Britain steers towards a “driverless” future – UK to allow driverless cars on public roads in January 2015

July 30, 2014 at 5:30 pm

via BBC

Today the British government has announced that testing of automated cars will be allowed on public roads from January next year. The tests are then intended to run for between 18 to 36 months. What more innovative is the approach they have taken to doing this.  The government has invited cities to compete to host one of three trials, which would start at the same time.  Cities interested in hosting the trials have until early October to declare their interest and the Department for Transport has created a £10m fund to cover their costs (BBC says the sum to be divided between the three winners but not sure what the criteria would be for this split). Quite novel! Good to see the British government pushing the envelope on its road safety agenda using the driverless cars. Hope this nudges other EU countries (and the rest of the world) to get their act together and pave way for the automated vehicles.


Job Alert: Transportation Demand Management  Program Field Coordinator – Arlington County Commuter Services (ACCS)

July 29, 2014 at 7:10 pm
Position Description
Arlington County Commuter Services (ACCS) is seeking an energetic, self-starter to join our team as a full-time (40 hours) contractor at our Arlington County, Virginia (Courthouse Metro) office as part of a dynamic and innovative Transportation Demand Management program for Arlington County Commuter Services, whose mission is to make it easy for people to use transportation options such as public transportation, biking, walking and sharing-the-ride. The candidate will be directly employed by The Destination Sales & Marketing Group, Ltd., that has provided contract employees to ACCS since 1998.The candidate will join the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) for Site Plan Development Team within ACCS and be responsible for supporting the TDM Planner in outreach and enforcement efforts with the development community. A significant portion of the work will be in the field each day working with members of the public and being a “face” of Arlington County.

The candidate will be responsible for the following duties:
• Annual on-site visits with building managers to understand and support the implementation of their Transportation Demand Management Plans (TDM plans)
• Inspection of buildings for TDM Plan infrastructure requirements
• Active coordination with Arlington Transportation Partners staff to ensure each building manager gets the technical and educational assistance they need for their TDM program to be successful
• Bookkeeping, including use of QuickBooks for invoicing and processing receivables
• General support of the transportation performance monitoring process for site plan and special use permit developments

Tasks necessary to meet responsibilities:
• Maintaining and updating tracking systems and databases
• Researching information on-line
• Drafting and editing documents
• Managing both electronic and hard copy filing systems
• Phone and in-person technical assistance

Necessary qualifications:
• Individual initiative; self-starter
• Outgoing
• Detail-oriented
• Team player
• Organized, efficient and able to multitask
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for diverse contexts, audiences
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)

Desirable qualifications:
• Administrative support experience
• Local government experience
• Customer service experience
• Familiarity/competence with QuickBooks
• Interest in sustainable development and transportation
• Looking for long-term employment

About Arlington County Commuter Services and TDM
Arlington County Commuter Services (ACCS) is the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) agency of Arlington County, Virginia. Transportation Demand Management for Site Plan Development is an ACCS program that coordinates the design and implementation of large building projects with commuter and transit infrastructure and services to enhance the mobility of residents, workers, and visitors. Consistent with the vision and mission of ACCS, TDM for Site Plans works directly with developers and property managers to mitigate the transportation impacts of residential and commercial development by increasing the availability, awareness, and use of transit, ridesharing, carsharing, biking, bikesharing, and walking.

www.commuterpage.com/tdm

Compensation
Excellent benefits, generous leave, 401K plan, flextime, transit benefits
Salary negotiable based on experience between $42-45K
E-mail resume and cover letter in PDF format
Use “Program Field Coordinator -0811” as the subject line.

Closing Date: Monday August 11, 2014

Infographic: Eyes of a Car – How LiDAR enables vehicles to detect and avoid obstacles on the road

July 22, 2014 at 6:04 pm

via WSJ Yesterday’s Wall Street Journal has an interesting article that explores the roadblock posed by sky-high prices of the LiDAR units, which offer the vehicles’ “seeing” and “navigating” capabilities , in the widespread adoption automated vehicles.  That pesky little roof mounted LiDAR unit  atop the Google’s prototype vehicle apparently cost between $75,000 and $85,000, which explains why it will be a problem for mass market. Click here to read the entire article.  What caught me is this simple infographic that accompanied the article. It nicely explains how the LiDAR works.

Image: Eyes of a Car via Wall Street Journal.

Image: Eyes of a Car via Wall Street Journal.

Infograph: Stay Safe On The Road This Summer (~2X as many fatalities during summer months than the rest of the year combined)

July 21, 2014 at 8:00 am

As alcohol-related accidents tend to increase in the summer months, I’d like to remind you (& all Americans) that buzzed driving can put a stop to summer fun. Here are some surprising facts:

  • Nearly twice as many people are killed in auto accidents during the summer months than the rest of the year combined.
  • 1 drunken-driving fatality occurred every 51 minutes in 2012
  • 35% of all drivers in nighttime fatal crashes who were alcohol-impaired
  • 24% of males drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2012 had a Blood Alcohol Content of .08 or higher
  • A DUI can cost drivers up to $10,000 — that’s more than three months worth of income for the average working American

But before you down that extra beer and get behind the steering wheel in your vehicle, you might want to take a look at this infograph (via Ad Council):

Image courtesy: via Ad Council

As part of an ongoing “Buzzed Driving” public service campaign, the Ad Council has also partnered with I Heart Radio on a new website with more statistics and resources to help talk to students, kids and friends about safe driving in the summer: iheartradio.com/summerdriving. Help us spread the word and save a few lives.  Stay Safe!

Job Alert: Analyst II – IHS Global Trade and Transportation Consulting @ Englewood, CO

July 13, 2014 at 5:23 pm

for more information, click here.

Summary:

IHS Global Trade and Transportation Consulting provides multi-modal transportation services to public and private sector customers, particularly in the areas of freight and commodity movement and transportation planing. IHS Consulting also offers a range of offerings and capabilities in economic analysis and forecasting, industry-specific market intelligence and research, strategy development, and market analysis.

The candidate should be able to demonstrate experience in one or more of the following areas: transportation planning practices, policy and program initiatives, freight and commodity flow analysis, economic or financial analysis, travel demand basics, and/or institutional/organizational issues.

The Consultant will report to the Global Trade and Transportation Practice’s management, and will perform as a member of a consultant team or as a sole contributor to projects, conducting analysis on a wide range of projects. This will require an ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively with team members and across IHS’s business areas. Problem-solving abilities are highly valued. This includes conceptual thinking along with an ability to delve into details, manage databases, and synthesize information.

General Job Duties:

Perform technical analysis based on knowledge of the principles of transportation, economics, policy, finance, and strategic planning.
Develop internal working relationships and participate in team endeavors while working with IHS’s public and private sector colleagues to perform project work.
Coordinate and collaborate with staff in Trade and Transportation in support of projects in all or some of the areas identified above.
Perform as a task leader as a part of larger projects, and develop supporting work plans.
Perform project work within schedule and budget.
Demonstrate an ability to work closely and successfully with customers
Support business development activities, including identification of customers and consulting opportunities, and preparation of proposals.
Prepare and deliver presentations internally and externally to customers and transportation stakeholders.

Specific Job Duties:

Support the Trade and Transportation Practice growth by applying and identifying new capabilities and knowledge areas that are essential to meeting revenue and sales objectives.
Assist with enhancing the collaboration across IHS Consulting and its business areas to improve its competitiveness and market position.
Provide support and share knowledge with other team members to enhance capabilities and expertise.
Participate in professional organizations and forums to present thought pieces and project results. This includes representing IHS’s experience and capabilities to a wider audience.
Specifically, the candidate must demonstrate the ability to:
Conduct analyses to support project delivery
Manage tasks and work to complete projects on time and on budget
Identify issues and challenges as they arise and present alternative solutions
Communicate verbally and in writing effectively with internal staff and with customers
Contribute as a team player, building bridges among all parts of Consulting and IHS
Work effectively according project plans, budgets and schedules
Demonstrate initiative and innovation

Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement; a Master’s degree is preferred with 1-4 years experience

Other Skills:

Intellectual Curiosity
Attentive to detail, good problem-solving skills, thorough understanding of transportation, financial, and economic principles.
Knowledge of transportation-critical public and private sector issues.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
Familiarity with SAS, TransCAD, ArcGIS, EViews, SQL and/or other analytical/data management tools

*Only qualified candidates will receive consideration and follow up*
*LI-TG1

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment drug testing.

IHS endeavors to make our career sites accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Trina Buchanan, Talent Acquisition Program Manager at303-397-2460 or trina.buchanan@ihs.com. This contact information is for accommodation requests only; you may not use this contact information to inquire about the status of applications.

EMBARQ Presentation: Parking and Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) Webinar

July 12, 2014 at 3:18 pm

The slide deck from EMBARQ’s recent webinar on parking & transit oriented development (TOD).

If you have not already doing it, highly recommend following EMBARQ’s slideshare channel. You can regularly see such informative material made available.

 

Job Alert: Transportation Specialist (GS-2101-13/14) – USDOT’s Federal Highway Administration @ Washington, DC

July 12, 2014 at 1:01 pm
Image courtesy. www.DOT.gov

Image courtesy. www.DOT.gov

SALARY RANGE: $89,924.00 to $138,136.00 / Per Year
OPEN PERIOD: Friday, July 11, 2014 to Sunday, July 20, 2014

This position is located in the Office of Innovative Program Delivery (HIN), Project Delivery Team, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in Washington, D.C. The Office of Innovative Program Delivery, an organizational element within the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), provides national leadership, direction, and consulting services in new approaches for project finance, procurement (e.g., public-private partnerships (P3s)), and revenue generation (e.g., congestion pricing).  The office also provides for the oversight and stewardship of projects with a total cost in excess of $500 million.  HIN brings together experts on transportation credit assistance; project cost estimating and financial plan development; innovative finance; policy development; P3s; and tolling. 

This position is for the implementation of stewardship and oversight activities to monitor the cost, schedule, and performance of Federal-aid transportation infrastructure projects, especially major projects (those costing over $500 million) to identify problems and initiate action to mitigate implementation risks.  This position provides technical assistance and authoritative consultant services to FHWA field offices, State agencies, and other Federal agencies to assure that Federal regulations and policies are met in the development and delivery of major highway projects.

The ideal candidate will be a mid-career transportation specialist with a specialty in the stewardship and oversight of the major highway project delivery process.

Click here to learn more and to apply

Job Alert: Transportation Planner / Systems Analyst – TranSystems @ Boston, MA

July 10, 2014 at 5:00 pm

TranSystems, a national transportation engineering, design and planning firm, seeks a candidate to provide detailed technical support for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and transportation planning projects.

TranSystems is seeking a Transportation Planner/Systems Analyst candidate to provide detailed technical support for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and transportation planning projects. The successful applicant must share a mixed passion for transportation systems and the application of technology in transportation.  Candidates should have a basic understanding of public transportation technology concepts such as location tracking, mapping and geographic information systems (GIS), vehicle dispatching, vehicle/driver scheduling, wireless communications, and enterprise software.

Basic Qualifications:

  • A Bachelor’s degree in Transportation or Civil Engineering, Transportation Planning, or a related major and 1 year of experience in related transportation technology, planning, and/or data visualization OR Master’s degree in Transportation or Civil Engineering, Transportation Planning or related major with no relevant experience
  • Basic computer programming skills, particularly related to large dataset analysis and visualization.
  • Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, Project and Publisher)
  • Proficient data analysis and interpretation skills coupled with a familiarity with statistical software such as SAS, SPSS, R and ArcGIS.
  • Willingness to travel 10 to 20% of the time.  The position covers projects throughout the U.S.
  • Experience with demonstrable complex problem-solving is required.
  • Capability to manage projects/tasks as directed.
  • Ability to work as a member of a team or perform independent work
  • Excellent oral, written, presentation and interpersonal skills.
  • No visa sponsorship assistance
  • No relocation assistance

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Minimum 2+ years of experience related to transportation technology, planning, and/or data visualization
  • Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop)
  • Marketing and proposal development experience is a plus
  • Fluency with one or more of the following will be considered advantageous: MATLAB, Ruby, PHP, Python/NumPy, HTML, Java, SQL and NoSQL databases
  • Experience in the public transportation industry

Primary responsibilities include the following:

  • Be capable of performing office and field technical work associated with various aspects of ITS and planning, including strategic planning, procurement and deployment of transportation technologies; development of technical designs; transportation technology research; evaluation of deployed technologies at agencies; and analysis and visualization of transportation data to develop decision support tools for public transportation agencies.
  • Have the ability to take direction from senior staff, and to lead and deliver assigned tasks independently.
  • Be able to work directly with external parties (e.g., clients, transit industry vendors) with minimal guidance from senior staff to complete assigned tasks, as necessary.
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Proficient technical writing including preparing memos, reports and presentation materials, is required.
  • Be capable of analyzing/solving complex transportation planning or engineering problems.
  • Use software effectively and make timely and informed recommendations.

Click here to learn more and to apply

Job Alert: Project Director for Designing Cities Initiative – National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)

July 9, 2014 at 5:54 pm
The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) is seeking a new Project Director for its Designing Cities initiative, a multi-year initiative that aims to dramatically transform how cities around the United States design streets and public spaces. Desired applicants should have experience and a strong knowledge base in public street design, with general knowledge of transportation, land use, urban development, and other city issues. For this position, NACTO is looking for a strong communicator with a keen eye for understanding the design of city streets at a fine-grained scale.
The Project Director for the Designing Cities initiative is charged with overseeing the day-to-day operations, content development, and strategic vision of the initiative. The position works closely with NACTO’s Executive Director and member steering committees to ensure the effective implementation and dissemination of the initiative’s core goals.
NACTO’s Project Director of the Designing Cities initiative must be highly self-directed, and willing to accommodate a schedule with significant travel to national conferences, trainings, and other meetings.
Core activities for the Project Director include:
  • Project management and development of new guideline material, including written and graphic content production. This includes streetscape renderings, imagery, presentations, and layout.
  • Coordination of national training series and presentations for the NACTO Urban Design Guidelines.
  • Coordination of NACTO member steering committees and peer-to-peer activities, including national steering committees for the Urban Street Design Guide and the Urban Bikeway Design Guide.
  • Production and hosting of NACTO’s webinar series, including selection of key themes, topics, and speakers.
  • Leadership, production, and development of NACTO’s Digital Design Charrette Series, a project-based learning method that focuses on individual retrofits.
  • Support for fundraising and grant management, including grant proposals, program budgets, and working with grant-making partners.
  • Fostering relationships with member city staff, leadership, and partners at the national level, including FHWA and USDOT.
The Project Director of the Designing Cities initiative is expected to work closely with NACTO’s member cities to forge a common vision on street design, offering guidance and leadership to a multi-disciplinary, national network of cities striving to transform entrenched street design and transportation engineering practices. The position is based in New York, NY.
Minimum Qualifications: Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, Transportation Engineering, Urban Design or a related field and 2 years of experience, or a Bachelor’s Degree and an equivalent amount of experience.
Additional Desired Qualifications: Experience working with new or modified national, state or city standards in street design. Proficiency in Adobe design suite and Google Sketchup.
Salary Range: $70,000 – $95,000
To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Linda Bailey, NACTO Executive Director, at nacto@nacto.org by 5pm on July 15, 2014.
The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit association that represents large cities on transportation issues of local, regional and national significance. NACTO views the transportation departments of major cities as effective and necessary partners in regional and national transportation efforts, promoting their interests in federal decision-making. We facilitate the exchange of transportation ideas, insights and best practices among large cities, while fostering a cooperative approach to key issues facing cities and metropolitan areas. As a coalition of city transportation departments, NACTO is committed to raising the state of the practice for street design and transportation by building a common vision, sharing data, peer-to-peer exchange in workshops and conferences, and regular communication among member cities. We believe that by working together, cities can save time and money, while more effectively achieving their policy goals and objectives

This is why you should worry about the Highway Trust Fund running out..

July 8, 2014 at 6:10 pm

A brilliant animated primer from the ASCE explains what’s at stake for the average American as the highway trust fund is fast nearing its end.. For the uninitiated,the Highway Trust Fund is the US federal funding for roads, bridges, and transit systems, and it is on course to become insolvent by August, jeopardizing America’s infrastructure and its economy. Unless our lawmakers get their act together with extreme urgency, we might be in for some serious trouble and may lose some of the hard fought economic gains quickly…Learn more:http://www.fixthetrustfund.org/

In case you are wondering why the highway trust fund is running out of money, take a peek at this article from Washington Post..