Thursday, November 12, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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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) Alaska Airport Environmental Impact Statement Draft a Mystery to Citizens’ Advisory Board

FAA says long-standing policy dictates who receives document.

Link to article in the Kodiak Daily Mirror:

http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=8214

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

2) ‘Expert’: Maine Turnpike Tolls Advice is Nonsense

Link to article in the York County Coast Star:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20091112-NEWS-911120431

Link to editorial in Tollroadsnews:

http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/4441

Link to news release from the Maine Turnpike Authority:

http://www.maineturnpike.com/about/press_release.html?recordid=164

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) Potholes Take a Toll on Milwaukee Fire Department GPS Units

Link to article in the Journal Sentinel:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/69819627.html

OTHER

4) Publicly, a Whole New Lewdness

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/11/AR2009111127404.html

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

5) Jamaica National Works Agency to Launch Road Ed Campaign in Schools

Link to article in the Jamaica Observer:

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/westernnews/html/20091111T190000-0500_163593_OBS_NWA_TO_LAUNCH_ROAD_ED_CAMPAIGN.asp

ROADWAYS

6) Chicago to Use Technology to Remove Snow, Avoid Blowing Budget

Link to article in the Chicago Sun-Times:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/1881042,technology-snow-removal-budget-111209.article

7) New Web Site Launched to Track Wildlife Along Interstate 70 in Colorado

Link to AP article:

http://www.skyhidailynews.com/article/20091111/NEWS/911119998/1079&ParentProfile=1067

Link to site: http://www.I-70WildlifeWatch.org/

SAFETY / SECURITY

8) Security Advisories Could Come to Facebook and Twitter

Link to story and video on WFTS-TV:

http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Security-advisories-could-come-to-Facebook-and/3QIhsXhTLk6zmeWMbxvynA.cspx

TRANSIT

9) Rail Company London Midland Rapped for Causing Chaos for Passengers

Company will have to spend millions on new information services.

Link to article in the Birmingham Mail:

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/11/12/rail-company-london-midland-rapped-for-causing-chaos-for-passengers-97319-25146768/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) Queensland Motorways Developing ‘Motorways that Think’

Link to article in Computerworld:

http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/326016/queensland_motoways_developing_motorways_think

News Releases

1) BART Web Site Provides Real-Time Muni Metro Arrivals for Shared Stations

2) Denver RTD Adds Spanish Language Option to MyStop Automated Telephone System

3) Montego, Jamaica Welcomes New Traffic System

Solicitation

–  Request for Proposals – Michigan IntelliDrive Test Bed Operation and Maintenance – FHWA

http://www.its.dot.gov/intellidrive/meetings/michigan_intellidrive.htm

Upcoming Events

CeBIT 2010 – March 2-6 – Hannover, Germany

http://www.cebit.de/homepage_e

Today in Transportation History

1954 **55^th anniversary** – Ellis Island closed as a receiving station for immigrants entering the United States.

http://www.nps.gov/elis/historyculture/index.htm

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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

Best Practices Illustrating the Benefits of Planning for Operations

On August 13, 2009, the USDOT released six case studies that provide strong examples of how planners and operators in a variety of different-sized metropolitan regions have worked together to advance utilizing an objectives-driven, performance-based approach to significantly advance Operations program in their areas.

A strategic approach to planning for operations that is guided by specific objectives and regular performance measurement will help ensure that the most effective operations strategies are incorporated into transportation plans. In many regions around the country, agencies are already applying elements of this approach in a variety of ways. The case studies below are just some of the examples of where this is being done.These case studies illustrate the benefits of planning for operations

Case Studies

• Capital District Transportation Committee (Albany, New York area) – Placing the Congestion Management Process in the Context of Metropolitan Transportation Planning Goals and Objectives
• Denver Regional Council of Governments (Denver, Colorado area) – The Denver Region Traffic Signal System Improvement Program: Planning for Management and Operations
• Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area) – Planning for Congestion Management and Tracking Progress
• Metropolitan Transportation Commission (San Francisco Bay Area, California) – Developing Regional Objectives and Performance Measures to Improve System Operations
• Pima Association of Governments (Tucson, Arizona area) – Regional Concept for Transportation Operations Fosters Planning for Operations in the Tucson Metropolitan Area
• Wilmington Area Planning Council (Newark, Delaware area) – A Performance-Based Approach to Integrating Congestion Management into the Metropolitan Planning Process

Planning for Operations is a joint effort between operations and planning that encompasses the important institutional underpinnings needed for effective Regional Transportation Systems Management and Operations. For more information on planning for operations, please contact Rick Backlund at Richard.Backlund@dot.gov.

(Source: Green Car Congress)

The Toyota Highlander Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle – Advanced (FCHV-adv) (earlier post) achieved an estimated range of 431 miles on a single full tank of compressed hydrogen gas, and an average fuel economy of 68.3 miles/kg (approximate mpg equivalent) during a day-long trip down the southern California coast.

In mid-2008, the US Department of Energy (DOE), Savannah River National Laboratory (SNRL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), approached Toyota to participate in a collaborative evaluation of the real world driving range of the FCHV-adv. On 30 June 2009, two fuel cell vehicles, two Toyota Technical Center engineers, an SRNL engineer and a NREL engineer completed a 331.5 mile extended round trip drive between Torrance, California and San Diego.

The drive began at TMS headquarters in Torrance, traveled north to Santa Monica, turned south to San Diego and finally retraced the route back to Torrance. The route encompassed a variety of drive cycles, including high speed highway driving, moderate highway driving and stop and go traffic on surface streets, in an effort to capture a typical commute. Each vehicle was outfitted with a data collection system that captured vehicle speed, distance traveled, hydrogen consumed, hydrogen tank pressure, temperature and internal tank volume.

(Source: Daily Mail Online, UK)

In almost all parts of the globe, traffic enforcement personnel (men and women) are often seen as stern, well-turned out authority figures. But there seems to be a rare exception in Britain.  The appearance of this pictured traffic warden from Hove, Sussex came as a surprise to beachgoers today (copyright issues prohibit publishing the pictureshere).  The traffic warden looks more like a runway model than an authority figure, with his long, flying locks.  UK’s Daily Mail likens him to the celebrities that appear on the famous L’Oreal adverts (which have seen a bevy of stars, including Jennifer Aniston) flicking their manes to the company’s famous slogan ‘Because I’m worth it’.

The hairy worker flouted his auburn locks as he patrolled the seafront in Hove pausing to take pictures of improperly parked vehicles.

At one point he even removed his cap and shook out his crowing glory, allowing the wind to whip through it as he strolled along the promenade.

Brighton and Hove Council were unable to provide any information about the whiskery warden, but admitted they were aware of the stir caused by his wild-man tresses.

It’s not known if the worker is breaking any dress code rules with his unique hairstyle, but it’s good to see authority figures letting down their hair.

Women folk on this side of the Atlantic would really be happy if they got ticketed by a fashionable traffic enforcer like this one.

(Source: Jalopnik)

It’s not often that you quickly look past blonde and presumably Italian (or maybe Swiss) “booth professionals,” but the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider has that affect on a man. Yes, friends, the highly anticipated Geneva debut of the Spider is finally here. This car has the same 450 HP 4.7-liter V8 as its brother, the 8C Competizione, which earned its own Very Special Jalopnik Day. If you haven’t already noticed, the Spider features a fully automatic electro-hydraulic convertible top that has been engineered with the same aerodynamic and performance precision as the rest of the ride. 

The car’s sexy enough on it’s own. But adding a couple of  super good looking, electric red wearing, smoking hot babes, strutting their wares around that dream machine to some fine rhythms – makes it absolutely irresistible (i.e., if you are ready to do some explaining to your wife/girlfriend why you decided to spend $200K).  Watch the video below and tell me if you disagree:

To kick start the weekend in a nice way, here is a crazy, funny & very biased (depending on who is looking at this) compilation of some shocking videos that involve our women drivers.   Is this the reason why women are not allowed to drive in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?  Can someone tell me how these women drivers on the video managed to survive on the roads and lived to make such a great contribution for the making of this video?  Also, I am now looking for a similar version featuring male drivers for comparision purposes.  Any insights into finding such a priceless gem will be really appreciated. 

 

  Wednesday, March 18, 2009 — ISSN 1529-1057

 AVIATION

 1) Europe Official: Air Safety Whistle-Blowers Hushed

Link to AP story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jXt7A0HiPG1eJBR69eo_5FrHUZcQD96VQVHO2

BICYCLES

 2) Internet Map That Pinpoints Danger Spots for Cyclists to Avoid in London

Link to story in the Evening Standard:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23663615-details/Internet+map+that+pinpoints+danger+spots+for+cyclists+to+avoid/article.do

Link to map:  http://labs.timesonline.co.uk/2009/cycling_accidents/

CAMERAS

 3) Extra Second for Yellow Traffic Light Costs Big for Traffic Camera Fine Revenue

City of Rome, Georgia considering ending the use of red-light cameras because of a decrease in revenue.

Link to story in the Rome News-Tribune:

http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/680/public/news953816.html

 4) GOP Nixes Ohio Construction Zone Cameras

Link to AP story:

http://www.wtte28.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.oh/37b4235b-www.wtte28.com.shtml

 5) Controversial New Product Identifies Red-Light Camera Locations

Link to video report on KING-TV:

http://www.king5.com/video/index.html?nvid=342931

  GPS / NAVIGATION

 6) Obama Proposes Terminating System that Backs Up GPS

Link to story on NextGov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090317_8821.php

 MARITIME

 7) Japan, China Conduct Communication Drill for Maritime Salvage

Link to Xinhua story:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/17/content_11027936.htm

 8) Robotic Fish to Detect Pollution in Ports

Link to BBC News story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/7949956.stm

 9) Washington State Lawmakers Scuttle Ferry Naming Rights Idea

Link to story in The Daily Herald:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090318/NEWS01/703189831 

 ROADWAYS

 10) Michigan County Calls for Removal of Hitchhiking Warning Signs

Link to story in The Jackson Citizen Patriot:

http://www.mlive.com/news/citpat/index.ssf?/base/news-27/123738511475140.xml&coll=3

 VEHICLES

 11) Networked Cars Driving Transportation Vision

Link to story in Business Edge:

http://www.businessedge.ca/article.cfm/newsID/19616.cfm

 12) New Consortium Focuses on Infotainment Software

Link to story in Automotive Engineering International:

http://www.sae.org/mags/AEI/6052

News Releases

1) Missouri DOT Asks Drivers to Rate Work Zones – Public Feedback Will Ensure Safety and Efficiency  

2) Sensys Networks Wireless Sensors Based on TI Microcontrollers Help Manage Traffic for 10+ Years Without Maintenance

3) Dadnab Extends Transit Texting Service to Southern California

4) National Traffic Camera Network Offers XML Feeds for Public Safety Data Fusion Applications

Upcoming Events

AASHTO GIS for Transportation Symposium – April 5-8 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

http://www.gis-t.org/

Today in Transportation History

1909 **100^th anniversary** – Einar Dessau of Denmark made what is now considered the first ‘ham’ radio transmission.

http://spurvely.dk/dessau.html  (in Danish)

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The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

To subscribe send an e-mail to:  TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com

To unsubscribe send an e-mail to:  TCNL-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

 Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast ati95berniew@aol.com.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

  (Source: New York Times, Greenwire via Autobloggreen)