News

Registration is now open for ITS America, 12-15 June 12 2016 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. It’s a new event with an exhibition, conferences, papers and demonstrations, where companies, public agencies, academics, engineers, researchers, regulators, lawmakers, app developers, infrastructure security agents, financiers and the media will meet to make new contacts, transfer knowledge and generate new ideas about what is next in a world where transportation is at the centre of the IOT. More

International Road Dynamics (IRD has announced record financial and operating results for the three and twelve months ended 30 November 2015. The company saw net earnings increased 85 per cent to US$1.8 (CA$2.5) million, with revenue up 29 per cent to US$42 (CA$58) million on growth in key geographic markets and product segments. EBITDA rose by 58 per cent on revenue growth and strong gross margin. "We generated record results in fiscal 2015, the result of strong growth in all of our major markets a

In a deal worth US$282 million, Siemens is to replace the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) suburban train fleet on the Great Northern route. The 25 climate-controlled six-carriage units (150 vehicles) will be built at the Siemens plant Krefeld, Germany and will enter service by the end of 2018. The trains will run between Moorgate in the City of London and Welwyn and Hertford, Stevenage and Letchworth. They will be made by Siemens as a variant of the Class 700 trains, based on the Desiro City platform, whi

Speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Ford president and CEO Mark Fields said that the company will triple engineering investment in driver assist technology, speeding the roll-out of semi automated systems that make it easier to park and drive in heavy traffic as the company continues to expand its Ford Smart Mobility plan. Fields’ keynote at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona focused on Ford’s transition from an automotive company to an auto and a mobility company through Ford Smart Mobil

The Public Transport Authority of Western Australia has selected the Salini Impregilo - NRW Joint Venture, comprising Salini Impregilo and NRW Pty, as its preferred bidder to design, construct and maintain the Forrestfield-Airport Link. The US$1.5 billion state government-funded project is a new train line that will connect Forrestfield to the city, opening up Perth’s eastern suburbs to the rail network for the first time and giving Perth Airport users a travel option five minutes faster than by car.

Video telematics provider Lytx is to be acquired by Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR in a deal valued at more than US$500 million that it says will help power the next chapter in its growth as a supplier video telematics and safety services for commercial and public sector transportation. Formed in 1998, Lytx has since developed a range of subscription-based services that help improve the safe fleet driving behaviour for more than 1,400 clients worldwide. Its flagship service offering, the DriveCam

The arrest of an Uber driver in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has prompted renewed interest in the company’s driver vetting process. Uber has confirmed that Jason Brian Dalton, accused of injuring two and killing six people over the 20-21 February 2016 weekend in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was an Uber driver who had passed the background checks with no criminal records. The company’s website says that Uber operates an extensive driver screening process which includes collecting detailed information from potential d

The I_Hero project has organised a workshop to address the challenges and opportunities that need to be met to ensure successful introduction of eCall in the different EU Member States. It will also offer insights into how commercial companies can leverage maximum benefit from this introduction. The workshop takes place at Le Chatelain Boutique Hotel, Brussels on 26 April from 0900-1700. eCall will be mandated in Europe for all new types of cars and light trucks manufactured after 31 March 2018. Membe

Taking advantage of Tesla’s generous warranty on its Model S car, a group of young entrepreneurs from the US west coast started Tesloop, providing a travel experience they say is similar to an airline where passengers share a cabin in a plane, except that Tesloop leaves from a convenient Tesla supercharger station location. Tesloop has an expanding fleet of fully electric Tesla model vehicles that seat up to four people. It not only employs its own drivers, but also offers two types of membership to trav

Q-Free’s Homeland Security Division, Prometheus Security Group Global, has been awarded a contract to provide its proprietary VICADS Video Management system for installation at a major undisclosed US Military facility. The contract, which will be delivered within the first half of 2016, is valued at US$1.5 million with an option for a further increase valued at US$582,000. Prometheus Security Group Global, which provides high-end critical asset protection equipment and services to the Homeland Security m

Following new research from specialist finance house Aurium Capital Markets (Aurium), which reveals that between 2014 and 2015, the number of pension schemes with investments in infrastructure increased by 36 per cent, the company has raised £270 million (US$385.5 million), which includes over £100 million (USS$143 million) from institutional pension funds. It is particularly targeting the pensions sector as it says it is increasing its exposure in infrastructure. Its analysis found 136 pension schemes

The Flir Traficon Academy is organising a variety of training courses this month, covering covering topics such as the Flir ThermiCam and Flir ITS solutions. More information and registration details are available here. (link www.flir.co.uk/traffic/display/?id=66621

The US Department of Transportation has awarded US$300 million to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) for two major rail projects in Los Angeles County. This federal funding will benefit both the Regional Connector and Westside Purple Line Extension (Sections 1 and 2) transit projects. Specifically, the federal government will be providing US$100 million to the Regional Connector and US$200 million for the Westside Purple Line section 1 and 2 extension this federal fisca

Preliminary estimates from the US National Safety Council indicate motor vehicle deaths were eight per cent higher in 2015 than they were in 2014, the largest year-over-year percentage increase in 50 years. The National Safety Council estimates 38,300 people were killed on US roads and 4.4 million were seriously injured, meaning 2015 likely was the deadliest driving year since 2008. Over the last year at the state level, the National Safety Council estimates Oregon, Georgia. Florida and South Carolina al

Global Traffic Technologies (GTT) will take advantage of the 2016 Transit Bus Summit in California next week to talk with transit agencies about how technology can help reduce their operating costs while simultaneously improving service, on-time performance and ridership. The summit is aimed at transportation directors of public transit and university bus systems and provides an opportunity for agencies and suppliers to share ideas and solutions on best management of fleet operations. GTT will discuss ho