Oregon deploys next generation road user charging
Oregon Department of Transportation has chosen the Intelligent Mechatronic Systems (IMS) platform to enable their next generation Road Usage Charge Pilot Program (RUCPP). This key component of Oregon's Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) will be rolled out to other states in the near future. This trial is the second for IMS, with work already underway for a road charging program for a federal government in the Far East.
Toronto to get electronic payment cards
Toronto public transport passengers will soon be able to use a single-fare Presto card to get around on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) or seven other municipal transit systems in Ontario. Transit and government officials say the Presto fare system will be in place throughout the entire TTC system, subway stations, buses and new streetcars, by 2016. Bob Chiarelli, Ontario’s minister of transportation and infrastructure, said Toronto transit passengers have been requesting the electronic fare system fo
Metric parking wins
Metric Parking has been successful in winning orders for their pay and display parking machines in the UK and is to supply three local authorities in the south-west of England with their popular Elite pay and display machines. Bristol City Council has ordered the machines for on-street resident parking schemes in the city, using coin operated machines which will have an alpha numeric keypad for vehicle registration entry and will be networked through the Metric ASLAN web back office system.
Traffic rules amended to benefit electric cars
From 2013 electric cars and cars with four or more passengers will be allowed to use the public transport lane on Lithuanian roads. Lithuania's authorities have passed an amendment to the traffic rules, to encourage people to cooperate during the rush hours and share cars. The new road traffic rules will be updated with three road signs for electric cars. They will sign electric car charging sites, cases when road signs do not apply to electric cars, and a parking space for electric cars and other electric
Expert calls for high-tech traffic control
A leading Chinese transportation expert has called for China to develop smart traffic technologies that are more customer-oriented, while boosting greener, safer and more efficient modern transportation in the country. "China's ITS applications should shift their focus to provide more solutions for public transportation in the next decade, and the industry should get a new stimulus by responding to the needs of the market," said Wang Xiaojing, chief engineer at the Research Institute of Highway under the Mi
Winners of ITS Australia awards announced
Nominations reflecting world's best practice in the intelligent transport systems (ITS) industry were winners at the third ITS Australia awards presentation ceremony in Melbourne. ITS Australia President and Chair of the Awards Judging Panel Brian Negus said that the entries in Australia's awards program would perform well in any competition around the world. "After attending the ITS World Congress last month and seeing and hearing countless best practice case studies, we are confident that winners of our l
Continued impact of TEN-T programme
The Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency (TEN-T EA) launched for the second year running a campaign aimed at showcasing successfully implemented TEN-T projects. The “ten (more) out of TEN” campaign highlights ten additional TEN-T projects whose successful implementation has yielded regional, national and European added value and which are helping to complete the TEN-T network.
Canadian authorities convinced of enforcement safety benefits
Cost-benefit analysis invariably finds highly in favour of speed and red light enforcement, particularly so in Edmonton in the Alberta province of Canada, where authorities need no convincing of the merits of road safety engineering. Justification of enforcement efforts on economic grounds has been reinforced this year, by a study of the costs and benefits of red light enforcement. New York-based economic research firm John Dunham & Associates carried out this latest analysis for American Traffic Solutions
Partnership delivers video surveillance solution
In a partnership designed to address and overcome the challenges of the amounts of data generated by digital video surveillance systems, video surveillance and security products supplier Samsung Techwin is to collaborate with computer and IP storage provider Pivot3 to offer a unified IP video surveillance solution to new and existing clients. By combining Pivot3 vSTAC Watch appliances with Samsung video management software and security cameras, surveillance users can leverage one appliance for the viewing,
Bus location system delivers real-time passenger information
VeriFone Systems has installed its open-architecture vehicle tracking TransitPAY system on more than 1,000 buses serving the Bronx, following the award of a US$8.5 million contract by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York. The Bronx contract award follows a similar contract in 2011 for the Staten Island fleet component of the MTA Bus Time system, which uses VeriFone on-board systems to generate location data that is communicated wirelessly to the Bus Time server that passengers can acc
Wireless parking sensors aid traffic reduction
According to research carried out by Keypoint Consultancy on behalf of Winterswijk town council in the Netherlands, the search for a parking space in the town has reduced significantly as parking spaces are better utilised since a new parking guidance system was introduced earlier this year. Research carried out in 2008 by Keypoint indicated that the town was affected by the increasing parking pressure and reduced accessibility at peak times, causing considerable inconvenience to residential areas and redu
ITS America maps out implications and opportunities for ITS industry
A critical milestone was reached in July 2012, when the US Congress passed, and President Obama signed, legislation reauthorising the nation's surface transportation programs, breaking a nearly three-year log-jam which had blocked critical transportation reforms and delayed much-needed infrastructure projects. In a town where compromise is sometimes considered an endangered species, Republicans and Democrats came together during a months-long series of negotiations and hashed out a bipartisan agreement that
Canadian authorities convinced of enforcement safety benefits
Cost-benefit analysis invariably finds highly in favour of speed and red light enforcement, particularly so in Edmonton in the Alberta province of Canada, where authorities need no convincing of the merits of road safety engineering. Justification of enforcement efforts on economic grounds has been reinforced this year, by a study of the costs and benefits of red light enforcement. New York-based economic research firm John Dunham & Associates carried out this latest analysis for American Traffic Solutions
First nationwide traffic information service for Austria
The vision of Austria’s transport experts of implementing a comprehensive integrated transport network is about to become a reality with Traffic Information Austria (VAO). Launched at the ITS World Congress, VAO is scheduled to go live in late spring 2013, using technology provided by software companies PTV Group and Haco, in partnership with Austrian motorway operator ASFINAG, the Austrian transport association organisers ARGE ÖVV, ITS Vienna Region, ÖAMTC, Ö3 traffic editorial staff, the City of Graz, th
Sydney to get transport electronic ticketing system
After more than a decade of delays, the New South Wales (NSW) government in Australia is to begin trials of the Opal electronic ticketing system on select ferry routes, with a trial set to commence on Sydney ferries in December. NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said that commuters would be able to use a single card to pay for tickets on ferries, trains, buses, and light rail by 2015. The Opal card will be available on all Sydney ferries and some trains in 2013, with buses and light rail to come on
LGA report forecasts introduction of road tolling
A report by the Local Government Association (LGA), the organisation representing councils in England and Wales, predicts road tolling or pay as you drive road pricing could be introduced by 2018. With traffic predicted to nearly double over the next 25 years, the LGA believes the Government will have to consider tolls or even pay as you drive road pricing to raise the money it needs.
Works begins on Chennai traffic management system
Work has begun on the long-awaited integrated traffic management system (ITMS) for Chennai in India. The new system is designed to help police monitor traffic violations more efficiently, as well as creating an automatic intelligent traffic control system to give priority to police cars and ambulances. The system, that includes high powered surveillan¬ce cameras, number plate readers and wi-fi at junctions, is to be first insta¬lled by local IT company Purple Infotech.
EU announces winners of sustainable mobility funding
Within the framework of its Sustainable Urban Mobility campaign, the European Commission has announced the twenty winning actions set to receive up to US$9,000 each in financial support. This money will be used to further the activities of the winning initiatives promoting sustainable urban mobility.
EU announces winners of sustainable mobility funding
Within the framework of its Sustainable Urban Mobility campaign, the European Commission has announced the twenty winning actions set to receive up to US$9,000 each in financial support. This money will be used to further the activities of the winning initiatives promoting sustainable urban mobility.
Bulgaria to implement truck tolling system
The Bulgarian government is considering inviting investors to help it develop an electronic system for truck tolls. The project, which is worth up to US$648.26 million, will be developed on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. "We are looking for heavyweights, partners capable of making a serious investment of 200, 300, maybe 500 million euro, depending on the estimated cost of building such a system," Lilyana Pavlova told reporters at the Southeast Europe Business Forum.