Bernie’s Transportation Communications Newsletter (TCN) – February 8, 2010

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

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© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

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