Colombia’s transport infrastructure challenges economic growth
An inefficient transportation network is one of the key challenges facing further economic growth in Colombia, according to a report from ratings agency Standard and Poor's (S&P).
It currently takes ten hours to travel 445 kilometres between Bogotá and Medellín, the country's two largest cities. According to the 2013 World Economic Forum, Colombia's overall infrastructure is better than Argentina's, Paraguay's and Venezuela's in Latin America.
"Considering that Colombia's economy has the potential to
Plans for new Thames crossing unveiled
On the 120th anniversary of the completion of London’s Tower Bridge, Arup, along with architects HOK, has unveiled its plans for a new bridge across the River Thames.
The US$1 billion concept, called ‘Bridge East London’, would help transform leisure and business travel and enhance life in the east of the capital. It suggests a new road bridge over the River Thames, linking Beckton and Thamesmead at Gallions Reach.
The proposed bridge would allow clear passage for ships and takes into account aircraf
Oregon DOT opts for Skyline CMS
Skyline Products is to supply Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) with its rotary drum changeable message signs (CMS) in a state-wide five-year contract that includes eight variations of the NTCIP compliant signs.
The signs will be used on the highways and interstates around Oregon for chain restriction signing, to advise drivers of the need to use snow chains on their vehicle.
Skyline rotary drum CMS are a cost effective option for traffic signs as they draw a fraction of the power and are vir
MassDOT deploys adaptive traffic control
Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has selected Trafficware’s SynchroGreen for the State’s first adaptive signal system. With traffic engineering involvement from consulting firm VHB, the new system was activated earlier this year.
Video cameras located at the intersection provide real-time traffic volumes information to on-street traffic controllers. The system then uses a centralised command and control server to process this volume/occupancy data to analyse and dynamically adjust p
EPA/Polis workshop – a standardised approach for on-street parking
Polis and the European Parking Association have arranged a joint workshop in Lisbon on the final day of the Iberian Parking Congress, 19 September, focused on standardised solutions for on-street parking, including technologies to support parking management.
The workshop will provide attendees with information: New planning and tendering approaches to integrate parking management better in urban transport policy; and technologies for on-street parking management and enforcement (sensors, ANPR, integrat
Investment in pedestrian, cycling initiatives pays off
Five years after the Non-motorised Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) was established to measure the impact of investment in walking and cycling initiatives, the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has reported a 22.8 per cent increase in walking and a 48.3 per cent increase in cycling, while an estimated 85.1 million vehicle miles were avoided.
The NTPP provided approximately US$25 million each to four pilot communities (Columbia, Missouri; Marin County, California; Minneapolis area, Minnesota; an
Gauteng to review e-tolls
The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) in South Africa is to set up a panel to review the impact of e-tolls and invite new proposals on how it can find a lasting solution.
Premier David Makhura announced the move during his State of the Province Address, saying the GPG will work with national government, municipalities and all sectors of society on the issue.
“While we shall not promise easy solutions and claim easy victories, we must make it clear that we cannot close our eyes to cries of sectors of
Ferrovial consortium to build I-77 HOT lanes
Cintra, a US subsidiary of Spanish infrastructure firm Ferrovial, is to be responsible for the development of the I-77 HOT Lanes Project led by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
The US$655 million project, extending 26 miles from the I-77 connection with I-277 in Charlotte to the intersection with NC 150 in Iredell County, will enhance traffic connectivity between residential areas along the corridor and downtown Charlotte. The project includes the development of high occupancy tol
US Department of Transportation - procurement opportunity
The US Department of Transportation is seeking proposals for the establishment of a new certification environment based on wireless communications.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is requesting applications for assistance to result in the award of a new cooperative agreement to establish a future certification environment for connected vehicle devices and applications. The recipient shall establish a future certification environment for devices and applications that leverage wireless communica
PTV updates truck parking Europe app
PTV has launched Version 2 of its free truck parking Europe app for iOS 7 and Android, providing truck drivers with a wide range of new functions to help them find suitable truck parking spaces. These new features allow them to find, assess, add and edit information on truck parking facilities even more easily. Drivers can now also enter the occupancy status of HGV parking spaces; the app new includes more than 12,000 truck parking spaces.
The new 'Drive Mode' function shows parking spaces along the rout
ATS Fleet Services widens toll services portfolio
US toll and violation management solutions provider ATS Fleet Services has acquired all the assets of Texas-based Rent a Toll, a provider of toll management solutions to rental car companies and corporate fleets.
"Rent a Toll has been a terrific service provider for the fleet and rental car tolling industries," said Adam Draizin, ATS Fleet Services president and executive vice president of American Traffic Solutions. "Together, we share the commitment of delivering results for our customers. This acquis
Elevated mass transit about to get real
Tel Aviv, Israel is about to become the first city to implement the futuristic skyTran system of magnetic levitation (maglev) high-speed personal transit.
US company skyTran, headquartered at the NASA Research Park (NRP) in California and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have entered into an agreement to construct a skyTran Technology Demonstration System (TDS) on the grounds of IAI's corporate campus.
Developed by skyTran CEO, Jerry Sanders, skyTran is a high-speed, elevated, levitating, energy-ef
ISS expands cloud offerings with CitySync RaaS
Image Sensing Systems has launched its first software-only product, CitySync Recognition as a Service (RaaS), a solution which gives any and all businesses and governments the power to use and access the state-of-the-art CitySync licence plate recognition (LPR) engine.
CitySync RaaS is an annual service that provides organisations with a fast, accurate automated licence plate recognition engine. This stand-alone solution can be implemented into any size organisation or infrastructure without the need fo
ICE State of the Nation report ‘makes grim reading’ says expert
The UK’s Institution of Civil Engineers has issued its 2014 State of the Nation: Infrastructure report, which focuses on the performance, capacity and condition of the UK's key economic infrastructure networks.
The report finds that the UK approach to delivering and maintaining infrastructure requires attention and recommends that progress made to date should be built upon to ensure that the UK possesses world class infrastructure. It also finds that three sectors – energy, flood management and local tra
IRD awarded Caltrans WIM maintenance deal
International Road Dynamics (IRD) is to provide the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) with equipment maintenance, software maintenance, and on-call service for their state-wide network of weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems at approximately 250 locations across the state.
This new service agreement has a total value of US$4.7 million and provides for the maintenance of both Caltrans' commercial vehicle enforcement systems and traffic data collection systems from for the next three years.
Christie’s screens give safety and efficiency gains at CUMTD
Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (CUMTD) has increased security and operational efficiency with a new 10-screen transportation control room at its recently-built headquarters building. The authority created a new safety and security system and images from any of the 300 cameras can be displayed on the new video wall which made up from 10 of Christie’s latest 55inch LCD screens. The cameras are installed at the busiest bus stops, at the Illinois Terminal Transfer Facility and in CUMTD’s maintenance and
ORTEC routing integrates with TomTom Webfleet
Fleet planning solutions provider ORTEC has joined the TomTom Telematics Partner Programme of TomTom Telematics in a move that integrates ORTEC routing and the TomTom Webfleet platform to provide fleet operators with a dynamic routing and scheduling solution based on a vehicle’s location and its estimated time of arrival, keeping end customers updated on appointments and delivery times.
“Fleet management can dramatically impact the overall customer experience, and we are always looking to collaborate ext
Nearly 54,000 UK learner drivers rack up penalty points
New research from insurance price comparison website Confused.com has found that there are currently nearly 54,000 learner drivers in the UK who have penalty points on their provisional licence.
The findings, obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, reveal that learner drivers are racking up penalty points for motoring offences before officially passing their driving test. According to official figures 53,988 provisional licence holders have valid penalty points on their licence, meaning
Manila launches first RFID toll collection
14km access-controlled toll expressway links Manila to the southern province of Cavite
Argentina plans long-term transport strategy
Argentina, which ranks poorly in transport infrastructure, according to the World Economic forum, has created a national transport institute (IAT) to develop a 50-year transport development strategy, as the country invests to revamp its railway network in an effort to overcome severe infrastructure deficits in the sector.
Interior and transport minister Florencio Randazzo said that the newly created agency's mission is to establish long-term development plans and initiatives, and propose policies and reg