Online_revised%20021009.pdf

 Today in Transportation History

1909 **100th anniversary** – The Hudson Motor Car Company was founded.

http://www.hemmings.com/hcc/stories/2005/11/01/hmn_feature11.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