Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – November 19, 2009

November 19, 2009 at 7:34 pm

Thursday, November 19, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057


IBTTA Summit to Explore Transformational Changes in Transportation Funding System — December 13-15, 2009 in Washington, DC
If you are responsible for funding or operating surface transportation infrastructure at the state, regional, county or municipal level, we invite you to attend IBTTA’s Transportation Policy and Finance Summit and explore the transformational changes that must take place to create a sustainable and efficient transportation funding system. CFO Roundtable on December 13, 2009: This Summit will include a special CFO roundtable for chief financial officers from toll agencies, state departments of transportation, and individuals in similar positions to share knowledge and ideas, network, and learn from one another. For registration, hotel and travel information or to view the preliminary agenda, visit www.IBTTA.org.

AVIATION

1) FAA Says Software Failure Caused Flight Disruptions Across US

Link to Bloomberg article:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aPjkdWINEvx4&pos=9

Link to FAA statement:

http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=10966

2) Bill Seeks to Ban Pilots’ Use of Electronic Devices in Cockpit

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-11-18-laptops-ban-pilots_N.htm

3) FAA to Investigate Cell Phone Use on Atlanta Flight

Link to article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/faa-to-investigate-cell-202143.html

BICYCLES

4) Google Bike Directions Could be Useful Tool for Cities

Link to article in Mobilizing the Region:

http://blog.tstc.org/2009/11/17/google-bike-directions-could-be-useful-tool-for-cities/

CARTOGRAPHY

5) Wisconsin Bill Would Halt Printing of State Highway Maps

Link to story on WISC-TV:

http://www.channel3000.com/news/21658090/detail.html

6) AOL Also Likely to Eye Sale of MapQuest — Is Microsoft a Possible Buyer?

Link to article on All Things Digital:

http://kara.allthingsd.com/20091119/aol-also-likely-to-eye-sale-of-mapquest-is-microsoft-a-possible-buyer/

OTHER

7) Errors on US Government Web Site Make It Difficult to Track Stimulus Money

Link to article in The Dallas Morning News:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-stimulus_19nat.ART.State.Edition1.4bab174.html

Link to Recovery.gov:  http://www.recovery.gov

8) Web Page for Honolulu DUI Arrests Criticized

Link to article in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin:

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20091119_Web_page_for_DUI_arrests_criticized.html

PARKING

9) Public Rallies Against Pay Parking in Canadian Town

Communication missteps contribute to backlash.

Link to article in Parking Today:

http://www.parkingtoday.com/articledetails.php?id=822

ROADWAYS

10) Illinois Taxpayers Paying for Non-Working Electronic Signs

Link to story on WBBM-TV:

http://cbs2chicago.com/specialreports/electrical.signs.2.2.1321385.html

11) Along the Road, Signs of the Times

Questions in Massachusetts about signs for stimulus-funded projects.

Link to article in The Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/11/by_martin_finuc_3.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

12) US Department of Homeland Security Launches Critical Infrastructure Web Site

Link to article in Government Security News:

http://www.gsnmagazine.com/cms/features/news-analysis/2976.html

TRANSIT

13) Ottawa OKs Next-Stop System for Buses

Link to CBC News story:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/11/17/ottawa-bus-next-call-system-approved.html

14) Oyster Cards to Expand to Suburban Rail Lines ‘Early Next Year’

Link to BBC News story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8364001.stm

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

15) Singapore’s Land Transport Authority Partners with Google to Provide Traffic and Transit Information

Link to article on Channel NewsAsia:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1019247/1/.html

16) SingTel Launches Traffic Planning Guide TrafficLive

Link to blog on CNET Asia:

http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2009/11/19/singtel-launches-traffic-planning-guide-trafficlive/

17) New York City to Install Radar for Coordinated Traffic Control

Link to article in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/733536?elq=afba1877eee947328cde1a0c8c4ecef9

18) Aha Mobile Reads Drivers Traffic Info, Facebook Status

Link to CNET News article:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10401586-2.html?tag=newsLatestHeadlinesArea.0

VEHICLES

19) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Clears Way for Intermodal Registry

Link to article in The Journal of Commerce:

http://www.joc.com/node/414743

News Releases

1) SNCF and Gemalto Enable Ticketing on Contactless Mobile Phones

2) IBM Chairman Sam Palmisano to Deliver Keynote Address at ITS America’s 20th Annual Meeting & Exposition

3) American Airlines Launches Wi-Fi Widget to Allow Travelers to Find Wi-Fi Equipped Flights

4) NJ Transit Joins Federal Railroad Administration ‘Close Call’ Pilot Program

5) Indiana DOT Launches Statewide Traveler Web Site, Phone Number

6) Sentinel and GEWI Announce Strategic Partnership

Upcoming Events

ITS America Annual Meeting & Exposition – May 3-5 – Houston

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

Today in Transportation History

1959 **50th anniversary** – Ford announced the discontinuance of the Edsel.

http://www.edsel.net/

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

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe send an e-mail to:  i95berniew@aol.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