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Swarco Traffic has installed a new parking guidance system at one of Northern Ireland’s premier shopping centres, Abbey Centre, Belfast. A combination of seven variable message signs (VMS) and seven car parking count sensors were commissioned and installed as part of the contract. The technologies combine to alert visitors to where spaces are available, helping to reduce congestion and improve convenience. Abbey Centre attracts some 115,000 visitors every week, and provides 1,265 free car parking spaces. Th

The growing demand for road safety and efficient mobility is driving the adoption of cooperative intelligent transportation solutions (C-ITS) and a key enabler of C-ITS is Vehicle-to-X (V2X) communication, says Frost & Sullivan. It supports the exchange of information between vehicles, infrastructure and other road users, such as pedestrians. Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication is enabled using 802.11p (DSRC or ITS-G5) or cellular technology. 802.11p is a proven technology; however, it is not future proo

Pupils from Salisbury Primary School in Darlaston, West Midlands, UK, recently took part in a Community Speedwatch initiative with West Midlands Police, using a Speedwatch system supplied by UK company Traffic Technology. Under police supervision, the children were given the opportunity to read the data obtained by the Speedwatch device and relay it to the rest of the group, which transferred the information on vehicle type, colour, registration and speed to a specially-produced form. The children then used

The New Zealand Government is to invest US$6.4 billion (NZ$9.17 billion) into New Zealand’s state highway network over the next four years through the New Zealand Transport Agency, Transport Minister Simon Bridges says. The government’s 2017 budget includes funding for the reinstatement of damaged sections of State Highway 1 between Picton and Christchurch following the Kaikōura earthquakes. It also includes many other key projects such as completion of Auckland’s ring road, Northern and Southern Corridor S

The Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, has awarded two contracts to increase capacity on the automated Lausanne metro. The project also includes the construction of a third line. The network is struggling to support growing passenger numbers and the city of Lausanne has launched the Strong Public Transport Axes project to increase capacity on the existing 6km line m2 and construct the new 4km m3 line, including seven stations. The SyMeo consortium, comprising Egis and BG Ingénieurs Conseils, will be responsible f

German transport provider Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV), which launched the Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) mobile ticketing app in 2010, has now sold 10 million tickets through the app. Cubic has operated the mobile ticketing system for RMV since launch and continues to work with its customer to incorporate new features. RMV provides bus and train services for an annual passenger count of 727 million. According to Professor Knut Ringat, managing director of RMV, its mobile ticketing is the most succe

From devising driver monitoring systems to mapping services and driver safety data on the go, start-ups are rapidly emerging in every technological vertical in the automotive space, say Frost & Sullivan researchers. Over 1,700 start-ups are focusing on developing technologies that enable electrification, autonomous cars and mobility solutions to reduce the cost of ownership and enhance user experience. Meanwhile, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) start-up initiatives such as BMW Start-up Garage, the JLR

UK-based start-up WhereIsMyTransport has been announced as the winner of the 2017 Promising Transport Innovation Award, offered annually by the International Transport Forum. Launched in August 2016, WhereIsMyTransport is an open digital platform that provides information on formally and informally run transport services in emerging cities. The platform supports 20 cities in 10 countries across Africa and the Middle East in providing better information about mobility. Among the cities supported by the platf

According to Conduent’s Customer Experience of Urban Travel report that details findings from a survey conducted in 23 cities in 15 countries, although improved infrastructure plays a critical role in reshaping mobility in today’s cities, the biggest factor in improving urban travel is changing human behaviour. Researchers found that transportation selection is based on habit rather than rational choice, noting that respondents around the globe chose driving their own car over other modes of transport for r

French driverless shuttle developer Navya has signed a partnership agreement with the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) in Australia to coordinate the on-site commissioning of its Navya Arma, as well as provide a range of technical support services in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. RAC, with the support of the State Government, launched the Navya Arma Intellibus shuttle trial in South Perth in August 2016. This new partnership will enable Navya to test its innovative technology in new environments th

The winners of the 2017 Intertraffic Istanbul Awards, which are judged on a range of criteria, including significant technical improvement, effective support for traffic management and ease of application, among others, have just been announced. The Municipality Award goes to Turkish company ISSD Bilisim for its development of the Chaos dynamic intersection control system. Belgian company Nedap has won the Smart Parking Solutions Award for its wireless parking sensor system Sensit, which is installed in Izm

The White House has released President Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget, including a US$200 billion investment in infrastructure projects over the next 10 years with a focus on leveraging the power of public private partnerships. The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) has responded, saying the government should repeal the burden of regulation and give states maximum flexibility to use financing tools to meet their local needs. 35 states and territories throughout the country have u

Dominance in the global transportation management systems (TMS) market lies with a few companies, despite which the market exhibits considerable opportunities for emerging players, according to a new report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). Currently, companies such as SAP SE, Oracle Corporation, Descartes Systems Group, JDA Software Group, and Manhattan Association hold dominance in the global transportation management system market, says the study. The report also identifies companies such as BluJa

Research by connected car services and location analytics provider Inrix indicates that consumers are more likely to trust a traditional car maker than a leading technology company when it comes to making autonomous vehicles (AVs).

The Texas House has unanimously passed a bill that caps total toll fines at US$73 every six months for any given customer, according to the Austin–American Statesman.