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December 8, 2016
Georgia DOT deploys McCain’s technology at problem intersection
US transportation solutions provider McCain has recently completed the first deployment of its low-voltage 350i ATC cabinet for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) in an effort to improve congestion and traffic flow at a troublesome dual-intersection location. The McCain low-voltage 350i ATC Cabinet was delivered to GDOT by local McCain distributor, Utilicom Supply Associates and offers GDOT the ability to control up to 32 channels, twice the industry norm. Powered by Schneider Electric's inn
December 7, 2016
New Accessibility Guide aims to improve customer service for people with disabilities
The International Association of Public Transport (UITP), IRU and the European Disability Forum (EDF) have jointly published an Accessibility Guide to improve customer service for people with disabilities and reduced mobility. The guide is one of the initiatives that these three associations are undertaking to raise awareness amongst staff about the barriers still existing to a fully inclusive public transport system and how to best overcome them. It is targeted at public transport staff who regularly i
December 7, 2016
Transportation research funding awarded to US universities
US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has announced US$300.3 million in grants to 32 university Transportation Centers (UTCs) to advance research and education programs that address critical transportation challenges facing the country. The announcement includes awards of up to US$72.5 million for fiscal year (FY) 2016. Subsequent awards using federal fiscal years 2017-2020 funding will be made annually, subject to availability of funds and grantee compliance with grant terms and conditions. “Our n
December 7, 2016
Audi launches V2I technology in the US
Automaker Audi has launched its vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) technology in Las Vegas, US, with Traffic Light Information, an Audi connect Prime feature, which is available on select 2017 Audi A4, Q7 and Allroad models. The technology enables the car to communicate with the infrastructure in select cities and metropolitan areas across the US by receiving real-time signal information from the advanced traffic management system that monitors traffic lights via the on-board 4G LTE data connection. When ap
December 7, 2016
Contact lens technology could offer alternative to battery power storage
Research by UK organisations the University of Surrey and Augmented Optics, in collaboration with the University of Bristol, has developed technology which could revolutionise the capabilities of appliances that have previously relied on battery power to work. It could also revolutionise electric cars, allowing the possibility for them to recharge as quickly a regular non-electric car refuels with petrol, instead of the current process which takes approximately 6-8 hours. They believe the development by
December 7, 2016
UK government transport innovation grants open for new bids
The UK government has announced a US$3 million (£2.5 million) package of transport innovation grants for companies, individuals and academics to make travelling safer, quicker and more reliable. These grants include 33 Transport Technology Research Innovation Grants (T-TRIG) worth a total of US$1 million (£833,000) awarded to early-stage science, engineering or technology innovations as well as a further round of competition for T-TRIG awards worth approximately US$834,000 (£700,000). A new Innovation Ch
December 6, 2016
ITS America ‘looks forward to working with new US transportation secretary’
Regina Hopper, president and CEO of ITS America, has congratulated Elaine Chao on her nomination as Secretary of Transportation, and says the organisation looks forward to working with her to shape the next generation of transportation investments driven by technology. Hopper went on, “ITS America seeks to rebuild and modernise the nation's critical transportation infrastructure and systems with intelligent transportation investments that save lives, create jobs, and creates a more economic and equitabl
December 6, 2016
Patent for GTT multimode phase selector
US-based Global Traffic Technologies has been issued a US patent for its Opticom multimode phase selector technology, which allows traffic signal priority control systems to work with both legacy infrared and modern GPS-enabled communication technologies. The multimode phase selector is an important component for transit signal priority (TSP) and emergency vehicle priority (EVP) systems. Agencies can leverage existing technology when expanding their traffic signal priority systems, so existing IR-based s
December 6, 2016
Inaugural Intertraffic Mexico exceeds expectations
The launch edition of Intertraffic Mexico, the latest addition to the global portfolio of Intertraffic events, attracted a total of 4,137 attendees from 45 countries across the globe, including 19 from the Americas, exceeding the organisers’ expectations. National and international companies offered solutions to the significant traffic challenges Mexico is facing. Three busy show days during 16 to 18 November, complemented by a dedicated conference programme provides an interesting first Intertraffic Mex
December 6, 2016
Swarm data from mobile phone networks makes traffic flows more visible
Telecom subsidiary Motionlogic and software provider PTV Group have teamed up in a partnership in which Motionlogic provides traffic and people movement data, based on anonymised signal data from the mobile phone network. PTV Group then processes this data to provide urban transport planners with analysis that enables them to calibrate transport models and the current traffic situation and map travel demand in real time. In addition, there are also down-to-the-hour departure and arrival figures. By using
December 6, 2016
Bombardier to supply 52 additional commuter trains to French railways
Rail technology specialist Bombardier Transportation is to supply French national railway company, Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF) with 52 additional Francilien electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter trains. The order, financed by Île-de-France's transport authority Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France (STIF), is valued at approximately US$370 (€348 million) and is a call off from a contract signed in 2006 with SNCF for a maximum of 372 trains. The first trains from this order will
December 6, 2016
UK motor racing circuit installs EV charging
Electric vehicle (EV) charging company ChargePoint has installed EV charging facilities at Thruxton motor racing circuit near Andover in the UK. The Rapid charger and twin Fast charger are operated by ChargePoint Services’ GeniePoint Network and can be accessed via robust RFID card access or smartphone App and will be available for public access seven days a week. Situated just half a mile off the busy A303, they are ideally positioned for EV drivers to recharge whilst travelling between Hampshire and
December 5, 2016
Biggest change in cars for 100 years now starting, says IDTechEx Research
According to a new report from IDTechEx Research, Electric Car Technology and Forecasts 2017-2027, the biggest change in cars for one hundred years is now starting. It is driven by totally new requirements and capabilities. They will cause huge new businesses to appear, but some giants will spectacularly go bankrupt. Cities will ban private cars but encourage them as autonomous taxis and rentals. Already 65 per cent of cars in China are bought by businesses. The Japanese want the car to be part of the hy
December 5, 2016
2016 Polis conference calls greater understanding of automated transport
The recent Polis 2016 Conference was attended by 450 mobility professionals from across Europe and beyond who met to debate on urban and regional mobility. Local and regional authorities called for greater understanding of where automated road transport can benefit cities. The conference plenary session brought together local governments, the automobile industry, research and the European and international institutions to explore where automated vehicles can deliver benefit for cities and what needs to b
December 5, 2016
Audi deploys smart parking
The Audi factory in Ingolstadt, Germany has deployed a smart parking system developed by Spanish company Urbiotica in a bid to optimise parking and reduce congestion in its 5,000-space car employee car park. The system utilises 22 U-Flow wireless parking sensors installed at the car park entrances and exits. These detect vehicles entering and leaving each parking sector and display occupancy data on information panels in real time, guiding drivers to free spaces and reducing congestion.