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Jacksonville, US expands traffic signal priority
October 28, 2016
Global Traffic Technologies (GTT) has contracted with Jacksonville Transportation Authority in Florida for the expansion of its latest-generation GPS-equipped Opticom transit signal priority (TSP) system. The Opticom TSP system allows public transportation agencies to extend or truncate green cycle times at traffic signals for more accurate schedule adherence. In turn, transit vehicles are on the road less, which reduces fuel and fleet costs for more profitable operations. In Jacksonville, additional bu
Twin Cities’ Metropolitan Council chooses Siemens to provide new light rail vehicles for Southwest expansion
October 28, 2016
Siemens has been chosen by the US Twin Cities of Minnesota and St Paul Metropolitan Council to manufacture 27 new light rail vehicles that will operate on the Metro Transit Southwest line expansion. Siemens will begin engineering the new vehicles, which will feature improvements including a redesigned middle section to improve passenger flow including wheelchairs and bicycles, ice cutters to remove sleet from the overhead wires that provide the electrical current to power the vehicles, and preferred seat
Google ready to spin off self-driving car business
October 28, 2016
Google is ready to ‘graduate’ its self-driving car business into a stand-alone operation, according to Forbes. Speaking at the Nikkei Innovation Forum in Palo Alto this week, Google CEO John Krafcik, said, “Around a year ago we announced this new Alphabet structure and the ‘bet’ of Alphabet is sort of shorthand for these new entities that are forming within this new corporate structure. So this self driving car project is on its way to what we call a graduating project.” The announcement follows Googl
Panasonic to partner CDOT on integrated connected vehicle platform
October 28, 2016
For the first time, Panasonic is to apply its integrated, intelligent automotive and traffic management technologies and other expertise to a connected transportation pilot and will partner with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to build a connected transportation program. Working with CDOT and other partners, Panasonic will focus first on connecting cars and the transportation system on I-70, one of the nation's most challenging corridors, as part of the state's RoadX program, Colorado's
Vehicle logistics sector must evolve digitally, says ECG
October 28, 2016
Around 270 delegates at the annual conference of the Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG) on 20 and 21 October heard that the industry must embrace the accelerating shift towards digitalised processes and e-commerce in order to meet changing customer expectations and ultimately survive. The vehicle logistics sector must keep pace with the innovative rapid technological development in the wider automotive industry. However, legal uncertainty and a lack of uniform implementation of existing Europea
Analysis shows driverless cars could generate motorway advertising revenue
October 28, 2016
Engineering consultancy Ramboll has today published analysis on the potential revenue which could be generated by motorway advertising on gantries, designed to appeal to driverless car passengers. Figures have shown suggested income of over US$5.4 million (£4.5 million) in 2026, rising steadily over subsequent years as the new technology is introduced and leading to total revenue between 2025 and 2070 of over US$4.8 billion (£4 billion). Many have estimated that self-driving cars are likely to be common
Vision 2016: 90 seminars over three days
October 28, 2016
Taking place in Stuttgart from 8-10 November, Vision, the international trade fair for machine vision, is rapidly approaching. A wide range of machine vision technology will be showcased at Vision, which aims to be the market place for all component manufacturers and a platform for system providers and integrators. Vision showcases the technological developments and trends in the industry and the organisers say this year’s event has three main technological 'hot' topics: embedded vision, 3D machine vi
WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff to manage California HOV project
October 28, 2016
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority in California, US, has awarded a contract to WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff for construction management services for the completion of the I-680 HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) Express Lanes project. The Authority, in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and the Federal Highway Administration, seeks to improve traffic operations and relieve congestion with the construction of HOV express lanes on southbound
Cubic to continue AFC support in Atlanta
October 28, 2016
Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) has been awarded a $12.7 million, two-year contract extension from the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) in the US to provide automated fare collection (AFC) maintenance services. The contract also includes options for an upgrade path to support future updates, which could increase the value to US$52 million if all options are exercised. CTS designed and delivered MARTA’s Breeze Card, a card-based AFC system that utilises Cubic’s smart card ticketing
TRL consortium research project to address climate change
October 27, 2016
With climate change generating increasing challenges for road operators, the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has begun a US$491,000 (€450,000) research project to help European road operators better address the impacts of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Following a successful competitive bid, TRL is leading a consortium of six partners to deliver the two year DeTECToR (Decision-support Tools for Embedding Climate Change Thinking on Roads) project. The project is part of CEDR’
ITS Australia supports funding proposal for industry research
October 27, 2016
ITS Australia has welcomed the transport industry’s final application to the Federal Government’s US$498 million (AU$653 million) Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program, which has been established to solve industry identified challenges through outcome-focused collaborative research partnerships. ITS Australia, the national body for the intelligent transport systems (ITS) industry, is a consortium member of iMOVE CRC, one of seven shortlisted applicants. With a focus on developing substantial imp
Brake offers free online training on the latest developments in vehicle safety technology
October 27, 2016
UK road safety charity Brake is running a free webinar for fleet and road safety professionals on the latest developments in vehicle technologies and the safety benefits they offer. The webinar will be delivered by Brake Professional, Brake’s low-cost membership service for professionals working in the field of fleet safety. Brake Professional shares training, tools, and guidance on global fleet safety best practice with its members, as well as networking and development opportunities. Brake’s latest
Parsons to upgrade LA Regional Intelligent Transportation System
October 27, 2016
US engineering services firm Parsons has been selected by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to modernise the Regional Integration of Intelligent Transportation System (RIITS) to provide near real-time transportation data exchange between more than 125 traffic, transit, emergency services and other agencies to improve transportation in Southern California. Parsons will provide RIITS with operational integration functionality through technologies that will deliver big da
Iteris to plan and design Orange County’s ICM project
October 27, 2016
Iteris has been awarded a US$2.6 million contract to implement the Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) project in Orange County, California in an effort to improve mobility in the heavily congested Platinum Triangle. The Platinum Triangle confluence of corridors ranked as having the highest vehicle hours of delay in 2012, along with the highest concentration of special events at locations including Disneyland Resort and Theme Park, Angels Stadium, Honda Center and Anaheim Convention Center. This ini
Develop transport infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe, say MEPs
October 26, 2016
Maximising the use of EU funding is needed to reduce disparities in infrastructure development between Central and Eastern Europe and the rest of the EU, MEPs say in a resolution voted in the European Parliament on Tuesday. The focus should be on completing the TEN-T corridors, bridging missing links, removing bottlenecks and improve connections between different modes of transport. So far most of the transport infrastructure projects planned to be financed by European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFS