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In its latest report, Global Bus Rapid Transport Systems (BRT) Market 2015-2019, Research and Markets analysts have forecast that the global Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRT) market will grow at a CAGR of 9.82 per cent over the period 2015-2019. BRT systems are highly sophisticated bus-based transit systems that are meant to deliver efficient, rapid, and cost-effective high capacity public transportation services. Apart from vehicles, BRT systems also comprise right-of-way lanes, on-board ITS and stations.

China is preparing a preliminary agreement with Brazil and Peru for the construction of a US$9.97 billion bi-national railway connecting the Atlantic Ocean in Brazil to the Pacific Ocean in Peru. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is due to visit Brasília next week to seal China's partnership with Brazil, as part of a visit to map out an overall economic cooperation deal involving a total of US$53.3 billion in investments across various sectors such as mining, energy and manufacturing, as well as transportation

Switzerland is testing its first autonomous vehicle (AV) on the streets of Zurich. Developed in cooperation with Swiss telecommunications group Swisscom, the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (UVEK) and Germany’s Autonomos Labs, the heavily modified VW Passat has been equipped with sensors, computers and software. The computer system drives, steers and brakes the vehicle autonomously and detects other vehicles and pedestrians by means of laser scanners, radar and vid

A survey from toll operator Transurban finds that the Virginia Express Lanes have reduced travel times and increased lane speeds, including the main lanes. According to data extracted from the University of Maryland’s Regional Integrated Transportation Information System, drivers in the regular lanes on the Capital Beltway and I-95 have experienced reduced travel times and faster speeds since the Express Lanes opened. As expected, drivers who take the Express Lanes experience significant travel time sav

From point-to-point car-sharing to tech-enabled shuttles and other new forms of “micro-transit,” there is no shortage of innovation happening in today’s transportation industry. At the ITS 2015 Annual Meeting & Expo, the Shared-Use Mobility Centre (SUMC) will be coordinating a can’t-miss session featuring four leaders who are driving advancements in shared mobility - Kaye Ceille, President, Zipcar; Joseph Kopser, CEO/Founder, RideScout; Ryan Rzepecki, CEO/Founder, Social Bicycles; and Jennifer Krusius, Pitt

Gridsmart Technologies will announce new products at the ITS America Meeting, further solidifying the company’s commitment to simple, flexible, and transparent ITS solutions. “We are traffic control freaks, obsessive in our commitment to deliver practical tools to help traffic professionals move people safely and efficiently,” said Dr Jeff Price, Chief of Technology. “These new products are pure Gridsmart: simple and extremely cost effective whether you have one Gridsmart site or hundreds.”

Skyline Technology Solutions, an IT integration company, will launch Claris, one of their two systems being demonstrated at the ITS America Annual Meeting & Expo. The Claris Platform and Product Suite normalises and securely delivers live video and data feeds via permissions access through any device type, including mobile. The company partnered with Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center (MCAC) to architect a customised version of Claris and its portal dashboard. There are currently over 35 organisati

At this year’s ITS America Annual Meeting, TransCore will demonstrate two of its traffic management software solutions, TransSuite and SCATS. To better manage traffic flow in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, TransCore is deploying its TransSuite software solution at 350 of the city’s busiest intersections. By automatically adjusting traffic signal timing in response to real-time traffic conditions, the traffic signals will be able to handle routine, planned and unexpected traffic conditions. Meanw

The Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO) will unveil a new connected vehicle training workshop at ITS America's 25th Annual Meeting and Expo. The course, based on the successful Connected Vehicle 101 classes that the ITS JPO has been conducting since 2013, will be held on May 31, 2015, in the Welk Room of the Omni William Penn Hotel. This instructor-led workshop builds on the Connected Vehicle 101 workshop by providing additional details about future vehicle-to-vehicle and vehi

The newly formed Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Deployment Coalition (V2I DC) will hold a workshop to form technical working groups (TWGs) and increase stakeholder participation in V2I deployment activities. The workshop is open to the public and will be held at the Omni William Penn Hotel on June 4 and 5 in Pittsburgh, PA. Formed earlier this year, the V2I DC includes the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), and ITS Ame

Nearly 20 per cent of the US population has some form of disability. Of that number, 40 per cent are in the workforce today. If you have ever wondered how ITS can help members of the disabled community, be part of ITS America’s Special Interest Section 24 – Innovative Technology Solutions for Accessible Transportation.

The European Parliament has mandated that all newly approved car and light-van models will have to be equipped with eCall boxes as standard fitment from 31 March 2018. eCall boxes are emergency call devices enabling rescue services to respond with faster road assistance based on knowledge of the exact location of the accident. The 2014 ban on telephone roaming charges across Europe will establish a favourable scenario for an interoperable eCall or telematics solution. However, while the European Commissi

Key sections of the Johannesburg, South Africa, highway system will soon be upgraded to world-class standards, but none of these roads will be toll roads, according to the Mayor, Parks Tau, in his 2015 State of the City Address. A capacity assessment will be undertaken on the M1 and M2 network, crossing the City, as well as the Soweto Highway to evaluate the extent of the upgrades required as well as potential innovative solutions that can be introduced to address congestion challenges. Repairs on the

The findings of Euro NCAP and ANCAP, the independent safety bodies for Europe and Australasia, on the effectiveness of low speed autonomous emergency braking in real-world rear-end crashes have concluded that low speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) technology needs widespread fitment for maximum benefits. Published in the online edition of the Accident Analysis & Prevention journal, the publication says that AEB is one of the more promising safety technologies that are becoming increasingly common o