News

The latest research published by Taylor and Francis, Cycle lanes: their effect on driver passing distances in urban areas, aims to study the impact of cycle lanes on cyclist safety in terms of passing space given by overtaking vehicles. In this study, the authors, Kathryn Stewart and Adrian McHale, used a bicycle equipped with cameras to record vehicle overtakes in varying road situations to determine whether cycle lanes, colour block cycle lanes or no cycle lanes affect passing distances and cyclist st

Iteris has reported total revenues of US18.1 million for its fiscal first quarter 2015, up six per cent over the same quarter a year ago. This was primarily driven by a 20 per cent increase in roadway sensors. iPerform revenues were also up 15 per cent, while transportation systems revenues were down seven per cent, but added US$10.1 million in new contracts The increase in roadway sensors revenues was largely attributable to the success of various growth initiatives, including increases in the distribut

The 2014 speed camera review by the New South Wales Centre for Road Safety shows that speed cameras continue to deliver positive road safety benefits. A total of 95 fixed speed camera locations were reviewed, with 93 locations shown to be effective from the initial analysis. This positive result shows the review, now in its third year, has systematically identified ineffective fixed speed cameras for decommissioning. Overall at these fixed speed camera locations, there was a 42 per cent reduction in the

Civil engineering firm Britcon has completed works for a new US$8.8 million state-of-the-art toll collection facility on the Humber Bridge to replace the toll collection system which was installed in 1981. The new collection system will include one of the first open road tolling arrangement to be installed in the UK, where vehicles do not need to stop while driving through the toll plaza. Britcon undertook full infrastructure works for the project on behalf of Sociedad Ibérica de Construcciones Eléctrica

The City of Philadelphia has kicked off its new pedestrian safety education and enforcement strategy aimed at reducing deaths and injuries, supported by a US$525,000 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) grant initiative to help address a three year trend of increased pedestrian fatalities. Philadelphia will use the funds to address pedestrian safety in downtown areas by increasing police visibility and ticketing during high risk hours in 20 high-crash locations. The grant will also be u

A new programme is being launched in Loughborough to help local businesses make commuting and business travel cheaper, easier and more sustainable. Smartgo Loughborough will provide Loughborough employers and their staff with a range of travel benefits and services to save money, improve health and enhance corporate responsibility. The programme also includes transport expertise and collaboration opportunities with other employers and transport providers. Smartgo networks are co-ordinated by sustaina

According to a report by Reuters, some of the world's largest pension funds and infrastructure investors are forming consortia to bid for the operator of an Indiana toll road that filed for bankruptcy last month. Indiana agreed in 2006 to lease the 253 kilometre highway, billed as the Main Street of the Midwest, for 75 years in return for US$3.8 billion. It stretches across the northernmost part of Indiana from Ohio to Illinois, linking Chicago with the largest cities on the eastern seaboard. While f

A major step towards greener urban public transport was made this week with the launch of the first ZeEUS (Zero Emission Urban Bus System) demonstration in Barcelona. The flagship project is the first of its kind to test 12 metre-plus electric buses in real operation. Barcelona is the first demonstration site of the UITP-coordinated ZeEUS project, with core demonstrations in seven other European cities to follow: London and Glasgow; Stockholm; Münster and Bonn, Plzen and Cagliari. In total, 35 plug-in hy

McCain has unveiled its innovative railroad interface panel (RRIP), which it says boosts public safety and operational efficiencies at railroad crossings in adherence with the proposed regulations for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) standard. The device serves as a single termination panel for railroad field wires and isolators in any traffic controller cabinet. Data collected from six inputs enables traffic agencies to easily monitor railroad status, initiate track clearances and place the sig

Ireland’s National Roads Authority (NRA) has awarded Egis the renewal and extension of the operation and maintenance contract of the Dublin Tunnel for a period of six years, with a possible four-year extension. This new contract follows a first operation and maintenance contract awarded to the Group in February 2006 and includes the toll collection, traffic and safety management and routine maintenance, including winter and equipment maintenance. It also includes the operation and maintenance of the

Thales has been awarded a US$23 million contract by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) for the design and construction of advanced train control technology for the new Central Subway project, an extension of the existing T Line. Thales will supply its field-proven SelTrac communications based train control (CBTC) technology for the 1.7 mile project, a solution designed to improve transit options for residents in one of the city’s most densely populated neighbourhoods, provide a ra

Canadian company Sierra Wireless has deployed its InMotion Solutions oMG Mobile Gateway for Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) to support mobile broadband access for automatic vehicle location (AVL) and smart card fare payments aboard more than 1,100 buses in its fixed route fleet. One of the top 20 public transit agencies in the US, the RTD provides services to residents across an eight county metro area, from the bus and light rail services to the free MallRide and specialty services.

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bridges & Tunnels (MTA B&T) has selected TransCore to deploy the agency’s first all-electronic tolling (AET) system on the historic Henry Hudson Bridge. Built in 1936, the iconic bridge provides passage for more than 63,000 vehicles each day. The AET project is part of a three-year, US$33 million MTA B&T bridge rehabilitation project to replace the original 1930s steel supports as well as install 3,600 feet of new bridge decking, new energy-efficient roadw

A new report by Inrix in collaboration with one of the world's leading economic think tanks, the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), quantifies the cost of traffic congestion on individual households and national economies in the US, UK, France and Germany. This is the first study of its kind to forecast the projected increases in these costs in these countries and their most congested cities between 2013 and 2030. Driven by urbanisation and increased GDP per capita over the next 17 ye