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emovis launches automated reversible AET toll gantry
July 25, 2017
Toll operator emovis has announced the launch of ‘the first reversible all electronic tolling system’, which is in use along Puerto Rico’s PR-22 highway. The two central lanes of the 10-lane wide mono-gantry can operate in either traffic direction without any human intervention. The gantry automatically detects the traffic direction and reconfigures the AET system accordingly. The system allows road operators to add an extra traffic lane in what is virtually real time while traffic continues to flow uninter
Severn tolls will be abolished by the end of next year
July 24, 2017

Drivers will see an end to tolls on the UK’s Severn Crossings in 2018; the bridges are used by more than 25 million vehicles each year, saving significant travel time and distance for commuters and drivers using the M4 motorway.

However, the tolls on both Severn Crossings have been seen as an economic and symbolic barrier to Wales’ future prosperity.

It is estimated that this announcement would boost the economy of South Wales by around US$130 million (£100 million) a year and the average motorist could save over US$1,800 (£1,400) per year.

Award for public transportation emergency management research project
July 24, 2017
An inter-disciplinary research project, InREAKT, carried out by Init, VBK and other partners and led by the Research Association for Tunnels and Transport Facilities, Studiengesellschaft für Tunnel und Verkehrsanlagen (STUVA) has been presented with a German Mobility award by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). The research team developed an IT-based system which automatically recognises emergency situations in a public transport environment and initiates measures to
Boost for EV charging in Canada
July 24, 2017
Canada's electric vehicle industry is about to receive a major boost with the announcement of an agreement between eCAMION, based in Toronto, Dallas-based Leclanché North America, part of Switzerland's Leclanché and SGEM based in Geneva, to develop and install a network of 34 fast-charging stations along the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH). The project, designed to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Canada, is being partially funded Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) under the Canadian Energy Inn
Drones to be registered and users to sit safety tests under new government rules
July 24, 2017
Drones will have to be registered and users will have to sit safety awareness tests under new rules to better regulate their growing use, the UK government has announced. Owners of drones weighing 250 grams and over will in future have to register details of their drones, either online or through apps, to improve accountability and encourage owners to act responsibly. The move follows safety research that concluded drones could damage the windscreens of helicopters. In addition, a new drone safety awareness
EastLink receives special commendation from ADVI
July 24, 2017
One of Australia’s largest tollways, EastLink in Victoria, has received a Special Commendation from the Australia & New Zealand Driverless Vehicle Initiative (ADVI), for the trials of automated vehicle technologies underway on EastLink. The trials are being undertaken by EastLink in partnership with VicRoads, ARRB, La Trobe University and RACV, with the assistance of major vehicle manufacturers, including BMW, Honda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi and Volvo. The most recent technology demonstration involved the new T
Continued focus on industry improvement required to ensure ongoing safety of Britain’s railways
July 21, 2017
The UK Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has published its Annual Report on Railway Health and Safety performance which shows passengers on the mainline railway continued to be assured of a safe journey on Britain’s railways. However, ORR identifies challenges which must be carefully managed if passengers and workers are to continue to be protected. On the mainline railway, there were several significant structural and earthwork failures, any of which could have resulted in potentially serious train accidents.
Highways England is performing well but has areas for improvement, finds regulator
July 21, 2017
The Annual Assessment of Highways England’s Performance by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has found that the company is performing well against most of its performance targets. ORR says however that continued improvement is needed to plan when work takes place throughout the year. ORR, which is the official Monitor of Highways England, found that the company is meeting its targets to keep traffic flowing while delivering its programme of major improvements. It is continuing to focus on improving safety a
Call for papers, design awards competition: 55th International Making Cities Liveable Conference
July 21, 2017
The International Making Cities Liveable Conference on Healthy, 10-Minute Neighbourhoods which takes place at The Shaw Center in Ottawa, Canada, from 14-18 May 2018 has issued a call for papers. The conference aims to share achievements and learn from others how to best promote healthy, sustainable, equitable 10-minute neighbourhoods. It will discuss the best neighbourhood models for encouraging walking, biking and public transit, high-density human scale mixed use, places to foster daily social life and co
Parking terminals upgraded across Waveney and East Suffolk Districts
July 21, 2017
The east Suffolk district councils of Suffolk Coastal and Waveney in the UK have brought forward a scheduled replacement of their parking terminal estates to ensure that local people are able to use the new £1 coin to pay for parking. A total of 115 Parkeon Strada Rapide terminals, comprising a mix of solar powered and mains operated machines, have been installed in towns across the districts, including Lowestoft, Beccles, Bungay, Felixstowe, Framlington and Aldeburgh. All of the new terminals are linked to
Affordable e-motorbike launches in UK
July 21, 2017
A new zero-emission, crowd funded electric motorbike has officially launched in the UK and its developers expect it to reinvent British urban mobility. The Super Soco has been specifically developed to revitalise urban mobility and commuting while reducing emissions and noise pollution. The new e-motorbikes, designed and manufactured in China, are the result of a joint venture between Australian electric scooter company V-Moto and a US$15 million Chinese crowd funded project. The bikes combine the latest
Introducing the IRD SAW III portable dynamic scale system
July 21, 2017
International Road Dynamics’ (IRD) durable IRD SAW III portable wheel load weigher is now available for dynamic weighing; its user-friendly software enables users to efficiently pre-select overloaded trucks. Two IRD SAW scales are paired and connected to a PC via Bluetooth. When a vehicle drives over the scales at slow speed, the weighing result, wheel/axle weights and gross vehicle weight, is displayed on the screen. For weight enforcement with the highest accuracy the system can be switched to static oper
Cycle safety improvements coming for Dunedin, New Zealand
July 21, 2017
Work is set to start next month on a cycleway through central Dunedin, New Zealand, that aims to improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and all road users. Fulton Hogan has been awarded a (US$6 million (NZ$8 million) contract to build new cycle lanes on the north and southbound streets of the State Highway 1 one-way system between the Dunedin Botanical Gardens and Queens Gardens. The work involves replacement of the existing painted cycle lanes, which sit directly next to busy traffic lanes and placing ne
New York City sees reduction in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities
July 21, 2017
New York City has ended the first six months of 2017 with the fewest traffic fatalities ever measured, according to figures released by Mayor Bill de Blasio. Under the Vision Zero program, as of 30 June, the city had recorded 93 fatalities, the first time ever that fewer than 100 lives had been lost in such a period. The full fiscal year ending 30 June recorded 210 fatalities, 31 fewer than the prior fiscal year. The reductions come as the City is increasing traffic enforcement against dangerous violations
TranSmart Technologies acquires Chicago-based EJM Engineering
July 20, 2017
In a move that will result in one of the largest women- and minority-owned engineering firms in the Chicago region, transportation engineering TranSmart Technologies has announced its acquisition of Chicago-based EJM Engineering, a company specialising in planning, design, construction engineering and program management of infrastructure projects. TranSmart’s acquisition of EJM represents a synergistic integration of two highly successful women-owned companies, one founded on traditional transportation and