New revenue streams for transit operators through NFC
NXP has claimed the top spot in the contactless ticketing market in ABI Research’s new market analysis. Shipments of the Mifare range (Classic, Plus, Ultralight, and DESFire) remain strong despite some security concerns around the Classic product. ABI says that overall, Mifare has withstood scrutiny and demonstrates that the highest level of security is not an overriding factor in adoption with the focus on cost effectiveness, convenience, and reliability. The lack of alternative solutions has helped cement
Traffic Tech wins traffic signal maintenance contract in Abu Dhabi
The Abu Dhabi Department of Transportation has awarded Traffic Tech (Gulf) – Abu Dhabi a traffic signal maintenance contract for the Al Ain City. Valued at over US$ 4.5 million, the contract will run for two years covering maintenance and development of all traffic signals throughout the city. Recently, Middle East Integrated Systems (MEIS), Traffic Tech Group’s Bahraini based company, has also been awarded Bahrain’s traffic signal maintenance contract covering over 280 intersections. Currently, the
Ecuador to invest US$5 billion in super-highways road projects
The Ecuador Ministry of Transport and Public Works says it will invest around US$5 billion up to 2014 to turn 1,286km of roads into super-highways, to help development of its tourism, farming and agricultural sectors. A first stage will see the firm Consultora de Ingenieria, Estudios y Perforaciones de Suelos (Cieper) undertaking the definitive traffic studies, as well as the engineering and environmental impact studies for the Santo Domingo-Quevedo road, located between the Los Rios and Santo Domingo d
European e-Scooter of the Year
For the second year running, Govecs, Germany's leading supplier of electric scooters, has won the "European e-Scooter of the Year" Award. With its GO! S2.4 model, the company beat off strong competition in the under 25 km/h category, the most popular category in the Netherlands. The other first place was achieved in the highly competitive 45 km/h category with the GO! T2.4 cargo scooter. To add to their achievements, Govecs also went on to win second place in both these categories with their GO! S1.2 and GO
TomTom launches speed camera app for iPhone
TomTom in Europe has releases a speed camera app for the iPhone, Powered by European driving community with 1.6 million drivers in 15 countries, the app informs drivers of their speed, the speed limit, the type of camera ahead and the remaining distance to reach it. A colour-coded warning system quickly and effectively alerts users if they need to slow down.
Principles for a connected vehicle environment
The US DoT Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO) has published a discussion document - Principles for a Connected Vehicle Environment. This document expresses a set of working principles intended to guide US DoT's research, demonstration and implementation activities related to a connected vehicle environment. Connected vehicles refer to the ability of vehicles of all types to communicate wirelessly with other vehicles and roadway equipment, such as traffic signals, to support
Windsor is first North American city to launch BYD all-electric buses
Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis has signed a letter of intent to purchase up to 10, BYD 40-foot electric buses for city transit services in 2012, the first city in North America to launch long-range, all-electric buses. The agreement also opens talks to bring manufacturing of BYD buses to the Ontario region in the near future. Transit Windsor has the unique distinction of running in Canada as well as in Detroit, making this launch one that serves on both Canadian and United States’ roads.
Germany accelerates implementation of emobility infrastructure
While global sales of German autos are buoyant, significant efforts are underway to expand the emobility infrastructure in Germany. Several projects now support the implementation of alternative drivetrain concepts. Four new model regions were recently selected by the federal government. In total they will be granted up to US$235 million to implement pilot and demonstration projects to showcase cutting-edge technology.
Arcontia wins Norwegian tender for online smart card reload terminals
Arcontia Technology, a Swedish producer of contactless smart card readers and terminals, today announced that it has won an e-ticketing tender for pick-up devices to be used by Norwegian public transport authority Ruter AS in their e-ticketing system. The contract includes the company’s compact ARC3300T5 smart card terminals for reloading Mifare DESFire travel cards via the new online national order database. To expand current distribution channels and increasing Internet sales, Ruter will be launching a co
Poor quality cycle lanes cause most accidents in Sweden
Poor quality of cycle lanes are the most likely cause of bicycle accidents in Sweden, a report by insurance company Folksam claims. Some 70 per cent of all bicycle accidents which cause serious injuries involved only the cyclist and were caused by poor maintenance of the lanes, gravel or snow. Around 20 per cent of the accidents involved a car or other four-wheeled vehicles, while 10 per cent involved a moped, another bicycle or a pedestrian.
Madrid to install toll charges on local motorways
The regional government of Madrid in Spain is to install toll booths on its motorways, including the M-45 ring road and the M-501 motorway. According to official figures, 100,000 vehicles use the M-45 every day and 40,000 use the M-501 between the M-40 and Brunete stretch. In 2011, the regional government paid the motorways' operators -under a shadow agreement- US$105 million for the M-45, US$6.56 million for the M-407 between Fuenlabrada and Grinon, and US$19.7 million for the M-501. Now, the local authori
Renault-Nissan Alliance in Russian JV
The Renault-Nissan Alliance and state corporation Russian Technologies have agreed to create a joint venture and give the Alliance an indirect majority stake in Avtovaz, Russia's largest car company and maker of the iconic Lada brand. The Renault-Nissan Alliance, Avtovaz, Russian Technologies and Troika Dialog signed the non-binding agreement yesterday in Paris. According to the memorandum, the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Russian Technologies will contribute their respective stakes in Avtovaz to a joint ven
Transport Ministers declare determination to improve global connectivity
“Seamless transport is a powerful and ambitious strategic vision for the future of transport systems,” Transport Ministers from 53 member countries stated in a common declaration agreed at the annual Summit of the International Transport Forum on Seamless Transport: Making Connections in Leipzig, Germany. Seamless transport, the declaration says, “drives the development of better mobility and sustainable economic growth”.
Czech Republic deploying smart traffic lights to combat speeding
Municipalities in the Czech Republic are increasingly deploying smart traffic lights with radar that detects the speed of approaching vehicles and turns the signal red to slow them down to the required speed limit. Currently there are about 100 installations because mayors believe they are more efficient than speed cameras or speed humps. According to one mayor, over 90 per cent of drivers slow down because of the technology. The traffic light system contains a microwave radar sensor which measures speed. I
Bus lane enforcement reduces costs, journey times
The Southcote Lane site in the UK town of Reading is a notorious shortcut for motorists travelling into the town centre. The resultant congestion at the end of the bus lane, when motorists tried to re-enter the main traffic flow, caused congestion and disruption to bus timetables. Reading Borough Council wanted a cost-efficient, effective solution to accurately capture bus lane violations and improve bus travel times. Reading became the first local authority in the UK to deploy Siemens's LaneHawk fully auto
In-vehicle fleet management system reduces losses
Loomis offers products and services that provide complete cash logistics solutions for financial institutions, retailers and other commercial enterprises. The company is present in twelve European countries and the USA and has just over 20,000 employees. At Loomis safety is considered good business. Presented with the opportunity to reduce both accident frequency and associated primary liability costs, the company equipped the majority of its US armoured truck and van fleet with the Driver Safety Measuremen
Cost saving multi-agency transportation and emergency management
Although the recession had dramatically reduced traffic volumes in the past few years, the economy was on the brink of a recovery that portended well for jobs but poorly for traffic congestion. Leaders of four government agencies in Houston, Texas, got together to discuss how to collectively cope with the expected increase in vehicles on the road. "They knew they couldn't pour enough concrete to solve the problem, and they also knew the old model of working in a vacuum as standalone entities would fail," sa
Novatel Wireless and NexTraq sign supply agreement
Novatel Wireless, a provider of intelligent wireless networking solutions, and NexTraq, a specialist in GPS fleet tracking and vehicle management solutions, have signed a supply agreement for mobile tracking devices through which Novatel will supply its MT 3000 device for NexTraq's GPS fleet tracking solution. "We are constantly looking for ways to lower the barrier for adopting GPS fleet management solutions," says Mike Scarbrough, CEO of NexTraq. "Partnering with Novatel Wireless to supply simple-to-insta
Texas highway loan stars revealed
A loan of US$415million from the US government’s Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act programme will help meet the cost of building toll lanes and rebuilding existing lanes at the Interstate 35 highway (I-35W) near Fort Worth, Texas. The works are part of the $2.5billion North Tarrant Express project, which is currently under construction in the northeastern part of Tarrant County, Texas. A consortium of companies led by Spanish toll road developer Cintra, NTE Mobility Partners is behi
Brazil in transport spend fast lane
The Brazilian Government has announced a US$17.01billion package for new mobility and public transport infrastructure. The huge investment includes the construction of 200km of underground and light tramway lines and more than 600km of new bus lanes. The programme of works, titled 'PAC Mobilidade Urbana Grandes Cidades', is set to benefit people in 51 cities and the metropolitan areas of 18 states.