Tuesday, February 23rd

1:00 to 2:30 PM EST

Please join us for a free Webinar hosted by the National Transportation Operations Coalition on Tuesday, February 23rd from 1:00 to 2:30 PM EST. Click on the URL below to register.

Integrating operations into a metropolitan transportation plan can lead to important improvements that customers care about: increased efficiency, reliability, safety, security, travel options, and more. The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration have developed a desk reference that can help metropolitan planning organizations and their planning partners meet the challenge of integrating operations into the plan and realize the benefits. The desk reference assists planners and operators in using specific operations objectives and performance measures to plan for operations. It contains an extensive menu of operations objectives and performance measures that planners and operators can draw from for their own plans. Excerpts from a sample plan illustrate the integration of operations into a plan.

This seminar will offer a preview of this new tool. Audiences will have an opportunity to hear how two MPOs are using an objectives-driven, performance-based approach to plan for operations and the desk reference. This is the second in a series of two Talking Operations Webinars on the objectives-driven, performance-based approach. Tune in to hear about the experiences of two more metropolitan planning organizations.

The speakers will be:

• Richard Backlund, FHWA Office of Operations, Egan Smith, FHWA Office of Planning, and John Sprowls, FTA Office of Planning
• Deena Platman, Principal Transportation Planner, Metro, Portland, Oregon
• Lance Wilber, Central Region Director, Alaska Department of Transportation and former Municipality of Anchorage Traffic Director.

To Register, Click this URL: https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webconfid=19485

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Unspeakable Truths: Is Transforming Transportation A Key To Solving America’s Economic Crisis?

In his fourth book in four years, Professor Joseph M. Giglio argues that our thinking about Transforming Transportation in America must evolve to reflect how the Financial Meltdown and Economic Crisis have changed our world.

To help understand why, his book begins by reviewing how the Current Economic Crisis came about and what impact it’s likely to have on life in America. He provides clear, detailed explanations of the Great Financial Meltdown of 2008, the whys and wherefores of subjects like Oil Price Volatility, the Crazy World of Financial Derivatives, and the Housing and Mortgage Mess. Plus the down-and-dirty realities of Markets in the 21^st Century. Finally, he explores some of the things we’ll have to do to Make It Big in the much changed world of the 21^stCentury, such as transforming our Transportation Systems into Serious Economic Growth Generators. The book is available on Amazon and from the publisher, the Hudson Institute.

AVIATION

1) Free Airport Wi-Fi Takes Off

Link to column in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/baskas/2010-02-10-free-airport-wi-fi_N.htm

ROADWAYS

2) Kansas House Member Frustrated by Lack of Tourism, Business Promotion on Highways

Link to article from the Topeka Capital-Journal:

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/feb/10/kansas-house-member-frustrated-lack-tourism-busine/

SAFETY / SECURITY

3) US Request for Foreign Fliers’ Data Meets Resistance

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-02-09-data-sharing_N.htm

4) Where’s that Snow Plow? Creepy Google Buzz Geo-tags Could Become a Public Safety Tool

Link to ZDNet blog:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=30663

TRANSIT

5) Airtrain Offering Free Countdown Monitors to Brisbane Businesses

Link to article on AirRail News:

http://airrailnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=439:airtrain-free-issue-countdown-monitors-to-brisbane-businesses&catid=905:news

6) Atlanta’s Yellow Line has Some Asians Seeing Red

Link to Fox News story:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,585412,00.html

7) Digital Chirps in Subway Tunnels

New York MTA moves aggressively into social media.

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/digital-chirps-in-subway-tunnels/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

8) State Center Monitors Roads Across Kentucky

Link to story and video on WLKY-TV:

http://www.wlky.com/news/22513462/detail.html

9) Five Questions About New Hampshire Traffic Tweets

Link to interview in the Concord Monitor:

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100210/NEWS01/2100308

News Releases

1) Human Factors and Safety Culture Should be Put at the Heart of the Air Traffic Management System

2) What Does the Electronic Future Look Like for Automakers?

3) Cell Phone Bans While Driving Have More Impact in Dense, Urban Areas

4) TMC’s New Social Media Site has Supply Chain Executives Talking – to Each Other

Job Postings

–  Intelligent Transportation Systems Specialist – Maricopa County DOT – Phoenix, Arizona

http://www.maricopa.gov/human_resources/jobs_index.asp

Upcoming Events

Talking Operations Webinar: Objectives-Driven, Performance-Based Planning for Operations – A New Resource – February 23

https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webconfid=19485

Today in Transportation History

1935 **75^th anniversary** – The Pennsylvania Railroad’s GG1 electric locomotives began revenue service.

http://www.spikesys.com/GG1/

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

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 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.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Discuss Federal Legislative Initiatives at IBTTA Legislative Conference – March 22-23, 2010 in Washington, DC

Join the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association on March 22-23, 2010 in Washington, DC and participate in discussions on federal legislative initiatives with leaders in the transportation policy debate. Topics will include transportation authorization, electronic tolling interoperability, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) charging, the proposed Office of Public Benefit, and other important issues affecting tolling and road pricing. Participants will spend Tuesday afternoon visiting their congressional representatives to advance tolling initiatives on Capitol Hill. This meeting is ideal for toll industry professionals interested in US Federal and transportation legislation and regulations affecting the toll industry. Visit www.IBTTA.org for registration, hotel and travel information and to view the preliminary agenda. [More…]

AVIATION

1) Work on NextGen Aviation Park has Begun in New Jersey

Link to article in The Press of Atlantic City:

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic/article_462038c8-1543-11df-9df6-001cc4c002e0.html

OTHER

2) US DOT Intelligent Transportation Systems Panel Getting to Work

Link to article in Occupational Health & Safety:

http://ohsonline.com/articles/2010/02/09/its-panel-getting-to-work.aspx

3) Coalition Says New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority Wasting Money

Politicians say agency spending too much on ‘spin.’

Link to article in The Sydney Morning Herald:

http://www.smh.com.au/national/coalition-says-rta-wasting-money-20100209-nptc.html

4) Smart Transportation is About More than Wires and Chips

Link to commentary from the Regional Plan Association:

http://www.rpa.org/2010/02/spotlight-vol-9-no-3-smart-transportation-is-about-more-than-wires-and-chips.html

5) Tracking People with RFID Passports

Link to commentary in the RFID Journal:

http://www.rfidjournal.com/blog/entry/7375/

ROADWAYS

6) DC Government Puts Plow Data to Use with Snow Map

Link to column in The Hill:

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/80197-dc-government-puts-plow-data-to-use-with-snow-map

TRANSIT

7) Toronto Transit Employees Launch Facebook Group to Defend Themselves

Link to CP article:

http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=10687

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

8) A Glimpse Inside Minnesota DOT’s Regional Transportation Management Center

Link to story and video on KARE-TV:

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=841155&catid=396

VEHICLES

9) Drivers, Cars are Ill-Equipped When Panic Sets In

Link to AP article:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Drivers-cars-are-illequipped-apf-3293715433.html?x=0&.v=3

10) Mobile Convergence with the Connected Car Gears Up

Link to article on GPS Business News:

http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/Mobile-Convergence-with-the-Connected-Car-Gears-Up_a2026.html

News Releases

1) New ‘Twitter’ Option Providing Real-Time Traffic Alerts for Interstate 93 in New Hampshire

2) Lufthansa Navigator: To the Right Gate Using the Right App

3) SwRI Models Traffic Behavior Associated with Mass Evacuation of Urban Areas

Job Postings

–  Intelligent Transportation Systems Manager – DeAngelo Brothers, Inc. – Hazelton, Pennsylvania

http://gms.dbiservices.com/misc/DBi_ITS.doc

Upcoming Events

Cooperative Mobility Conference 2010, Smart Vehicles on Intelligent Roads – March 23-26 – Amsterdam

http://www.cooperativemobilityshowcase2010.eu/

Today in Transportation History

1870 **140^th anniversary** – The United States Weather Bureau is created.

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2009/02/dayintech_0209

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

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 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.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

Monday, February 8, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Early Registration Deadline Extended for ITS America’s 20^th Annual Meeting & Exposition

The early registration deadline for ITS America’s 20^th Annual Meeting & Exposition has been extended to February 12, 2010.

ITS America’s 20th Annual Meeting & Exposition from May 3-5, 2010, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX, will provide transportation professionals and policymakers the necessary tools and strategies they need to create communities that are safer, cleaner, more livable and less congested.

We will host several ancillary meetings held by such organizations as the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the Regional Safety Council.  Sam Palmisano, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of IBM, will close out the conference by sharing his vision for creating a smarter transportation network through technology innovations. Take advantage of the lowest registration rates by registering online by February 12. For the latest conference information and to view the preliminary program, click here or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itsam2010.

AVIATION

1) Delta Makes Software and Avionics Changes Prompted by Overflight Incident

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704533204575047981145838798.html

2) Traveling with Laptops Could Get Tougher

Link to article in PCWorld:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/188762/traveling_with_laptops_could_get_tougher.html

3) How Technology is Improving Air Traffic Control

Link to article in ComputerWeekly:

http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2010/02/08/240223/how-technology-is-improving-air-traffic-control.htm

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) Xerox, ACS Shareholders Say ‘Yes’ to $6.4 Billion Takeover

Link to article in the Democrat and Chronicle:

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20100206/BUSINESS/2060333/1001/business

5) Massachusetts Governor Puts Toll Takers on Notice

Eyes electronic toll booths on Pike.

Link to article in the Boston Herald:

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/20100208deval_patrick_puts_toll_takers_on_notice_governor_eyes_electronic_booths_on_pike/

MARITIME

6) Keeping an Eye on the Ocean

Radar: A major component in the counter-piracy mission is being able to see other vessels.

Link to article in The Daily Gleaner:

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/947223

OTHER

7) Florida Transportation Chief Cleared in E-mail Inquiry

Link to article in The Miami Herald:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/1465919.html

8) Washington State Senator Backs Putting Ads on School Buses to Raise Money for Districts

Link to article in The Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011004083_schoolbus07m.html

PARKING

9) Finding a Parking Space Could Soon Get Easier

Networking sensors attached to taxis could ease the hunt for street parking.

Link to article in Technology Review:

http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/24497/?a=f

RAILROADS

10) University of Nebraska-Lincoln Team Aims to Digitize Railroad History

Link to article in the Lincoln Journal Star:

http://journalstar.com/business/local/article_fa78ee8e-12a8-11df-b7e6-001cc4c002e0.html

ROADWAYS

11) Google Tapped for New 3D View of the Bay Bridge

Link to CNET News article:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-20000048-248.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

12) Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission Electronic Surveillance System Wins Award

Link to article in The Warren Reporter:

http://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/index.ssf/2010/02/delaware_river_joint_toll_brid_5.html

13) What’s the Best Way to Curb Distracted Driving?

Link to commentaries in the National Journal Transportation Experts Blog:

http://transportation.nationaljournal.com/2010/02/whats-the-best-way-to-curb-dis.php

SPACE

14) UN to Discuss Air Traffic Control for Outer Space

Link to article in the Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/7176943/UN-to-discuss-Air-Traffic-Control-for-outer-space.html

TELEMATICS

15) Progressive Rolls Out ‘Telematics’: Is Big Brother on Board?

Link to commentary on BNET:

http://industry.bnet.com/financial-services/10006718/progressive-rolls-out-telematics-is-big-brother-on-board/

TRANSIT

16) Disney, Google Eye Stake in China Bus Media Firm

Link to Reuters article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/08/AR2010020801383.html

17) San Francisco Muni Joins Twitter for Real this Time, but Won’t Offer Service Alerts

Link to commentary in the San Francisco Appeal:

http://sfappeal.com/news/2010/02/muni-joins-twitter-for-real-this-time.php

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

18) Intelligent Traffic Lights Point Way to Safer Future in Edinburgh

Link to article in the Edinburgh Evening News:

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Intelligent-traffic-lights-point-way.6051705.jp

19) Traffax Finds Success Overseas

Link to article in the Gazette:

http://www.gazette.net/stories/01292010/businew180402_32559.php

News Releases

1) Avego Powers VPSI Vanpooling

2) WebTech Wireless’ NextBus Real-Time Passenger Information Service Officially Launched in Laval, Quebec

3) See it First Hand—in Your Hand: Metro-North Train Time Gives Real-Time Train Status On Smart Phones and Computers

4) FEMA Releases Draft National Disaster Recovery Framework

5) Christie, Parker & Hale Obtains an Important Patent for Smart Cars

6) Ladbrook and Westcotec Collaborate on a New Generation of Electronic Traffic Signs

Upcoming Events

National Hurricane Conference – March 29-April 2 – Orlando, Florida

http://www.hurricanemeeting.com/

Today in Transportation History

1960 **50^th anniversary** – Construction began on what may be the most famous sidewalk in the world, the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

http://www.hollywoodchamber.net/walk-of-fame-welcome

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

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 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.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

Friday, February 5, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Bernie Wagenblast Voice Services

There may be plenty of voice-over artists but how many have worked in the transportation field for over 30-years?  With my experience you not only get a professional, personable voice but someone who knows the terminology and the demands of the transportation business. I’ve provided the voice for numerous transportation applications including Virginia DOT’s Smart Tag customer service phone system, highway advisory radio on the New York State Thruway, platform announcements throughout the PATH system, and NYC Transit’s new Public Address/Customer Information System.  If you’re a regular reader of the TCN you know I’m reliable coming through with an editionevery weekday.  I bring that same professionalism to my voice projects.  To learn more and to hear samples of my work, please visitwww.bwcommunications.net.  Let me know how I can help on your next project.

AVIATION

1) FAA Administrator Says Flight 253 Pilots Were Left in Dark

A communications gap kept the pilots unaware of the serious situation on Christmas Day.

Link to article in The Detroit News:

http://detnews.com/article/20100205/METRO/2050388/FAA-official-says-Flight-253-pilots-were-left-in-dark

2) What Noise Annoys a Passenger in an Airport?

Link to commentary in Passenger Terminal Today:

http://www.passengerterminaltoday.com/opinion.php?BlogID=324

CAMERAS

3) Stop-Light Cameras Cut Violations a Lot, Wrecks a Little, New Louisiana Study Says

Link to article in The Times Picayune:

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/new_study_says_stop-light_came.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Is Navigation Nokia’s Road to Riches?

Link to article in Mobile News:

http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/Opinion/410978/cutting_room_is_navigation_nokias_road_to_riches.html

OTHER

5) New York City Names Winners of Apps Contest

One app allows users to find the closest subway entrance, another permits comments on cabs.

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/nyc-announces-winners-of-local-apps-contest/

6) Viral Element Spins Toyota Events Out of Control

Link to article in the Financial Times:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ee2126fa-1281-11df-a611-00144feab49a.html

7) Toyota Builds DC Crisis Team

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703894304575047283289835448.html

ROADWAYS

8) California Governor Gearing Up to Sell Ads on Freeway Electronic Signs

Link to article in The Sacramento Bee:

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2514901.html

9) Storm to Test Improved West Virginia ‘Pike Emergency Plan

Link to article in The Register-Herald:

http://www.register-herald.com/local/local_story_035230226.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) US DOT Secretary Fears Spread of In-Car Technology

Link to article in The Detroit News:

http://detnews.com/article/20100204/AUTO01/2040353/1148/auto01/LaHood-fears-spread-of-in-car-technology

11) Virtual USA Enters Second Phase of Regional Operating Pilot

Program seeks to give first responders a real-time view of what’s happening.

Link to story on WFED Radio:

http://federalnewsradio.com/?nid=19&sid=1880255

VEHICLES

12) The Dozens of Computers that Make Modern Cars Go (and Stop)

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/technology/05electronics.html

News Releases

1) IRD Announces Hawaii Traffic Data Collection Award

2) Wisconsin DOT Ensures the Web Meets the Road – US 41 Project

3) Penn State Teams with Volvo as Academic Partner in Areas Including ITS and Safety Systems

Job Postings

–  Project Controls and Quality Assurance Coordinator – ITS/All Electronic Tolling (AET) – MTA Bridges & Tunnels – New York, NY

http://www.mta.info/bandt/employ/jobp999_r879.html

Upcoming Events

ITS Heartland Annual Meeting – March 29-31 – Omaha, Nebraska

http://matc.unl.edu/itsheartland/annualmeeting.php

Friday Bonus

Here are a few reasons states should think twice about closing their highway tourist information centers.

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/stupidest-travel-questions-shocking-mistakes-travelers-make-road/story?id=9516535

Today in Transportation History

1900 **110^th anniversary** The first Hays-Pauncefote Treaty was signed by the US and the UK.  The treaty gave the US the exclusive right to build and maintain a canal in Central America.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C06E5DF1339E733A25755C1A9649C946197D6CF

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

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 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.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

Thursday, February 4, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Discuss Federal Legislative Initiatives at IBTTA Legislative Conference – March 22-23, 2010 in Washington, DC

Join the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association on March 22-23, 2010 in Washington, DC and participate in discussions on federal legislative initiatives with leaders in the transportation policy debate. Topics will include transportation authorization, electronic tolling interoperability, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) charging, the proposed Office of Public Benefit, and other important issues affecting tolling and road pricing. Participants will spend Tuesday afternoon visiting their congressional representatives to advance tolling initiatives on Capitol Hill. This meeting is ideal for toll industry professionals interested in US Federal and transportation legislation and regulations affecting the toll industry. Visit www.IBTTA.org for registration, hotel and travel information and to view the preliminary agenda. [More…]

AVIATION

1) The Technology Driving Air Traffic Control

Link to pictures in Computer Weekly:

http://www.computerweekly.com/galleries/240179-1/Equipment-used-in-the-old-control-room.htm

CAMERAS

2) Investigators: Seattle Red-Light Cameras May Issue Illegal Tickets

Link to story and video on KING-TV:

http://www.king5.com/news/Red-Light-Cameras-May-Issue-Thousands-of-Illegal-Tickets-83501377.html

3) Camera Plan to Catch Speeders Stalls in California

Link to article in The Sacramento Bee:

http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/2511841.html

CARTOGRAPHY

4) Meet the Wikipedia of the Mapping World

Link to article in The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/feb/04/mapping-open-source-victor-keegan

5) There Will be Maps for People, and Maps for Cars

Link to article on GPS Business News:

http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/There-Will-Be-Maps-for-People,-and-Maps-for-Cars_a2011.html

OTHER

6) First Issue of CONDUITS Newsletter Online

EU project evaluates the impact of ITS in urban areas.

Link to newsletter:

http://www.conduits.eu/Documents/CONDUITS%20Newsletter%201.pdf

7) Seattle Using Special Radar to Save Trees

Link to story and video on KOMO-TV:

http://www.komonews.com/news/tech/83504982.html

ROADWAYS

8) ‘Smart Bridges’ Can Send Alerts on Salt Corrosion

Link to article in The Irish Times:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sciencetoday/2010/0204/1224263727650.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

9) Washington, DC Partners with Feds to Test 4G Technology for National Public Safety Network

Link to article in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/743809

TRANSIT

10) ‘JakCard’ System Set to Make Travel Easier in Jakarta

Link to article in The Jakarta Post:

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/02/04/‘jakcard’-system-set-make-travel-easier.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) French Motorway and Orange to Develop Real-Time Traffic Info

Link to article in GPS Business News:

http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/French-Motorway-and-Orange-to-Develop-Real-Time-Traffic-Info_a2019.html

12) Nevada DOT Wants the Public to Evaluate Its Wind Warning System for Washoe Valley

Link to article in The Reno Gazette-Journal:

http://www.rgj.com/article/20100204/NEWS/100204023/1321/news

VEHICLES

13) Ford to Fix Brake Problem on Milan, Fusion Hybrids

Software problem can give drivers impression brakes have failed.

Link to AP article:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Ford-to-fix-brake-problem-on-apf-2395284869.html?x=0&.v=4

14) Toyota Admits Software Problem with Braking System, Denies Withholding Information from Public

Link to ABC News story and video:

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/toyota-recall-toyota-admits-2010-hybrid-prius-problems/story?id=9744744

News Releases

1) The Telecom Industry in Frenzy Over New ACTIVATE IT Application

2) ProTECTS Alliance Concludes First Organizational Meeting

3) US DOT Secretary Names ITS Advisory Committee Members

4) 15 Billion Tickets to be Delivered via Mobile Phone by 2014, According to Juniper Research

5) New Tallahassee Driver Information System Debuts

Upcoming Events

TRB Webinar: Helping Airport and Air Carrier Employees Cope with Traumatic Events – March 25

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/TRB_Webinar_Helping_Airport_and_Air_Carrier_Employ_162929.aspx

Today in Transportation History

1810 **200^th anniversary** – The Royal Navy seized Guadeloupe.

http://mappery.com/map-of/Guadeloupe-British-Military-Operations-1810-Map

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

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 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.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

(Source: Court TV via Ridelust.com)

You probably heard many stories about crazy people behind the wheel and tough looking  police officers who handle these people effectively (in many cases with guns drawn, or on hot pursuits with sirens blazing, which makes for good TV) ensuring the safety of the traveling public on our roads..  But here comes a completely different, stereotype shattering officer who epitomizes patience while dealing with his irate customer who gets pulled over for speeding..

Shot from his police vehicle’s dash cam, in this video State Trooper. Stephen Murray looks like the most patient man on earth, and probably the best in the history of law enforcement (as ridelust puts it).  Trooper Murray kept his cool and poise while that nut case driver went nuclear and unleashes a verbal tirade, loaded with a barrage of F bombs..And the funny thing is that he stands there politely without showing any reaction, and that gets the driver at fault even more mad..Boy, this is some fun to watch!

I wonder how the situation would have turned if the officer put his hand on the weapon holster?  Amazing, the driver didn’t get into much trouble and went away with a speeding ticket after unloading so many F-bombs and behaving badly with the officer!  Easily Qualifies for MUST SEE title. Great job, Trooper Murray.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Florida Airport Changes Name, Increases Business

Link to story on WFTV-TV:

http://www.wftv.com/countybycounty/22412815/detail.html

CAMERAS

2) We Don’t Need Secret Surveillance Cameras

Unlike ordinary CCTV cameras, Britain’s 10,500 automatic numberplate recognition cameras are placed in secret locations.

Link to commentary in The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2010/feb/03/cctv-cameras-surveillance-police

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) ESA Puts Money Pen to Galileo Paper: Three Big Contracts

Link to article in GPS World:

http://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-system/galileo/news/esa-puts-money-pen-galileo-paper-three-big-contracts-9483

OTHER

4) Toyota’s Digital Disaster

In the Google era, how do you manage a product recall and a public-relations fiasco? Don’t do what Toyota’s done.

Link to article in Newsweek:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/232962

5) February Issue of Arizona DOT’s TRANsend Newsletter

–  Hazmat Matters: Department’s Hazmat Technicians Protect Employees, Roads, and Environment (page 3)

–  Winter’s Worst Brings Out the Best in ADOT (page 5)

http://www.azdot.gov/CCPartnerships/TRANsend/PDF/February_2010.pdf

RAILROADS

6) Waybill Change Would List All Toxic Inhalation Hazard Rail Movements

Link to article in Occupational Health & Safety:

http://ohsonline.com/articles/2010/02/03/waybill-change-would-list-all-tih-rail-movements.aspx

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) Anti-texting Law Tough to Enforce Against Drivers, Illinois Authorities Say

Link to article in The State Journal-Register:

http://www.sj-r.com/carousel/x1878077565/Anti-texting-law-tough-to-enforce-against-drivers-authorities-say

TRANSIT

8) DC Metro’s Safety Office was Unaware of Red Line Accident for More Than 30 Hours

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/02/AR2010020203678.html

9) Toronto Transit Launches Beta Online Trip Planner, Still has Bugs

Link to CTV News story:

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100203/ttc_planner_100203/20100203/?hub=TorontoNewHome

10) BART Partners with Foursquare to Increase Ridership

Link to article in Governing:

http://now.eloqua.com/es.asp?s=1222&e=60472&elq=e9b64e7023604173bba706e546067600

11) RFID Data Reveals London’s Polycentric Pattern of Commuting

Link to article in Technology Review:

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/24737/?nlid=2707&a=f

12) Design of Transit Signal Priority at Signalized Intersections with Queue Jumper Lanes

Link to article in the Journal of Public Transportation:

http://www.nctr.usf.edu/jpt/pdf/JPT12-4Zhou.pdf

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) Road Data Processor GEWI Enters US Poised for Location Market Apps

Link to blog from Strategy Analytics:

http://blogs.strategyanalytics.com/auto/?p=45

14) Grand Canyon National Park Dynamic Message Sign/Highway Advisory Radio Pilot Deployment/Evaluation

Link to final report from the Western Transportation Institute:

http://www.westerntransportationinstitute.org/documents/reports/4W2106_Final_Report.pdf

15) Deploying Portable Advanced Traveler Information Systems: Redding Deployment Evaluation

Link to final report from the Western Transportation Institute:

http://www.westerntransportationinstitute.org/documents/reports/4W2025_Final_Report.pdf

News Releases

1) Iteris Announces Cutting-Edge Advanced Wide Dynamic Range Traffic Video Detection Camera

2) Houston TranStar Introduces iPhone App

3) Mentor Engineering’s T-Box Annunciator Keeps Passengers Informed and Decreases Driver Distraction

4) Navteq Traffic Doubles In-Vehicle Use in North America in 2009

5) Electronic Toll Collection Systems – A Global Update of Market Trends & Opportunities – New Market Report Published

Solicitation

–  Proposals – TRB/SHRP 2 Travel Reliability IDEA Program

http://www.trb.org/IDEAProgram/IDEAReliability.aspx

Upcoming Events

Asia Pacific Maritime 2010 – March 24-26 – Singapore

http://www.apmaritime.com/

Today in Transportation History

1910 **100^th anniversary** – The gunboat Ometepe bombarded the Nicaraguan city of Greytown.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9C04E0D61730E233A25756C0A9649C946196D6CF

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

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 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.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

(Sources: USAToday.com;  Secretary LaHood’s Fast Lane Blog)

Today’s edition of  USATODAY featured a lengthy article in its “Travel” section that raises alarming questions over the safety of our nation’s aviation system, which is considered to be one of the safest in the world.   Here is an excerpt from the USAToday article, which throws some staggering numbers that will leave you worried the next time you think about packing your bags for a business trip or a personal vacation to some exotic place.

During the past six years, millions of passengers have been on at least 65,000 U.S. airline flights that shouldn’t have taken off because planes weren’t properly maintained, a six-month USA TODAY investigation has found.

The investigation — which included an analysis of government fines against airlines for maintenance violations and penalty letters sent to them that were obtained through the Freedom of Information Act — reveals that substandard repairs, unqualified mechanics and lax oversight by airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are not unusual.

“Many repairs are not being done or done properly, and too many flights are leaving the ground in what the FAA calls ‘unairworthy,’ or unsafe, condition,” says John Goglia, a former airline mechanic who was a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member from 1995 to 2004.

Airlines contract about 70% of their maintenance work to repair shops in the USA and abroad, where mistakes can be made by untrained and ill-equipped personnel, the Department of Transportation’s inspector general says. Airlines also disregard FAA inspectors’ findings to keep planes flying, defer necessary repairs beyond permissible time frames, use unapproved parts and perform their own sloppy maintenance work, according to FAA documents.

Though many maintenance problems go undetected, the FAA levied $28.2 million in fines and proposed fines against 25 U.S. airlines for maintenance violations that occurred during the past six years. In many cases, planes operated for months before the FAA found maintenance deficiencies. In some cases, airlines continued to fly planes after the FAA found deficiencies in them.

The 65,000 flights that took off when they shouldn’t have represent a fraction of the 63.8 million flights that all U.S. airlines flew during the past six years. The FAA doesn’t always document how many times planes with maintenance problems have flown.

Peeved by the allegation/accusation, the man in charge of everything transportation in the USofA, USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood jumped on his blog to offer a nice rebuttal and assurance that his agency is simply not standing by and defended the steps taken by FAA to avert serious aviation disasters resulting from shoddy practices.  He called out the USAToday’s allegations “patently absurd” and strongly defended the FAA’s certification process that ensures the quality of work done foreign maintenance shops.  Here is an extract of the the Secretary’s blog post on this topic:

Contrary to the assertion in USA Today, we are not allowing flights to leave the ground in “unsafe condition.”

It’s a bit ironic when you consider that only yesterday we announced a $2.5 million fine against American Eagle for using incorrect takeoff weights.

And when we do find a maintenance violation, even that does not mean an aircraft is unsafe to fly.

Of course, we want all maintenance violations corrected to maintain the level of safety in the system, and we work vigilantly to make sure they are. But airplanes are complex machines built with checks and redundancies to maintain safety. I’ve been doing a lot of flying over the past year, and not once have I doubted the safety of my aircraft. Not once.

Sec. LaHood concludes his blog post by saying “Look, it’s very simple. When planes are unsafe, they are grounded. When airlines are not operating to the highest levels of safety, they are subject to stiff fines. The only thing Administrator Babbitt and the entire FAA can be accused of is working aggressively to make sure airlines comply with our rigorous safety standards. End of story. Click here to read Secretary LaHood’s entire blog post and here for the FAA Press Release that proposes nearly $2.5 Million penalty against American Eagle Airlines for unsafe operation of flights (for failure to ensure the weight of baggage was properly calculated).

Back in October 2009, Transportgooru published an article titled “Blues in the Sky: NPR’s in-depth coverage shows how airlines cut costs by going aborad for service/repairs“ that profiled a similar investigation conducted by NPR.  The NPR investigation focused on the faulty maintenance of aircraft.   The airlines’ outsourcing of maintenance jobs to foreign destinations to cut costs where workers with limited experience work on fixing the aircraft was at the heart of this piece.   It might be worth revisiting that NPR article to see some of the some issues highlighted in this USAToday article.

Do you think the USDOT/FAA is doing a good job in keeping our skies safe?  Register your thoughts below.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Discuss Federal Legislative Initiatives at IBTTA Legislative Conference – March 22-23, 2010 in Washington, DC

Join the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association on March 22-23, 2010 in Washington, DC and participate in discussions on federal legislative initiatives with leaders in the transportation policy debate. Topics will include transportation authorization, electronic tolling interoperability, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) charging, the proposed Office of Public Benefit, and other important issues affecting tolling and road pricing. Participants will spend Tuesday afternoon visiting their congressional representatives to advance tolling initiatives on Capitol Hill. This meeting is ideal for toll industry professionals interested in US Federal and transportation legislation and regulations affecting the toll industry. Visit www.IBTTA.org for registration, hotel and travel information and to view the preliminary agenda. [More…]

AVIATION

1) US 2010-11 Budget Aims to Boost NextGen Funding 32%

Link to article in Air Transport World:

http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=19252

CARTOGRAPHY

2) Mapping a City by the Sound of Its Streets

Link to blog on Streetsblog San Francisco:

http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/02/01/mapping-a-city-by-the-sound-of-its-streets/

OTHER

3) Idaho Transportation Department Spends $70,000 on Events

Link to article in the Idaho Statesman:

http://www.idahostatesman.com/idahonews/story/1064207.html

4) DC-Area Transportation Agencies Make Snow Videos Available on YouTube

Link to column in The Washington Post:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2010/02/dc_transportation_agencies_mak.html

5) Intelligent Transportation Systems and Vehicle-Highway Automation 2009

Link to report from the Transportation Research Board:

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/Intelligent_Transportation_Systems_and_VehicleHigh_162861.aspx

6) February Issue of Florida DOT’s SunGuide Disseminator Online

Link to newsletter:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/TrafficOperations/Newsletters/2010/2010-002-Feb.pdf

PARKING

7) Boston’s Logan Airport Will E-mail Parking Alerts

Link to article in the Boston Herald:

http://news.bostonherald.com/business/general/view/20100202logan_will_e-mail_parking_alerts/srvc=home&position=recent

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) Conference Addresses Social Media Use During Disasters

Link to article in Emergency Management:

http://www.emergencymgmt.com/disaster/Disasters-20-Conference-Social-Media-Use.html

TRANSIT

9) Bay Area’s TransLink Sees Its 16-Year One Card Goal Within Reach

Link to article in ContactlessNews:

http://www.contactlessnews.com/2010/02/02/bay-areas-translink-sees-its-16-year-one-card-goal-within-reach

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) UK Highways Agency Evaluating Mobile Phone-Based Driver Monitoring

Link to article in ComputerworldUK:

http://www.computerworlduk.com/management/government-law/public-sector/news/index.cfm?newsid=18582

11) Toronto’s Electronic Eyes Keep Traffic Flowing

Link to article in The Toronto Observer:

http://www.torontoobserver.ca/2010/02/02/toronto’s-electronic-eyes-keep-traffic-flowing/

12) Best Mobile Startups 2010 – Waze

Link to article in Laptop:

http://www.laptopmag.com/business/feature/best-mobile-startups-2010.aspx?page=7

VEHICLES

13) US Said to Probe Toyota’s Electronics as Acceleration Cause

Link to Bloomberg article:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-02/u-s-said-to-probe-toyota-s-electronics-as-acceleration-cause.html

14) Iowa City, Iowa Considers Banning Electronic Ads on Cabs

Link to story on KCRG-TV:

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/83348402.html

News Releases

1) Sharjah International Airport Introduces the World’s First Arabic Self-Service Kiosks

2) Sleep Apnea & Trucking Conference Agenda and Advisory Board Announced

Upcoming Events

MetroRail 2010 – March 22-25 – London

http://www.terrapinn.com/2010/metrorail/

Today in Transportation History

1925 **85^th anniversary** – A dog sled relay reached Nome, Alaska with diphtheria antitoxin to halt a possible epidemic.  The relay became the inspiration for the Iditarod.

http://www.baltostruestory.com/serumrunsynopsis.htm

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

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 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.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net