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A new study by transportation software provider PTV Group concludes that scarcity of resources and demographic change are determining the future of public transport. The study illustrates which topics are moving the public transport sector and how stakeholders are dealing with them. The study involved around 300 participants from around the world, including transport operators, associations, consultants and engineering companies. The majority (81 per cent) stated fewer resources and climate change as the l

In Oregon, gas-tax money funds about 58 per cent of the budget used to take care of the state’s roads. As vehicles become more fuel efficient, the gas tax, which is 30 cents a gallon in Oregon and 37 cents in Washington, will generate less and less money. “If we’re using gasoline and diesel sales to fund our transportation system, we’re going to be in big trouble,” said Patrick Cooney of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Recognizing the problem early, Oregon started studying alternatives to th

Visionstream Australia (Visionstream) is to deliver the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) and communications infrastructure for the Westgate Freeway Managed Motorway Project under the National Smart Managed Motorways Program. The US$21.5 million contract includes design and construction of the ITS system and an operations and maintenance component for two years. Under the contract, Visionstream will be undertaking the design, supply, installation and integration of ITS devices including lane use signs, va

Confidex, Finland-based supplier of specialty RFID tags, has been awarded OCS certification for its 6C RFID windshield tag by OmniAir Certification Services (OCS), the test-affiliate of OmniAir Consortium, a technology-focused member association created to enable the deployment of interoperable advanced transportation technologies and applications. OCS certification positions Confidex as a certified, high-quality, high-volume RFID tag provider for the North American electronic toll collection market. The Co

In a contract worth US$47 million, Thales and Kapsch are to provide Bulgarian railway infrastructure company NRIC with the electronic signalling and telecommunication technology for the Sofia-Plovdiv railway line, part of the International Rail Corridor IV from Dresden to Istanbul. Kapsch CarrierCom will deliver the GSM-R technology for the project, while Thales will deploy electronic interlocking systems for five stations, including outdoor facilities, ETCS (European Train Control System) Level 1 tracksid

Researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) have come up with a way to measure the unreliability of trip times due to traffic congestion. The Planning Time Index (PTI) illustrates the amount of extra time needed to arrive on time for higher priority events, such as an airline departure, just-in-time shipments, medical appointments or especially important social commitments. If the PTI for a particular trip is 3.00, a traveller would allow sixty minutes for a trip that typically takes twenty

According to the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), an average of ten drivers in the US is killed and more than 1,100 people are injured every day as a result of accidents caused by distracted drivers. To address this ongoing concern, automotive supplier Continental has developed a concept vehicle, the driver focus vehicle, where driver assistance systems are linked to a highly versatile LED light strip to create a powerful tool against driver distraction. In its driver focus vehicle, Continental has

Swiss manufacturer of non-intrusive traffic detectors ADEC Technologies has added to its range of radar traffic detectors with the TDD1-MW75, a Doppler radar traffic detector with a 75 m (250 ft.) detection range. The TDD1-MW75 can be conveniently configured for detection range of 30/45 and 75 metres (100/150/250 ft) using an infra red remote control, available as extra accessory. The detector is specifically designed for green phase request or extension at temporary or permanent traffic lights. “While ther

A Chinese electric vehicle consortium led by the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) has signed agreements to help develop an electric bus network in Poland. Other members of the consortium are BIT subsidiary BIT Huachuang Electric Vehicle Technology, CITIC Guoan Mengguli Power Science and Technology and Shanghai Dianba New Energy Technology. According to the agreements signed with Warsaw University of Technology and Polish power company Tauron Polska Energia, the Chinese group and Tauron will establish

The JustRide end-to-end Smartphone Ticketing system for transit developed by mobile transport ticketing supplier Masabi has been named as a finalist in this year's Global Mobile Awards in the Best Mobile Innovation for Smart Cities category alongside AT&T, Vodafone, Huawei, Streetline and ZTE. The first JustRide system was launched on Boston's commuter rail network in November 2012 and, says the company, within seven weeks had already sold more than 100,000 tickets and now accounts for almost 10 per cent of

Orange Park is the latest town in north Florida to invest in red-light cameras. Over the next 20 days, crews will be installing, setting up and unveiling the machines at three intersections. A 30-day public awareness campaign will begin in March and the cameras will go live on 1 April. "Hopefully these red-light cameras will not only make people aware of running the red lights, but make them aware they need to slow down," Orange Park Police Chief Gary Goble said. York Region, Ontario is to install twenty r

The European Commission has announced the six finalists in two awards focused on raising awareness of and developing sustainable and environmentally-friendly approaches to mobility. The European Mobility Week (EMW) award scheme rewards the local authority deemed to have done the most in raising public awareness of sustainable mobility issues and implementing measures to achieve a shift towards sustainable urban transport. The winning city is chosen by an independent panel of transport experts who assess all

Transportation consultants Cambridge Systematics have been presented with the 2012 Innovative Transportation Solution of the Year for MTA Bus Time, New York City’s real-time bus customer information system. The award, presented by the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) Greater New York Chapter, recognises organisations for their efforts in enhancing the transportation industry in their community through innovation and creativity, and providing value. Cambridge Systematics and partner OpenPlans Transporta

Satellite vehicle tracking technology from Isotrak is helping Skanska UK’s utilities business save on fuel and reduce emissions. Using the real-time system to track the company’s mobile workforce on the road enables efficient vehicle management and provides detailed reporting on individual driving styles for each driver. This has enabled the company to manage its fleet and drivers better by helping them to comply with its environmental policy and duty of care programme. According to Isotrak, the solution c