IBTTA names new president
A Miami transportation executive, Javier Rodriguez, executive director of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX), has been named 2015 president of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association’s (IBTTA).
As a transportation leader, Rodriguez is poised to lead IBTTA during this challenging time. Under Rodriguez's leadership, MDX converted its expressways to an all-electronic system. Before joining MDX in 2007, Rodriguez spent 16 years with the Florida Department of Transportation, including
Major Middle East ticketing contract for Indra
Indra is to implement its contactless ticketing systems, access control and cell phone payment solutions for the new public transportation system currently under construction in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
The US$314 million contract was awarded by ArRiyadh Development Authority (ADA), the company responsible for modernising Riyadh's infrastructures and also includes maintenance and technological assistance for ten years.
Indra will develop an advanced pricing management system for the city's
Eriksson wins big at 2015 Compass Intelligence Awards
Ericsson was a winner across four categories at the Compass Intelligence Awards ceremony held during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on 7 January. The annual program recognises the best mobile computing, wireless data communications, machine-to-machine and eco-friendly products and services offered in the market during the past year.
Ericsson was named M2M Technology Company of the Year for its innovations that included development of Ericsson M2M Service Enablement, a robust and proven
Beijing to trial street lamp EV chargers
Beijing has launched a pilot project to transform street lamps to serve as charging poles for electric cars.
Eighty-eight high-pressure sodium lamps on a road in the city have been converted into energy-saving LED lamps. Eight charging poles have been installed and put into trial operation using the energy saved from the new LED lamps, said the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission.
The charging poles work day and night, reducing charging demand for electric taxis and private cars in the
Dubai bridge contract signed
In the UAE, a US$ 23.96 million contract to build the Wafi Bridge was recently endorsed by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
Wafi Interchange is a heavily-used vital traffic link with several main roads as it intersects with the Sheikh Rashid Road and Oud Metha Road. The new 700-metre long bridge will have three lanes and the capacity to accommodate approximately 3,300 vehicles per hour.
"This project is undertaken as part of RTA 's endeavours to improve and upgrade roads network in the Em
Nissan, NASA to develop autonomous cars
Nissan Motor Company, through its North American-based organisation, and NASA have announced the formation of a five-year research and development partnership to advance autonomous vehicle systems and prepare for commercial application of the technology.
Researchers from Nissan's US Silicon Valley research centre and NASA's Ames research centre will focus on autonomous drive systems, human-machine interface solutions, network-enabled applications, and software analysis and verification, all involving sop
Momentum builds for increase in US fuel tax
The possibility of a gasoline tax increase to help pay for federal highway improvements was attracting increased attention in the US Congress as a prominent conservative Republican on Thursday said he was willing to consider the move.
According to Reuters, Senator Orrin Hatch, the new chairman of the Senate Finance Committee that oversees tax measures, told reporters he has an open mind on raising the 18.4 cents per gallon tax levied at the gasoline pump.
"I prefer not to increase taxes, but to me tha
National law enforcement challenge webinar
Laser Technology (LTI) is partnering with the International Association of Chiefs of Police's (IACP) National Law Enforcement Challenge (NLEC) traffic safety recognition program to broadcast a live webinar on 20 January 2015 at 0930 am (MST).
The 2015 National Law Enforcement Challenge Quick-Start Guide webinar will give new and returning applicants helpful information about the Challenge and the most effective tips to jump-start the application process.
The NLEC is a friendly competition between agen
Chinese company confirms Mexico train tender plans
China Railway Construction Corp (CRCC) has confirmed its intention to participate in the new tender for the US$3.4 billion Mexico City-Querétaro high-speed rail project.
Mexico's transport and communications ministry (SCT) said draft bidding rules for the new tender would be published on 14 January.
The project calls for the construction of a 210km high-speed rail link connecting Mexico and Querétaro, via the cities of Cuatitlán and Tula. The high speed train will run for 210 kilometres between Buenav
Copenhagen ‘a haven for cyclists’
According to citymetric.com, Copenhagen is a haven for cyclists. They have a special orange cycling bridge over the harbour and everything from mail to Christmas trees is delivered by cycle. In the city there are more cycles than people, while a traffic system encourages the residents to cycle, with the promise of a stop-free ride into the city.
It's all thanks to a traffic management system known as the Green Wave, which operates at peak times. Traffic signage is timed such that, if a cyclist travels at
Ford announces winners of Innovate Mobility Challenge
Ford has announced the winners of its latest Innovate Mobility Challenge series, an open-innovation approach to discovering mobility solutions around the world and a key aspect of Ford Smart Mobility, the company’s program of innovation in mobility, connectivity and autonomy.
Winning solutions tackled mobility challenges including the delivery of healthcare, reducing traffic congestion and optimising the transportation of goods – all aimed at helping people overcome growing transportation challenges worl
TTI, TxDOT to test connected vehicle technology
Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) has teamed up with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to undertake a four-year project to test connected vehicle technology on a portion of I35 in the state.
Funded by a US Department of Transportation (USDOT) grant, the US$2 million project, called I-35 Connected Work Zone, will initially focus on improving freight movement along the construction corridor by providing long-haul trucks a steady stream of traveller information through on-board devices c
Bristol to test new green bus technology
The city of Bristol in the UK is to pilot the latest green technology for buses thanks to a US$1.5 million grant from the Government to coincide with the city’s year as European Green Capital.
Baroness Kramer, minister of State for Transport, announced today that Bristol will receive funding to purchase a number of new hybrid buses which can switch from diesel to electric automatically in low emission zones.
The grant from the green bus fund will be used to purchase a number of hybrid buses with geo-f
New and renewed contracts for ATS
American Traffic Solutions (ATS) has announced its latest agreements with new and existing clients.
The city of Federal Way, Washington, an ATS client since 2008, has signed a new three-year agreement with an optional three-year extension, to continue its red-light and school zone speed safety camera programs.
Additionally, Charles County, Maryland, executed a one-year renewal of its road-safety camera program, extending its original 2009 contract.
Head Start of Washington County, Maryland, has
New addition to Tasmania's road safety strategy
In a bid to reduce road casualties, the Tasmanian Government is installing eight new fixed speed camera sites across the State, adding an extra dimension to its key road safety focus on safer speeds.
Police Minister Rene Hidding said the new camera system, which has been approved in consultation with the Road Safety Advisory Council, will complement the existing sites on the Tasman Bridge. The project will be implemented by Tasmania Police and will be funded with US$382,000 from the Road Safety Levy.
Siemens to monitor London’s traffic
Transport for London (TfL) has awarded Siemens a contract to upgrade and operate the capital’s detection and enforcement infrastructure (D&EI) contract for the next five years, including the supply of equipment, systems and services for monitoring traffic as part of TfL’s low emission zone (LEZ) and congestion charging schemes.
Commencing in January 2015 with the implementation phase, the new agreement includes the replacement, support, maintenance and operation of instation systems and services includi
Vix Technology to be Global Ticketing Partner for industry showcase
Vix Technology has been named Global Ticketing Partner for the Transport Ticketing & Passenger Information Expo and Conference Global Series in 2015 and will provide all delegates with a smart card ticket at the exhibition in London on 27-29 January.
It is the first time that delegates will ‘tap-in’ and ‘tap –out’ at entry validators as they move throughout the exhibition and conferencing areas and in doing so qualify for competitions and incentives. The feature will give attendees first-hand experience
UK rail system to get interoperable smartcards
ESP Group has been appointed by the UK’s Rail Settlement Plan to provide personalisation, encoding and fulfilment services for a major smartcard programme that will simplify travel for millions of passengers on the UK’s busiest train network.
The company’s smartcard operation Systex will produce and issue a range of powerful contactless smart tokens for short and long term use that will include high capacity microprocessor cards, lower capacity smart tickets, wristbands, key fobs and accessories.
The
Major US traffic management order for Q-Free
In the US, Q-Free Open Roads has begun the year with an order for advanced transportation management systems (ATMS) valued at US$1.5 million from West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH).
“We are proud to see WVDOH continues to retain Q-Free Open Roads, which deployed the initial state-wide ATMS, the backbone of the West Virginia ITS program, in 2008,” says Q-Free CEO Thomas Falck.
The collaboration between Q-Free Open Roads and WVDOH has resulted in many successful ITS initiatives West Virginia, i
Sensys wins breakthrough order from Qatar
Following targeted long-term marketing efforts, Sensys Traffic has succeeded in winning an order for traffic safety systems worth US$754,000 from a customer in Qatar.
The Middle East is now Sensys’ second largest market and the order from Qatar means the company now has customers in eight of the region’s 14 countries.
In light of this development, Sensys has decided to establish a local presence in the Middle East during 2015, in order to better meet demand from both existing and new customers. The mai