Limousine Blog

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, July 30, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

IVBSS Program Public Meeting October 20, 2010 in Ypsilanti, MI
U.S. DOT will host a one-day public meeting on October 20, 2010 to provide a report on results from the Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety Systems (IVBSS) field operational test to members of the vehicle safety research community and other interested parties.
The IVBSS program is a five-year cooperative research agreement to combine several crash warning subsystems — including forward collision, lane departure, lane change, and curve speed warning — into a single, integrated concept to enhance the safety of both passenger vehicles and heavy trucks. Field tests using a fleet of light vehicles and heavy trucks were recently completed and the resulting reports are being finalized. The Key Findings report for the Heavy Truck field test will be available by the end of August.
Click here for registration and additional information. Online registration deadline is October 15.

AVIATION

1) FAA Says Florida May is Colorblind, Won’t Hire Him; He Sues
Link to article in The Tampa Tribune:
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/jul/30/faa-wont-hire-sarasota-man-air-traffic-controller-/news-breaking/

2) At Boston’s Logan Airport, Tweeting is Taking Off
Link to article in The Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2010/07/30/at_logan_airport_tweeting_is_taking_off/

3) Transport Canada Fails to See Humor in Line of Baggage Stickers
Link to article in The Gazette:
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Transport+Canada+fails+humour+line+baggage+stickers/3338860/story.html

4) Articles from July Issue of Airport Improvement
– San Jose International Modernizes Technology and Security
http://www.airportimprovement.com/content/story.php?article=00187
– DuPage Airport Secures Its Borders
http://www.airportimprovement.com/content/story.php?article=00190
– Highway Signs Modified to Clarify Twin Cities Confusion
http://www.airportimprovement.com/content/story.php?article=00195

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) Drivers and the GPS: A Love-Hate Relationship
Link to story and video report on Central Florida News 13:
http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2010/july/128842/Drivers-and-the-GPS:-A-love-hate-relationship

OTHER

6) New Database Tracks Transportation Earmarks in Congress
Link to article on MinnPost.com:
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2010/07/29/20111/new_database_tracks_transportation_earmarks_in_congress

7) Dehli Traffic Police at Receiving End of Facebook Traffic Vigil
Link to article in the Hindustan Times:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Cops-at-receiving-end-of-Facebook-traffic-vigil/Article1-579252.aspx

Delaware River Port Authority Will End Secret Internal Board Meetings
Agency will also open books to state auditors in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Link to story on WHYY Radio:
http://whyy.org/cms/news/government-politics/2010/07/30/drpa-will-end-secret-internal-board-meetings/42830

9) Latest Issue of Texas Transportation Researcher Online
– TTI Has You Covered – Weather You’re Coming or Going
http://tti.tamu.edu/publications/researcher/newsletter.htm?vol=46&issue=2&article=1&year=2010
– Spotlight: The Visibility Research Laboratory
http://tti.tamu.edu/publications/researcher/newsletter.htm?vol=46&issue=2&article=2&year=2010
– Using Bluetooth Technology to Aid in Hurricane Evacuation
http://tti.tamu.edu/publications/researcher/newsletter.htm?vol=46&issue=2&article=4&year=2010
– Marking the Way: Research Project Improves Performance of Raised Pavement Markers
http://tti.tamu.edu/publications/researcher/newsletter.htm?vol=46&issue=2&article=8&year=2010
– TTI’s Contributions to Pavement Marking Started Early
http://tti.tamu.edu/publications/researcher/newsletter.htm?vol=46&issue=2&article=9&year=2010

10) ERTICO’s iMobility Newsletter – July 2010
Link to newsletter:
http://tools.emailgarage.com/Pub/E-1eEwAAAAA~/IPLtTS13P0OoOFZkCpWuBA~~/ZHYMv7dxgEaVb2Rx6sMXeg~~/ViewEmail.ashx

PARKING

11) Advertisements Could be Coming to Five San Francisco-Run Garages
Link to article in The Examiner:
http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/under-the-dome/advertisements-could-be-coming-to-five-city-run-garages-99633704.html

ROADWAYS

12) South Carolina DOT Plans for Standardized Roadside Memorials
Link to AP article:
http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/07/30/1610668/sc-dot-plans-for-standardized.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

13) Freedom of Photography: Police, Security Often Clamp Down Despite Public Right
Link to article in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/25/AR2010072502795_pf.html

TELEMATICS

14) Automotive Telematics Deliver a Brave New Ride
Link to blog on Automotive World:
http://krigr.co.cc/automotive-telematics-deliver-a-brave-new-ride/

TRANSIT

15) NJ Transit Emergency Responders Face Challenging Recovery After Fatality on Tracks
Link to article in The Star-Ledger:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/07/nj_transit_emergency_response.html

16) To Blog or Not to Blog?
How should transit agencies handle employee blogs?
Link to commentary from Metro:
http://www.metro-magazine.com/Blog/Transit-Dispatches/Story/2010/07/To-blog-or-not-to-blog-.aspx

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

17) Dish TV Launches Traffic Active in India
Link to India Infoline News Service article:
http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/Dish-TV-launches-Traffic-Active/4896103674

VEHICLES

18) Release of Toyota Documents Blocked, Ex-NHTSA Official Says
Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703999304575399523349443634.html

News Releases
1) Imtech Acquires YSP in Finland to Strengthen Its Traffic Market Position in the Nordic Region

Upcoming Events
California Transit Association Annual Fall Conference & Expo – September 14-15 – San Diego
http://www.caltransit.org/node/679

Friday Bonus
Dramamine and Prozac could be helpful when flying into these airports!
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/the-worlds-scariest-runways/1

Today in Transportation History
1825 **185th anniversary** Malden Island was discovered in the Pacific Ocean.
http://www.janeresture.com/kiribati_line/malden.htm

======================================================================
The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.
To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.
TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.
© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast www.bwcommunications.net

In case you haven’t heard, there is opposition to the planned multi-use path from the Kirkendall area, around the Chedoke Golf Course, across the 403, and out towards the Brantford rail trail. (crossing the 403 without traffic! Imagine how important being able to do that would be for promoting cycling!)

Some of the people who own property adjacent to the Golf Course, that the new trail would be beside, are opposed to the planned path. Those of us who support the trail can do so with the following online petition:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/supportthetrail/

We’ll be able to bring the names from the petition with us as support at the Niagara Escarpment Commission hearing, where the opponents are appealing the NEC’s approval of the plan.

Please take the time to add your name and let others know about it. If the NEC is even willing to delay the trail as a result of the appeal (even if they eventually uphold their decision to approve it ) this would increase the likelihood of it not being constructed this year. And with an election in October, there is no guarantee that the next city council won’t reverse its decision to build it next year. This is one where it just might make a difference to sign a petition, and it only takes a small amount of time.

Thanks so much,

derek.

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Thursday, July 29, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) Radar System Crashes at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Airport
Link to Oneindia News article:
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/07/29/radar-system-crashes-in-delhi-igi-airport.html

2) To Tackle Congestion, Indian Government Wants High-Tech System Sooner
Link to article in The Times of India:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/To-tackle-congestion-govt-wants-hi-tech-system-sooner/articleshow/6230668.cms

3) Watchdog: FAA Lacks Metrics for Rollout of Air Traffic Upgrade
Link to article on Nextgov:
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100729_3348.php

4) Top Airports on Twitter: List Grows to 143 Airports
Link to blog in Forbes:
http://blogs.forbes.com/wheelsup/2010/07/21/top-airports-on-twitter-list-grows-to-143-airports/

5) West Virginia’s Yeager Airport Gains Attention for Its Social Media Efforts
Link to article in the Charleston Daily Mail:
http://www.dailymail.com/Business/201007280787

CAMERAS

6) Motorists May be Winning Against Big Brother’s Speed Cameras
Link to Fox News story:
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/07/29/motorists-winning-fight-big-brothers-speed-cameras/

CARTOGRAPHY

7) Microsoft’s ‘Street Slide’ Takes Aim at StreetView
Link to CNET News blog:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-20011994-248.html

OTHER

IBM Invests in Infrastructure Sensing and Analysis Tech
Link to article in Bloomberg Businessweek:
http://www.businessweek.com/idg/2010-07-29/ibm-invests-in-infrastructure-sensing-and-analysis-tech.html

PARKING

9) Smart Parking Meters Spark Debate
Link to audio report on KQED Radio’s The California Report:
http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201007280850/a

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) Radio Over IP Gives Washington State Responders a Common Platform
Link to article in Government Computer News:
http://gcn.com/articles/2010/08/02/washington-state-radio-over-ip.aspx

11) Smartphones Bring Safety Systems to Cars
Link to blog from Strategy Analytics:
http://blogs.strategyanalytics.com/auto/?cat=25

TOURISM

12) Navigating Europe in the Digital Age
GPS, ebooks and other technologies changing the way we travel.
Link to Tribune News Services article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38436089/ns/travel-destination_travel/

TRANSIT

13) Myki is Watching You: Smartcard Operator Gives Police Access to Customer Info
Link to article and video in The Age:
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/myki-is-watching-you-smartcard-operator-gives-police-access-to-customer-info-20100729-10×7l.html

14) New York MTA Axes Station Agents; Promises New Intercoms
Link to article in amNew York:
http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/mta-axes-station-agents-promises-new-intercoms-1.2148780

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

15) New Road Technology Hopes to Ease Minnesota Congestion
Link to story on WCCO-TV:
http://wcco.com/local/smart.lanes.minnesota.2.1832560.html

16) Broadcaster Traffic Consortium Senses Renewed Interest in Radio
Link to article in Radio World:
http://www.radioworld.com/article/104172

News Releases
1) Operation Lifesaver Films New Safety PSA with New Orleans Saints Kicker
2) Minnesota’s Smart Lanes Go Live
3) 2010 National Rural Intelligent Transportation Systems Conference Coming Soon in Huntington, West Virginia
4) AASHTO Honors State DOT Photographers for Their ‘Faces of Transportation’
5) Strategy Analytics: Connected Cars Emerge as Business Models Diverge
6) SuperGeo Develops Taipei Bus Information and Transit System by SuperWebGIS

Upcoming Events
2nd Middle East Parking Symposium – October 10-12 – Abu Dhabi
http://www.parking-me.com/

Today in Transportation History
1910 **100th anniversary** Jan Hilgers became the first Dutch pilot to fly over Holland.
http://earlyaviators.com/ehilgers.htm

======================================================================
The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.
To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.
TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.
© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast http://www.bwcommunications.net/

North America, well specifically the US, was one of the only regions in which you could find unlimited data plans, but now wireless carriers, starting with AT&T, have begun to match the rest of the world by offering tiered / usage based data plans. This has interesting implications for automotive OEMs looking to build the next “connected” car.

To date you had 3 main ways to provide connectivity into the vehicle: Embedd a cellular radio, use data over a voice channel (think Ford’s connected services over Airbiquity’s “modem”), or use some creative interaction with data provided by a consumer’s handset. I will avoid the word “tethering” because, in fact, most of the carriers used to block formal tethering due to the unlimited rate plans. So this 3rd method I mention involved creative interactions between an application on the users handset and the vehicle. An example of this is PandoraLink.

PandoraLink in essence uses a command and control interface from a vehicle to “speak” to a Pandora application running on a handset and then stream that audio back into the car. This is an excellent approach in the world of unlimited data because you weren’t tethering and additionally, as an OEM, you didn’t have to absorb (or pass along) the added BOM cost of an embedded radio nor the added usage fees.

Ok so now tiered data is available and restrictions on tethering go away (although tethering becomes quite costly). For services such as Pandora, eliminating unlimited data *may* have an effect, but for some emerging video and gaming services (ex: OnLive) the new approach by carriers will effectively prohibit them from launching in a mobile environment. Different groups argue about the consumption of bandwidth by streaming audio solutions and if a tiered data plan will have any effect.

So looking into my crystal ball what do I think will happen? Well in the past carriers tried to build everything themselves, apps, services, content solutions, etc. Now controlling bandwidth gives them a new negotiating tool. Imagine a popular video or internet radio application. Now a carrier doesn’t have to build a competitive solution to gain incremental revenue. Instead they can cut deals with popular services for revenue shares and then offer packages that remove the data cap for those services. For instance a carrier could cut a deal with a popular internet radio or video service for a cut of revenue and then offer a “Pandora” or “Youtube” data package. 2 gigs of data and unlimited Pandora or Youtube streaming.

So what is the impact for automotive?  Well first of all, I think this removes the risk of the unknown as to what will happen when carriers remove unlimited data. The time is now. There are now predictable terms to build connectivity models for automotive around. Tethering will now be a real solution, it will just be up to the OEMs to predict if tethering will be an acceptable option given the added cost to consumers. I also think, now that models are established, there is risk for OEMs and programs that are trying to work around formal tethering through serial connections to content and services. I think this solution will be eventually be disrupted by the carriers, or worse put the OEM in a position that the carriers demand money for accessing this functionality.
If I was an OEM I would start business modeling around the potential revenue that could be attributed to local search, vehicle bus data, etc. and try to monetize it in such a way to support a “kindle” type of plan in a vehicle (either for tethering or an embedded radio).

There is money to be made inside the vehicle its just time to quantify and leverage it.

Locke Street gets paid street parking with a two hour limit.

City council previously voted to bring parking rates up to $1 per hour across the city and install paid parking on Locke Street, and in Stoney Creek (King Street), Ancaster (Wilson Street) and Waterdown (Dundas Street). The provincial average for street parking is $1.46/hour. [report to council]
 
Paid street parking is expected to bring in an extra $1.45 million each year, and will contribute to higher turnover in curbside parking which will benefit businesses, as well as encourage some people to shift to walking, cycling or transit. [more on parking meters here]