Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter – May 21, 2009

May 21, 2009 at 11:25 pm

Thursday, May 21, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057


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

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

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© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast