Wednesday, April 14, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Come see the best of ITS at the ITS America Annual Meeting & Expo, May 3-5 in Houston!

• New speakers just added! Polly Trottenberg, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy at U.S. DOT, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee join an impressive group at the podium.
• Browse nearly 150 booths led by ITS industry experts in the 150,000 square-foot exhibit hall.
• Catch a high-tech demo between sessions. We’ll have an 18-wheel truck rollover response – complete with police helicopter, fire and rescue and live video, and a Bus Rapid Transit demo featuring a “lane assist” guidance system.

AVIATION

1) Device Spurs Questions in Polish Crash

Plane was equipped with a Terrain Awareness and Warning System.

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-04-13-fog-plane-crash-poland_N.htm

2) Lights, Cameras, Airports

A behind the scenes look at the filming of Up in the Air.

Link to article in Airport Improvement:

http://www.airportimprovement.com/content/story.php?article=00160

3) Articles in Future Airport

–  Eye Spy – An increasing number of airports are adopting biometric security techniques.

http://viewer.zmags.co.uk/publication/8c5cc239#/8c5cc239/30

–  A Critical Approach – A look at the new centralized IT and telecommunications infrastructure at Athens Airport

http://viewer.zmags.co.uk/publication/8c5cc239#/8c5cc239/23

–  Future ATC – A supplement on how the latest ATC technologies make for a more efficient industry

http://viewer.zmags.co.uk/publication/8c5cc239#/8c5cc239/35

OTHER

4) April Issue of Florida DOT’s SunGuide Disseminator Online

Link to newsletter:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/Newsletters/2010/2010-004-Apr.pdf

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

5) Florida Stimulus Spending: DVDs, Buses and More

Portion of federal dollars used for video promoting state’s ‘scenic highways.’

Link to commentary and video on WOKV Radio:

http://wokv.com/blogs/reporters_notebook/2010/04/florida-stimulus-spending-dvds.html

RAILROADS

6) Amtrak Uses AAAE’s Passenger Advisory System to Communicate Security and Border-Crossing Information to Passengers

Link to article on AviationNews:

http://www.aviationnews.net/?do=headline&news_ID=178288

ROADWAYS

7) New Washington State Freeway Signs Will Razzle, Dazzle, and Save You Time

Link to story and video on KOMO-TV:

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/90795879.html

8) UK Motoring Group Calls for Road Signs to Have Bigger Lettering for Older Drivers

Link to article in the Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7586105/Motoring-group-calls-for-road-signs-to-have-bigger-lettering-for-older-drivers.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

9) US Senators Look to Amsterdam for Airport Explosives-Detection Technology

Link to article in Federal Computer Week:

http://fcw.com/articles/2010/04/14/web-auto-detection-tech-airport-screening.aspx

TRANSIT

10) Los Angeles Metro Talks Transit Safety with Students from the Braille Institute

Link to article and video in The Source:

http://thesource.metro.net/2010/04/13/metro-talks-transit-safety-with-students-from-the-braille-institute/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Escape the Jam

Real-time traffic information may soon help South African drivers.

Link to article on TechCentral:

http://www.techcentral.co.za/escape-the-jam/13877/

VEHICLES

12) Surfing the Web in the Car

Link to article in Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/13/web-browsing-wifi-technology-security-10-autos.html

13) BlackBerrys and iPhones Want to Cozy Up to Cars

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/14/iphones-and-blackberries-want-to-cozy-up-to-cars

14) Chip Maker Touts Automotive Safety Record

Link to article from Automotive News:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20002260-48.html

News Releases

1) American Airlines Enhances Online Flight Check-In, Adds Option for International Travelers

Upcoming Events

International Conference on Safety and Mobility of Vulnerable Road Users: Pedestrians, Motorcyclists, and Bicyclists – May 30-June 2 – Jerusalem

http://vulnerableroadusers.d-u.co.il/

Today in Transportation History

1910 **100^th anniversary** The Sperry Gyroscope Company was incorporated.  It eventually became part of today’s Unisys.

http://invention.smithsonian.org/resources/MIND_Repository_Details.aspx?rep_id=1370

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© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net