#### ![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.5798611111111112in" height="0.5395833333333333in"}

#### 

#### *Transit Research Update --December 2008* 

# *Contents*

*To view any article listed, use the mouse and control/click on the
title.*

[SPECIAL](#special)

[New FTA Bus Testing Website "Goes Live"
2](#new-fta-bus-testing-website-goes-live)

[Connecting Communities - New Emergency Preparedness Workshop,
01/13-14/09
3](#connecting-communities---new-emergency-preparedness-workshop-0113-1409)

[Introducing Special Topics in Accessible Transportation (STAT)
3](#introducing-special-topics-in-accessible-transportation-stat)

[FEDERAL RESEARCH IN PROGRESS](#__RefHeading___Toc218494940)

[Collision Safety Improvements for Light Rail Vehicles Operating in
Shared Right of Way Street Environment
3](#collision-safety-improvements-for-light-rail-vehicles-operating-in-shared-right-of-way-street-environment)

[Six Sigma for Rail Transit Systems
4](#six-sigma-for-rail-transit-systems)

[FROM THE TRI RESEARCH CORNER](#__RefHeading___Toc218494943)

[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Transportation Working Group
4](#asia-pacific-economic-cooperation-apec-transportation-working-group)

[National 511 Deployment Coalition Working Group
4](#national-511-deployment-coalition-working-group)

[Tour of Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Operations
4](#tour-of-maryland-transit-administration-mta-operations)

[Transit Greenhouse Gas Compendium
5](#transit-greenhouse-gas-compendium)

[U.S. - China Transportation Forum
5](#u.s.---china-transportation-forum)

[FEDERAL PUBLICATIONS](#__RefHeading___Toc218494949)

[Public Roads - Gearing Up for SafeTrip-21 Partnership
5](#public-roads---gearing-up-for-safetrip-21-partnership)

[Regional Transportation Systems Management and Operations; Managed
Lanes 2008
5](#regional-transportation-systems-management-and-operations-managed-lanes-2008)

[Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research
Board, No. 2067, Societal and Economic Factors
6](#transportation-research-record-journal-of-the-transportation-research-board-no.-2067-societal-and-economic-factors)

[Uses of Fees or Alternatives to Fund Transit
6](#uses-of-fees-or-alternatives-to-fund-transit)

[Value Pricing Pilot Program: Lessons Learned
7](#value-pricing-pilot-program-lessons-learned)

[Washington State Ferries Wireless Connection High Speed Data Project
7](#washington-state-ferries-wireless-connection-high-speed-data-project)

[INTERNATIONAL](#international)

[2009 International Conference on Fatigue Management in Transportation
Operations: A Framework for Progress
7](#international-conference-on-fatigue-management-in-transportation-operations-a-framework-for-progress)

[Rail Safety and Standards Board Research and Development E-Newsletter:
November 2008
8](#rail-safety-and-standards-board-research-and-development-e-newsletter-november-2008)

[UNECE Transport Review, First Edition --November 2008
8](#unece-transport-review-first-edition-november-2008)

[Lessons Learned from International Experience in Congestion Pricing
8](#lessons-learned-from-international-experience-in-congestion-pricing)

[World Exposition Shanghai China 2010
8](#world-exposition-shanghai-china-2010)

[RESEARCH NEWS & RESOURCES](#__RefHeading___Toc218494963)

[*New -* Climate Change Activities at the Transportation Research Board
9](#new---climate-change-activities-at-the-transportation-research-board)

[1105 Government Information Group 9](#government-information-group)

[Beyond the Gas Tax: A Symposium on Funding Future Transportation
Needs - Forum Proceedings 9](#__RefHeading___Toc218494966)

[Digital Divide in the Era of Social Networking
9](#digital-divide-in-the-era-of-social-networking)

[Engineering New Traffic Patterns, and New Lingo For Them
10](#engineering-new-traffic-patterns-and-new-lingo-for-them)

[Key Issues in Transportation Programming
10](#key-issues-in-transportation-programming)

[Illinois Gov to Transit Agencies: Hike Fares, I\'ll Freeze Pay
10](#illinois-gov-to-transit-agencies-hike-fares-ill-freeze-pay)

[Intelligent Traffic Signal Operations Committee
10](#intelligent-traffic-signal-operations-committee)

[New and Improved: ITS Deployment Statistics Web site
11](#new-and-improved-its-deployment-statistics-web-site)

[Proposing a National Pricing System: Delivering Transportation
Sustainability through ITS
11](#proposing-a-national-pricing-system-delivering-transportation-sustainability-through-its)

[SafeTrip-21 Brings Innovative Technologies to Improve Safety and
Mobility to the East Coast --
11](#safetrip-21-brings-innovative-technologies-to-improve-safety-and-mobility-to-the-east-coast)

[What the New President and Congress Should Know About Transportation
11](#what-the-new-president-and-congress-should-know-about-transportation)

[Getting Around Future Town 12](#getting-around-future-town)

*=====================================================*

## SPECIAL

### New FTA Bus Testing Website "Goes Live"

Marcel Belanger, Project Manager of the *FTA New Model Bus Testing
Program* has announced posting the content of the *new FTA Bus Testing
Website* on the FTA public Website. The goal of the new Website is to
consolidate all the information needed to understand, comply with, and
maximize the benefits from the FTA Bus Testing Program required under 49
CFR Part 665.  The new Bus Testing Website serves as a useful resource
for stakeholders interested in bus testing regulations, policies,
procedures, and related materials. 

FTA's *New Model Bus Testing Program* (often referred to as "Altoona Bus
Testing Program") is designed to promote production of better transit
vehicles and components and to ensure that transit customers purchase
safe vehicles able to withstand the rigors of transit service.  New
transit bus models are tested for safety, structural integrity and
durability, reliability, performance, maintainability, noise, and fuel
economy. FTA proposed additional tests for emissions and braking
performance in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published
September 30, 2008.  FTA is reviewing public comments received on the
NPRM and is preparing a final rule to add these tests to the Bus Testing
Program; the Bus Testing Website will be updated accordingly.   FTA
Contact \[Marcel.Belanger@dot.gov\]   URL
\[<http://www.fta.dot.gov/bustesting>\]

### Connecting Communities - New Emergency Preparedness Workshop, 01/13-14/09

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will conduct *Connecting
Communities Public Transportation Emergency Preparedness Workshop* on
January 13 - 14, 8:30am - 5:00pm, at Morris County Public Safety
Training Academy, 500 West Hanover Avenue, Parsippany, New Jersey. The
Workshop goal is to improve public agency interoperability during
incidents. The Workshop is designed to foster dialogue and planning
efforts between transit systems, emergency service agencies, and other
emergency management partners. Connecting Communities opens the line of
communication among agencies to ensure a streamlined, efficient response
to all levels of emergency. In addition, FTA will be conducting
*Connecting Communities Public Transportation Emergency Preparedness
Workshops* in 2009 at the following locations: Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL;
San Diego, CA; Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX; Mobile, AL; and Boulder, CO -
Dates TBD. More Online
\[<http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/training/ConnectingCommunities/EmergencyPreparedness.asp>\]

### Introducing Special Topics in Accessible Transportation (STAT)

*Easter Seals Project ACTION Hosts Free Audio Conference Series -*
Easter Seals Project ACTION announced a new program in its distance
learning series, *Special Topics in Accessible Transportation*. The
first event will occur **Jan. 22** and **29** on the use of ESPA\'s
product known as "Transportation by the Numbers." TBN was created for
human service agencies that provide transportation as a secondary
service. Apply before **Jan. 9**; space is limited. Easter Seals Project
ACTION is a congressionally created national technical assistance
program for Americans with disabilities, sponsored by the Federal
Transit Administration. Online
\[<http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ESPA_homepage>\]

## [[]{#__RefHeading___Toc218494940 .anchor}FEDERAL RESEARCH IN PROGRESS](#__RefHeading___Toc215996500) 

### Collision Safety Improvements for Light Rail Vehicles Operating in Shared Right of Way Street Environment

*Project No. FTA-CA-26-7007 Schedule: October 2008 -- October 2009*

The objective of this research project is to develop a novel segmented
bumper design with different energy absorbing characteristics for
frontal and corner impacts of light rail vehicles (LRVs).  This retrofit
design will also utilize an improved geometric profile making the
front-end less aggressive to automobiles and pedestrians and reduce the
LRV derailment potential in these impacts.  The research intent is to
develop an "active" bumper system, that can be retrofitted into existing
fleet of LRVs that will minimize injuries and fatalities resulting from
impacts with automobiles and pedestrians, but still prevent damage in
5-mph collisions between two LRVs.    

*Available Online:* TRB Research in Progress Database
\[<http://rip.trb.org/>\]

*Performer:* Applied Research Associates, Inc., Mountain View,
California 94043

*Contact:* Robert Bocchieri Phone: 650-625-8150 Fax: 650-625-8145

*FTA Project Monitor:* Roy Chen, TRI-20 Fax: 202.366.7595

*Email* \[Roy.Chen@dot.gov\]

### Six Sigma for Rail Transit Systems 

Project FTA-CT-26-7009 *Schedule: April 2008 -- April 2009*

The objective of this project is to support the efforts of New England
Professionals to improve rail transit systems by developing a Six Sigma
Methodology that can be applied to rail transit systems and can improve
capital and operating efficiencies.

*Available Online:* TRB Research in Progress Database
\[<http://rip.trb.org/>\]

*Performer:* New England Professionals, 329 Schraffts Drive, Suite G5,

Waterbury, CT 06704.

*Contac*t: Kenneth Cook Phone: 203-577-7144 Fax: 203-841-1084

*FTA Project Monitor:* Terrell Williams, TRI-20 Fax: 202.366.7595

*Email* \[Terrell.Williams@dot.gov\]

## [[]{#__RefHeading___Toc218494943 .anchor}FROM THE TRI RESEARCH CORNER](#__RefHeading___Toc215996503)

### Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Transportation Working Group

Walter Kulyk, Director of the FTA Office of Mobility Innovation
participated in a meeting of key members of the APEC Transportation
Working Group on December 15-17, 2008, in the Phillipines. The meeting
discussed new goals and objectives of the Working Group to be outlined
in an upcoming APEC meeting of Transportation Ministers in April 2009.
Contact \[Walter.Kulyk@dot.gov\]

### National 511 Deployment Coalition Working Group

December 16-17. Ronald Boenau, FTA Office of Research Management,
represented the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in the *Working
Group Meeting of the National 511 Deployment Coalition*. The Coalition
is comprised of public and private sector representatives from national
transportation organizations and it sets priorities for addressing the
legislative requirement of ensuring that a national interoperable 511
system is fully implemented throughout the United States by 2010. The
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has
been given the lead in coordinating and administering activities of the
Coalition and is now reaching out to the urban areas for deploying 511
systems. The U.S. Department of Transportation representation included
the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Research and
Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) in addition to FTA. Other
leading organization in the Coalition include the American Public
Transportation Association and ITS America. Contact
\[Ronald.Boenau@dot.gov\]

### Tour of Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Operations

November 20. A total of 23 FTA staff members traveled to Baltimore for a
public transportation operations tour of the MTA, which was organized
and led by Jarrett Stoltzfus, TRI Office of Technology. The tour
included briefings on MTA organization and functions, the MARC commuter
rail system, the Metro subway, bus operations and maintenance, and
engaging public participation in planning for an east-west corridor
known as the Red Line. Contact <Jarrett.Stoltzfus@dot.gov>.

### Transit Greenhouse Gas Compendium

During December, the FTA evaluation team reviewed and evaluated four
responsive applications for a discretionary project titled "Transit
Greenhouse Gas Management Compendium." This project will support
creation of a guidebook for transit agencies on strategies and best
practices to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. After the evaluation
results are summarized, a recommendation of the recipient of a
cooperative agreement to prepare the compendium will be forwarded to
Associate Administrator for approval. Contact \[Henry.Nejako@dot.gov\]

### U.S. - China Transportation Forum

December 3. Mr. Vincent Valdes, Associate Administrator for Research,
Demonstration and Innovation (TRI), participated in the *U.S. -- China
Transportation Forum* in Beijing, China. The Forum was a prelude to the
*U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue*, which convened on December 4-5
in Beijing and was led by U.S. Deputy Secretary Thomas Barrett. The
Transportation Forum is a leading effort to engage the United States and
China in developing a dialogue on various economic issues. Major focus
areas addressed included: 1) Efficient use of existing infrastructure
and importance of new technologies; 2) Infrastructure development and
innovative financing; and 3) Urban congestion. Mr. Valdes addressed the
Forum on urban congestion issues with remarks that built upon an
existing U.S. -- China Urban Mass Transportation Memorandum of
Cooperation and a subsequent "Next Steps" document that was discussed
between officials from FTA and the Chinese Ministry of Construction in
2007. Contact Ronald.Boenau@dot.gov.

**Subway Train Location Overlay System**

On December 22, Terrell Williams and application review panelists
completed the evaluation of 7 proposals received in response to a
request for applications in [www.grants.gov](http://www.grants.gov/) to
conduct a discretionary project titled "Subway Train Location Overlay
System."  This operational test and evaluation will determine the
proposed system's capability of providing reliable location of railcars
in a subway system with much greater precision than typical block
control systems.  The evaluation panel includes two experts from the
Volpe Center. Contact \[Terrell.Williams@dot.gov\]

## [[]{#__RefHeading___Toc218494949 .anchor}FEDERAL PUBLICATIONS](#__RefHeading___Toc215996508) 

### Public Roads - Gearing Up for SafeTrip-21 Partnership 

In the September -- October 2008 issue of *Public Roads*, the
Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation\'s Research and
Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) announced a new \$6.4
million *SafeTrip-21 Partnership with I-95 Corridor Coalition*. The
program will help the I-95 Corridor Coalition to continue testing
vehicle probes to provide travel time information along the East
Coast. After this information has been verified, commuters in selected
areas of the I-95 corridor will have the potential to make more informed
travel decisions.Read Online
\[[http://www.i95coalition.net/i95/](http://app.bronto.com/public/?q=ulink&fn=Link&ssid=458&id=4dt3665ji7ehgwsb6vbxjw1ygiec0&id2=5iac5861le4ifhblgh64g8rpkji4l)\]

### Regional Transportation Systems Management and Operations; Managed Lanes 2008 

*Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research
Board, No. 2065* includes 8 papers that explores a new active traffic
management approach for metropolitan freeways; an innovative approach to
statewide sketch planning for traffic operations in Wisconsin;
intermediate access to buffer-separated managed lanes; and dual-system
urban interchange design.  This issue of the TRR also examines
high-occupancy toll lanes and public transportation; automated vehicle
occupancy verification systems; reduction in effective capacities of
high-occupancy vehicle lanes related to traffic behavior; and a
feedback-based dynamic tolling algorithm for high-occupancy toll lane
operations. Online
\[<http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9794>\]

**Transit Systems in College and University Communities, TCRP Synthesis
78**

This research was sponsored by the FTA and conducted in the Transit
Cooperative Research Program (TCRP), which is administered by the
Transportation Research Board of the National Academies.

*TCRP Synthesis 78* is an update of TCRP Synthesis 39, published in
2001. The 2001 report, *Transportation on College and University
Campuses*, surveyed 30 campus communities, offering information on the
planning, implementation, and operation of campus transit systems. This
2008 synthesis broadens the scope of the subject---from a campus-based
focus to a community-based focus in which schools are located. The study
includes both local and regional transportation systems serving college
and university campuses. This report inquires into the *current state of
the practice with focused case studies*. It presents information about
practices and trends in the areas of transit operations, and campus
policies and planning, with a special focus area in technology and
environmental innovations. The report is based on information obtained
from a literature review and surveys of transit providers serving
college and university communities, along with responses received from a
variety of schools, local transit systems, and government agencies. More
Online \[<http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_browse.asp?id=6>\]

### 

### Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2067, Societal and Economic Factors

### This Transportation Research Record (TRR) article, *Comparing Rail Transit Capitalization Benefits for Single Family and Condominium Units in San Diego, California* analyzes and compares the effects that rail transit stations have on values of condominiums and single-family homes in San Diego, California. It is hypothesized that households on the market for a condominium will value proximity to rail stations more than those on the market for a single-family home will and therefore the capitalization benefits are greater for condominiums. Read more Online \[[**http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9856**](http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9856)\]

### Uses of Fees or Alternatives to Fund Transit

*TRB\'s Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Legal Research
Digest 28: Uses of Fees or Alternatives to Fund Transit* explores the
use of impact fees for transit in the United States. The report examines
policy and legal considerations relating to the use of impact fees and
developer exactions for transit, reviews various methodologies currently
in use, and identifies cases that exemplify strategies transit agencies
may pursue when considering impact fees as an alternative funding
source. The report will be of interest to state and local transportation
officials, planners, and policy makers, and professionals who may
consider this potentially valuable alternative funding source. Online
\[<http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_lrd_28.pdf>\]

### Value Pricing Pilot Program: Lessons Learned

*Lessons Learned* provides a summary of projects sponsored by FHWA\'s
Congestion and Value Pricing Pilot Programs from 1991 through 2006 and
draws lessons from a sample of projects with the most relevant
experience across selected project categories. Since the inception of
the Congestion Pricing Pilot Program in 1991, over 50 pricing projects
have been federally funded. Operational projects are providing important
findings regarding traffic and congestion impacts, transportation
funding issues, public acceptability, administrative matters and future
prospects for addressing congestion using various pricing strategies. In
addition, useful information and valuable lessons have been provided by
project feasibility studies and by pricing projects that did not
progress to implementation or exhibited unexpected outcomes. Online
\[<http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop08023/index.htm>\]

### Washington State Ferries Wireless Connection High Speed Data Project

The Washington State Ferries (WSF), in cooperation with the Washington
State Department of Transportation, is installing high speed network
infrastructure (known as Super LAN) onboard WSF system to improve ferry
security and system monitoring. This system provides the backbone for
video and security monitoring that feeds live video in real-time to the
WSF monitoring center located onshore. This research and demonstration
project, sponsored by FTA, explores the feasibility of providing
technologies capable of high data transmission rates for wireless
networks in a mobile marine environment; as well as formulating a Proof
of Concept (POC) system and developing, testing and rolling out a
prototype system to a single WSF vessel. Report Number:
FTA-WA-26-7006-2008.02. More Online
\[<http://www.fta.dot.gov/research>\]

## INTERNATIONAL 

### 2009 International Conference on Fatigue Management in Transportation Operations: A Framework for Progress 

*The 2009 International Conference on Fatigue Management in
Transportation Operations: A Framework for Progress* will be held at the
Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, March 24-26,
2009.

The conference is organized and hosted by the U.S. Department of
Transportations Human Factors Coordinating Committee under its Operator
Fatigue Management Program. The conference is designed to address the
interests of researchers, practitioners, managers, labor organizations
and operators involved in all modes of transportation from around the
world. This meeting is a continuation of the Fatigue in Transportation
Conference series that took place in Seattle, Washington in 2005 More
Online
\[<http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/Training/2009FatigueManagement.asp>

### Rail Safety and Standards Board Research and Development E-Newsletter: November 2008

The U.K. Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has released the latest
issue of its monthly electronic newsletter that provides information on
current projects as well as access to completed research. RSSB manages a
program of research and development on behalf of government and the
railway industry. The program is funded by the Department for Transport
and is designed to assist the industry and its stakeholders in improving
performance (in terms of health and safety, reliability, and
punctuality), increasing capacity and availability, reducing cost, and
delivering a sustainable future for the railway.
\[<http://www.rssb.co.uk/newsletter/issues/newsletter49.htm>\]

### UNECE Transport Review, First Edition --November 2008

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Transport
Division is introducing its first edition of an electronic publication
on transport entitled---**UNECE Transport Review.** The Review will be
issued 3 times a year and will address various topics related to
transport and the work of UNECE. This first issue of the Review is
dedicated to the global issue of *Road Safety*. The topic road safety is
explored via three main sections:

1.  Taking stock, with articles on road infrastructure, vehicle
    regulations, modern technologies in traffic signs and signals, etc;

2.  Road Safety Partnerships, with experiences shared by the World
    Health Organization, European Commission, International Transport
    Forum, World Bank, FIA Foundation and the Global Road Safety
    Partnership; and

3.  Regional and National Case Studies with overviews from Europe, the
    Americas, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

UNECE is dedicated to reduce traffic accidents. UNECE is the oldest
international organization that collects and publishes data on road
traffic accidents in a systematic way. More Online at URL
\[<http://www.unece.org/trans/doc/2008/UNECE-Transport-Review-1-2008.pdf>\]

### Lessons Learned from International Experience in Congestion Pricing

To further understanding of international pricing, \"Lessons Learned
from International Experience in Congestion Pricing\" provides a summary
of selected operational areawide congestion pricing projects outside the
U.S. The report draws lessons from a sample of projects with the most
relevant experience, focusing on three comprehensive area wide projects:
Singapore, London and Stockholm. Each received in depth attention during
planning, design, implementation and operational phases and have been
monitored and evaluated carefully. These projects should be of
particular interest now that several U.S. cities are beginning to
examine similar areawide pricing strategies to address congestion,
environmental, energy and funding problems in heavily congested downtown
areas. Online
\[<http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=486>\]

### World Exposition Shanghai China 2010

*Better City, Better Life* is the theme of World Expo Shanghai China
2010.

Expo 2010 Shanghai China will last for six months. The opening date will
be May 1st, 2010, and the closing date will be October 31st, 2010. The
year 2010 will mark the 32nd year of China's reform and opening-up as
well as the 20th anniversary of the opening-up and development of the
Pudong Area of Shanghai. A series of grand ceremonies and celebrations
will be held to mark the occasion. More Online
\[<http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/print/6981>\]

## [[]{#__RefHeading___Toc218494963 .anchor}RESEARCH NEWS & RESOURCES](#__RefHeading___Toc215996525) 

### *New -* Climate Change Activities at the Transportation Research Board 

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) has developed a Website designed
to serve as a gateway to information on TRB activities and products that
address transportation and climate change.  In addition to information
on TRB's projects, activities, and publications in these areas, the
Website also links to transportation and climate change information
produced by other organizations that have been highlighted in past
issues of the TRB E-Newsletter. Access TRB's Climate Change Website at
\[[http://TRB.org/ClimateChange](http://trb.org/ClimateChange)\]

*Contact:* Barbara Post, Manager, Information Services at Transportation
Research Board

Phone:  (202) 334-2990 E-Mail:\[bpost@nas.edu\]

### 1105 Government Information Group

1105 Government Information Group is the leading provider of integrated
information and media for the government information technology market.
The Group's in-depth platform of print, online, event, custom media and
research products not only provides a comprehensive, 360° view of the
government IT market --- it also offers 360° access to the government
and channel decision-makers driving that market. More Online
\[<http://www.1105govinfo.com/>\]

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc218494966 .anchor}**Beyond the Gas Tax: A
Symposium on Funding Future Transportation Needs - Forum Proceedings**\
The New York State Department of Transportation has released a report
that summarizes the proceedings of a half-day conference held in
Syracuse, NY, October 7, 2008. Conference participants discussed the
status of federal and state transportation funding as well as ways to
finance future transportation infrastructure projects. The conference,
*Beyond the Gas Tax: A Symposium on Funding Future Transportation
Needs,* was attended by nearly 200 individuals from around New York
State. New York's transportation infrastructure was identified as the
fundamental problem. The infrastructure is in need of serious investment
to bring it up to a State of Good Repair, and to move beyond this to
modernize and expand the system to compete in the 21st century. However,
the revenue streams on which it has historically depended, namely fuel
taxes, are insufficient to address today's challenge. More Online
100-page pdf:

\[[https://www.nysdot.gov/conferences/gastax/repository/Composite%20final.pdf](https://www.nysdot.gov/conferences/gastax/repository/Composite final.pdf)\]

### Digital Divide in the Era of Social Networking

What is meant by *digital inclusion* today? In the last century the
emphasis was on getting people connected to the internet. The cry was
\"*bridge the digital* *divide.\"* Today connectivity has increased and
the UK Government is looking beyond the technology to the social
implications, namely---the [Digital Challenge and Inclusion
Network](http://www.digitalchallenge.gov.uk/), where the *UK Government
is offering an award of several million pounds*, *matched by industry*,
to the public sector partnership that will best contribute to the vision
set out last year:

*To create a country at ease in the digital world.*

> *Where all have the confidence to access the new services that are
> emerging, whether delivered by computer, mobile phone, digital
> television or any other device. To work towards achieving equitable
> access and remove the barriers to take up*..."

More Online
\[<http://www.designingforcivilsociety.org/2006/11/digital_divide_.html>\]

### Engineering New Traffic Patterns, and New Lingo For Them

Today's traffic engineers spend much of their time getting people to
slow down---and along the way they have developed a new "LINGO." This
article addresses traffic on residential streets, and the devices and
terms used by engineers to control car speeds via

**traffic-calming devices,** such as the **speed bump**. But today one
is more likely to drive over a lower and wider speed hump or the even
wider speed table---often referred to as **sleeping policemen**. This
article's focus is on the new traffic patterns and the new terms
developed for these traffic-calming technologies. They include the
**neckdown/bulbout** which is a curb that extends into the street on
both sides of an intersection; narrowing the intersection forces cars to
slow down. Other devices that force motorists to slow down include the
**mobile speed bump---**which is a car that travels at the speed limit
to force the cars behind to do the same. New Delhi drivers are often
forced to slow down thanks to a natural traffic-calming device---the
occasional cow lounging in the middle of the road." More Online
\[<http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/print/6981>\]

### Key Issues in Transportation Programming

*TRB Conference Proceedings 43: Key Issues in Transportation
Programming* summarizes plenary and breakout sessions of a November 2006
conference that explored the current state of the practice and long-term
implementation experience associated with the programming process,
successful practices in linking planning and programming, and the
linking of programming processes to the development of performance
measures and asset management systems.  The conference also examined
programming and politics, data requirements and data manageability, and
effective approaches to public involvement for programming.
[\[More\]](http://click.newsletters.nas.edu/?ju=fe551174706c00747315&ls=fdf217707c62007e73107974&m=fefb1276756206&l=fe8d15727d6d037c73&s=fe1d177870600d7f721375&jb=ffcf14&t=)

### Illinois Gov to Transit Agencies: Hike Fares, I\'ll Freeze Pay 

The Chicago Sun-Times. Memo to Chicago area public transit executives:
*If you want to increase riders\' fares, Governor Blagojevich wants to
freeze your salaries.* Blagojevich is crafting a plan that, if approved
by the General Assembly, would force transit agencies that increase
fares in 2009 or 2010 to hold the line on pay for all nonunion employees
for those same years. If the boards that govern those agencies don\'t do
that, the state would bar fare increases from taking effect. The
governor\'s proposal is a response to the CTA and Pace forging ahead
with January 1 fare increases. Blagojevich maintains that agencies
should be able to keep fares the same because they\'re getting hundreds
of millions of new dollars annually through a transit bailout that
raised sales
[taxes](http://www.masstransitmag.com/publication/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=7494#%23)
in Cook and Collar counties this year.

Online
\[<http://www.masstransitmag.com/publication/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=7494>\]

### Intelligent Traffic Signal Operations Committee

The Intelligent Traffic Signal Operations Committee was established
under the Management and Operations/ITS Council of the Institute of
Transportation Engineers (ITE) in October 2005. Motivated by the
findings of the [National Traffic Signal Report
Card](http://www.ite.org/reportcard/default.asp), the committee's goal
is to save practitioners' time and effort in researching strategies to
resolve problems related to traffic signal systems. More Online
\[<http://www.ite.org/councils/ITSOcommittee/default.asp>\]

### New and Improved: ITS Deployment Statistics Web site

December 3, 2008. The Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
Deployment Statistics Website has been updated with the latest survey
results.  Now in its 11th year, the ITS Deployment Tracking effort
surveys practitioners from across the country to measure progress in the
deployment of ITS. The Website can be a useful tool for state and local
officials to help with regional ITS planning, as well as for vendors
looking to size up the public sector market. Users can now compare
survey results across four years, from 2004 to 2007, to track deployment
trends. The ITS Deployment Statistics Website can answer the following
questions and many more: What ITS technologies are cities and states
adopting? What ITS technologies are lagging behind?  Online
\[[http://www.itsdeployment.its.dot.gov](http://app.bronto.com/public/?q=ulink&fn=Link&ssid=458&id=4dt3665ji7ehgwsb6vbxjw1ygiec0&id2=8zkma2egd74uys3fq9dj84v7cogrl)\]

### Proposing a National Pricing System: Delivering Transportation Sustainability through ITS

December 17, 2008 (NTOC). At the *2008 ITS World Congress* in New York
City, a special session on congestion pricing and urban mobility
highlighted the role intelligent transportation systems (ITS)
applications could play in creating a new revenue system that redefines
transportation funding policies and is not dependent on the amount of
gasoline American drivers consume. At the same time, this new system
could pave the way for implementing technology that would address the
other issues the surface transportation industry faces, such as
congestion and mobility. To read the complete article, click on this
link
\[[http://www.ntoctalks.com/articles/nationalpricing.php](http://app.bronto.com/public/?q=ulink&fn=Link&ssid=458&id=03go91rjht94rq8k9osgf4n01089o&id2=ilp741acnc90c412g1z7bukslpvvd)\]

### SafeTrip-21 Brings Innovative Technologies to Improve Safety and Mobility to the East Coast --

*U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Announced a Partnership with
I-95 Corridor Coalition.* RITA (Research and Innovative Technology
Administration) is promoting technology solutions for improving
transportation safety and reducing congestion through a newly launched
ITS initiative, **SafeTrip-21** (Safe and Efficient Travel through
Innovation and Partnerships for the 21^st^ century). *SafeTrip-21* is a
near term component of the USDOT/RITA Vehicle Infrastructure Integration
Program (VII), which explores the application of ITS technologies that
transfer information on traffic and travel options to and from vehicles
to reduce congestion and increase safety, mobility, efficiency, and
convenience. More Online
\[<http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/08sep/index.htm>\]

### What the New President and Congress Should Know About Transportation

Opportunity: December 3, 2008 (AASHTO)

Read the comments of others and/or post your own at
\[[http://www.itoldthepresident.org/](http://app.bronto.com/public/?q=ulink&fn=Link&ssid=458&id=4dt3665ji7ehgwsb6vbxjw1ygiec0&id2=4z1jvnno8kulv5b2b3zs0xa6qv5l2)\]
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) has launched a new campaign that will give travelers an
opportunity to share their views on *What the New President and Congress
Should Know About Transportation*. Continuing through the Inauguration,
the traveling public is urged to go to
\[[http://www.itoldthepresident.org/](http://app.bronto.com/public/?q=ulink&fn=Link&ssid=458&id=4dt3665ji7ehgwsb6vbxjw1ygiec0&id2=ho7p107ipzwy6fpv9wenm1tyuzh7a)\]
and post comments and videos about their transportation concerns.

**511 System in Pennsylvania Will Provide Critical State-Wide Traveler
Information to Commuters**

Spain, December 17, 2008.  Telvent, an IT company, has been selected by
the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to implement the
*new 511 Pennsylvania service*. The project\'s objective is to design,
build, implement, operate, host and maintain a state-wide traveler
information service entitled *\"511 Pennsylvania*\" that not only meets
PennDOT\'s short-term goals, but also provides a basis on which
additional functionality can be added to address long-term goals and
future needs.

Telvent will serve as the prime contractor and is teaming with Verizon,
INRIX, Telecom Horizon Partners, Jacobs Engineering Group, E-Squared
Engineering, Wolfe Doyle Advertising, ASTI Transportation Systems, Inc.,
and SAVVIS. The contract will last approximately 3 years and is valued
at more than eight million euros.

 

By summer 2009, 511 Pennsylvania will: 1) Provide timely and accurate
traveler information to customers at no cost to them; 2) Be accessible
to customers by both telephone and the Internet; 3) Proactively alert
customers of traffic issues through e-mail and text message alerts; and
more. After summer 2009, the system will be expanded to provide
**greater access to transit** and air travel content in metropolitan
areas throughout the state, and more. *511 Pennsylvania* will relay
travel, inter-modal and weather information to all commuters via the
internet and the free 511 telephone service. All commuters will be able
to access this information freely and easily. This increased stream of
information and knowledge to drivers will reduce accidents and
congestion while increasing safety and mobility in Pennsylvania. Online
\[[http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Telvent-Wins-Contract-Implement-511/story.aspx?guid=%7BD2102D02-3006-4CA5-9DA4-B315A2CD79AC%7D](http://app.bronto.com/public/?q=ulink&fn=Link&ssid=458&id=03go91rjht94rq8k9osgf4n01089o&id2=d6sueoia0m26cvzltuftroem828jl)\]

### Getting Around Future Town

Joann Muller, 11.27.08, 06:00 PM EST . *Forbes Magazine dated December
22, 2008*

Bustling cities will have to rely on shared-vehicle ideas and clean mass
transit to avoid severe congestion and pollution.
\[<http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/1222/042a.html>\]

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