News

West Yorkshire Combined Authority has secured UAS$2.4 million (£1.9 million) of UK Government funding to support an increase in ultra-low emission electric taxi and private hire operation on local roads. Eighty-eight dedicated taxi and private hire charge points will be installed at key public transport and taxi operation sites across West Yorkshire, thanks to the Combined Authority’s successful bid to the Office for Low Emission Vehicle’s Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) Taxi Scheme. Several major

Toyota Motor Corporation and the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) have agreed to work together on connected car technology, combining their knowledge and expertise in automotive and information and communication technology (ICT) research and development. Their aim is to address a range of issues, including traffic accidents, congestion and the delivery of new mobility services, to help realise a future worldwide Smart Mobility Society. A field trial is planned for 2018 to assess the feasi

Q-Free has appointed Fredrik Nordh, currently senior vice president, head of Nordic Collection Solutions for Tomra Systems, as senior vice president Europe, effective September 2017. Q-Free will also reorganise its regional structure from 2018; its activities in North America, Chile and Brazil will become the new America region under Morten Andersson, which the new Europe region under Nordh’s leadership will consist of all European and Nordic markets. The APMEA region will remain under the control of Pe

Motorcyclist safety along eight high-risk routes in regional Victoria, Australia is to be boosted as part of a package of road safety improvements. The Motorcycle Safety Levy-funded upgrade work includes the installation of new rub-rail protective barriers, sealing driveways and roads, better surfaces, signage and roadside improvements to create a safer and more rider-friendly environment. Work is already complete on three routes in the region, with a further eight upgrades expected to be finished by

Transport systems have always been subject to illicit acts against passengers, freight, infrastructure and vehicles. The latest report from the European Commission funded Transport Research & Innovation Portal (TRIP) says that research into policy and the technology to safeguard infrastructure and users is critical to respond to emerging risks, such as cybercrime. The report gives fresh insight into transport security in Europe, highlighting priority areas for research and policy The report also ide

In a recent blog, Professor Graham Cookson, chief economist and head of research at Inrix says that following the announcement by the UK government that local authorities may be concerned that US$866 million (£690 million) funding to tackle congestion will be made available through competitive funding. The UK’s Local Government Association said in its recent Budget briefing: ‘Competitive bidding is a time consuming process and does little to provide certainty of funding needed to attract additional priva

Plans for the West Gate Tunnel Project in Melbourne, Australia, include 24/7 truck bans on streets in two suburbs of the city to improve safety, reduce noise and greatly improve air quality for local families. The project, due to be completed in 2022, will give trucks a dedicated route to the port or Melbourne and mean they no longer have to rely on local roads. The project will provide direct freeway access for trucks travelling to the port through a new tunnel, moving them away from schools, homes and

Bestpass customers will now have access to the Tollsmart Toll Calculator, which covers every tolled facility in the US and Canada, through a newly-announced partnership between the two companies. Bestpass, which provides single-source payment and streamlined toll management services to commercial fleets, has integrated the Tollsmart application into its customer web portal. Users will be able to estimate costs of multiple routes, including additional Bestpass volume discounts, and make strategic decision

Global management consultancy, Arthur D. Little (ADL) has released a new study, The Future of Automotive Mobility, based on a global survey of 6,500 participants, including customers, industry players and regulators. The report examines how the megatrends of electric mobility, car sharing and autonomous driving are likely to impact on the global automotive ecosystem and future OEM sales. The report notes that the future of mobility will no longer depend primarily on the preferences of customers, but wil

Redflex Traffic Systems has been awarded a one-year extension of its existing contract with Roads & Maritime Services (RMS) in Australia. During the extension, Redflex will continue to supply services to RMS for the operation of mobile roadside speed photo enforcement throughout New South Wales, services it has been providing since 2010. RMS is expected to re-tender the contract after the end of the contract extension.

Telematics provider Scope Technologies and French insurer Amaline Assurances, the direct insurance division of Groupama, are to collaborate to provide Renault’s electric car, ZOE, with an in-built Usage Based Insurance (UBI) solution for the French market. Scope Technologies’ adaptable software and data analytics will provide Renault’s R-Link multimedia system with comprehensive UBI technology to equip ZOE’s computer and app systems with a tailored UBI product. Scope’s technology facilitates the proces

Siemens will demonstrate the benefits of “connected thinking” by showcasing its integrated solutions for sustainable, safe, clean, connected and efficient transport systems at Traffex 2017. According to Matthew Vincent, sales and marketing director, in an increasingly data driven and digitalised world, Siemens’ expertise can help define and deliver the most appropriate solutions to customers’ challenges and provide real benefits to them, the travelling public and UK society. The company will also be

Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) is to showcase its latest transportation and road management innovations at Traffex 2017 in Birmingham, 4-6 April. During the three-day event, Cubic will feature its next-generation traffic management platform, which is currently operating in the National Multimodal Connected Test Bed at the University of Melbourne. This connected transport living lab paves the way for connected and autonomous vehicles. Cubic will also demonstrate its driver enforcement platforms fo

The Texas Department of Transportation Commission has awarded the design-build contract for segments H&I of State Highway 99/Grand Parkway in the Houston area to Grand Parkway Infrastructure, a joint-venture of Ferrovial Agroman US, Webber and Granite Construction. The US$855 million project northeast of Houston spans 52.5 miles through Chambers, Harris, Liberty and Montgomery counties and will substantially increase capacity along SH 99 with the construction of one to two new tolled lanes in each direct

A new report by Danish business analysis company Autintelligence, Cybersecurity in the connected car: technology, industry, and future examines the security implications of increasing connectivity and software complexity in connected and autonomous vehicles. According to the report, advanced connectivity, electronics and software are hallmarks of modern vehicles. A typical connected car contains up to 70 ECUs, and about 100 million lines of code. As vehicles expand in terms of technological complexity,