News

Belgian company Alfen has won a tender to supply the European Commission offices in Brussels with charging equipment for electric vehicles (EVs). Alfen will also provide its online management tool for real-time insights into charging behaviour and remote control of the chargers. The roll-out of the first phase of 60 chargers is taking place in September 2017.

The US Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have released new federal guidance for Automated Driving Systems (ADS): A Vision for Safety 2.0. The new Voluntary Guidance focuses on levels 3, 4 and 5 automated driving systems (ADS).

Traffic Technology Services (TTS) and Siemens USA are to partner on providing services for connected and autonomous vehicle operations near signalised intersections, with the aim of providing automotive, truck, transit OEMs, after-market device manufacturers and navigation service providers with greater access to data for connected vehicle applications. Beginning this month, select Siemens TACTICS ATMS systems, an advanced traffic control hardware and software platform

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has been awarded a US$47.5 million (£36 million) contract extension to its existing Managing Agent Contract for the M1-A1 Link Road in the UK on behalf of Connect Roads, for ultimate customer Highways England.

Dirk Van de Meerssche, sales and marketing director of intelligent transport systems and tolling for Cubic Transportation Systems Asia Pacific has been appointed to the board of directors at iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) in Australia. The CRC aims to reduce the growing pressure on Australia’s transport systems by developing future technologies for smart transportation and mobility.

FairFuelUK (FFUK) has launched a crowd funding campaign to raise money to challenge London mayor Sidiq Khan’s T-Charge on drivers on older diesel and petrol vehicles. It is also calling for the UK government to set up an independent public inquiry to investigate alternative solutions for improving air quality in UK cities.

A new long-term contract to maintain traffic management equipment throughout Northern Ireland (NI) for a minimum period of four years has been awarded to Siemens by the Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland. With traffic signal equipment at more than 1,200 sites, 950 Safer Routes to School signs, as well as a network of ANPR cameras and other vehicle activated signs and rising bollards, the contract represents one of the largest of its kind placed with Siemens as the main contractor.

A partnership between Keolis, Navya, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, ENGIE, Here East and Our Parklife is offering Londoners the opportunity to trial a new autonomous electric shuttle, open to the public in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park during September. The Navya shuttle is being trialled by transport group Keolis to showcase how autonomous vehicles could transform integrated public transport and offers people a chance to experience this innovative technology for themselves.

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association's (IBTTA) has announced the election of the association’s president and second vice-president, who will both take office in January 2018. Tim Stewart, executive director of Colorado’s E-470 Public Highway Authority has been elected as the association’s incoming president. He has served as a member of the association’s Executive Committee for the past two years and on the Board of Directors for four years.

The 14th Technology Days (Teknologidagene) organised by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration take place in Trondheim on 23-27 October, with two full days devoted to a major Norwegian project - Coastal Highway Route E39. The project aims to improve the roads and remove the seven ferry connections on the E39 between Kristiansand and Trondheim, making it possible to drive the entire distance without interruptions. In order to achieve this, work to replace all ferry connections with bridges and tunnels

German internet of things (IoT) provider Kathrein has agreed a global collaboration on electronic vehicle identification with Tönnjes EAST, a German licence plate manufacturer. Both companies have been working together on the development of new technologies using Kathrein’s expertise in RFID technology combined with Tönnjes EAST’s experience in the integration of transponders into vehicle licence plates or windscreens. Their joint portfolio includes Kathrein’s latest RFID reader, the RRU4500, which h

Ohmio Automotion has launched in New Zealand to begin production of self-driving vehicles in the country, using technology developed by Australian parent company HMI Technologies. The electric Ohmio Hop shuttles are self-driving, fully electric autonomous vehicles which Ohmio says can form a connected convoy, enabling them to be used as a scalable public transport solution. They have been designed to be a last mile solution, carrying people and their luggage short distances, providing the last mile conn

Wireless infrastructure provider American Tower Corporation has formed an alliance with Philips Lighting to co-develop a high performance smart street lighting pole for smart city applications in the US. The companies are developing a 4G/5G-enabled LED smart light pole for use in roads, streets and parking lots to improve wireless broadband access in dense urban areas while also providing quality energy-efficient connected LED lighting.

Kapsch TrafficCom has appointed JB Kendrick to its North American sales & business development team in the role of senior vice president. JB will provide strategic and operational leadership to the Sales & Business Development, Bid Management & Proposal and Project Estimation teams in order to generate new business and growth for the entire Kapsch solution portfolio in North America. Kendrick joins Kapsch with over 20 years of experience in successfully leading sales, business development and other cust

The first major survey of motorists’ attitudes to self-driving vehicles is now underway in Victoria, Australia on the privately-owned Eastlink freeway, a north-south transport artery in the east of Melbourne. Self-driving vehicle technologies such as highway autopilot are increasingly offered by the latest production vehicles in Australia. Further advances will continue to occur, with hands-off-the-wheel driving on EastLink and other suitable freeways expected within the next few years, subject to legisl