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August 17, 2015
Boston considering monorail travel to beat congestion
In effort to reduce congestion on the city’s streets, Boston officials are said to be considering the adoption of an above-ground rapid transit system, according to a recent report by the Boston Globe. Operating on a monorail system that would be erected above and along current traffic corridors, the JPod system would consist of carrier cars, or pods, that would run regardless of the traffic situation or weather conditions. JPod’s founder, Bill James says the network would be powered by solar energy,
August 17, 2015
Thales Siemens JV wins Spanish high speed rail contract
Spanish rail administrator Adif has awarded the Thales and Siemens joint venture a US$38.6 million contract to carry out works for the signalling facilities, train protection systems, fixed telecommunications and centralised traffic control for the Chamartín-Torrejón de Velasco section of Spain’s high speed rail network. The project also includes work on the 7.3 km long Atocha-Chamartín tunnel and a maintenance period of 36 months. Siemens Rail Automation will be responsible for modernising the Trackguar
August 17, 2015
FTA seeks to increase oversight of transit systems
The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is seeking to increase oversight of the nation's public transportation systems after a spate of issues on the Washington, DC, Metrorail system and other subways have raised questions about US transit safety. The USDOT’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has proposed a rule to establish a Public Transportation Safety Program under its new safety oversight authority established by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act. The proposed rule would
August 14, 2015
Royal Imtech declared bankrupt
Royal Imtech has announced that it, Imtech Capital, Imtech and Imtech Group have been declared redundant as of 13 August. The group states that this does not affect its Traffic & Infra division. The group’s Marine and Nordic divisions have been set outside of the group under the control of Imtech's financiers with a view to their sale to third parties to ensure as much as possible the continuation of their businesses and the continued employment of their 7,300 employees. Imtech, with Visser and Smit
August 14, 2015
Study: Consumers do not understand vehicle safety features
A new study by the University of Iowa found that a majority of drivers expressed uncertainty about how many potentially life-saving vehicle safety technologies work. The survey also showed that 40 per cent of drivers report that their vehicles have acted or behaved in unexpected ways. The study, conducted by the University of Iowa Transportation and Vehicle Safety Research Division, examined drivers' knowledge of vehicle safety systems, as well as their understanding and use of defensive driving techniqu
August 14, 2015
Government sets out blueprint for Northern Powerhouse
The UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) has set out the blueprint for how US$20 billion of government investment in transport will help create the Northern Powerhouse. The investment aims to make transport better by improving the links, bringing cities closer together and strengthening connections. The blueprint shows how transport links across the north are being transformed by government investment. Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “This one nation government is determined to close the e
August 14, 2015
Oregon DOT wins Best of ITS 2015 award
The Oregon Department of Transportation improved safety on OR 217 by implementing a variety of signage and roadway enhancements. OR 217 currently experiences traffic congestion during peak commute times because of high-density traffic and crashes. The project focused on reducing crashes, helping to clear crashes quickly when they do occur, and giving motorists the ability to make informed travel decisions about traffic flow and roadway conditions. Since collisions on a busy highway can bring traffic to a h
August 14, 2015
Association makes big plans for ITS World Congress
ITS (UK) has revealed details of a UK pavilion stand which it will host alongside Foundation Member the Transport Systems Catapult at the 2015 ITS World Congress in Bordeaux later this year. The stand – to be located in the exhibition area – will provide a base for the large UK delegation at the congress and is likely to attract an international crowd of visitors. The stand is supported by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) as well as UK Trade and Investment (UKTI). It is hoped th
August 13, 2015
Iteris reports continued strength in transportation sector
Iteris has reported continued growth in its transportation business and increasing momentum in the precision agriculture sector for the fiscal first quarter for year ending 31 March 2016. Revenues for roadway sensors increased ten per cent year on year to US$9.9 million, while total revenues in the first quarter of 2016 increased to US$18.4 million compared to US$18.1 million in the same quarter a year ago. This was primarily driven by a 10 per cent increase in roadway sensors sales, while transportatio
August 13, 2015
Arizona DOT testing wrong-way vehicle detectors
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is testing wrong-way vehicle detection devices next to off-ramps along Phoenix-area freeways as part of an ongoing research effort to reduce the risk of wrong-way crashes. Three detectors, manufactured by Tapco have been installed along the northbound Interstate 17 exit to State Route 74, the eastbound Interstate 10 exit at Ray Road and the northbound Loop 101 off-ramp at Thunderbird Road. Two other detection devices, manufactured by Wavetronix, were instal
August 13, 2015
RATP Dev wins new contract in Pennsylvania
RATP Dev has won a five-year contract to run school bus services in the Southern Columbia Area School District, Pennsylvania. The service transports around 1,500 students daily with a fleet of over 30 vehicles that travel more than 640,000 km (400,000 miles) per year. The five-year contract includes an optional three-year extension. “The new contract will further consolidate the presence of RATP Dev in the USA and will help the group continue to grow and develop in this key territory”, stated François
August 13, 2015
Cubic wins London tunnel maintenance deal
Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) has been awarded the Tunnel Outstation Maintenance Services (TOMS) contract by Transport for London (TfL) for the maintenance of critical intelligent transportation systems (ITS) infrastructure within TfL’s twelve road tunnels and the associated 90 kilometres of road corridors for the next 10 years. Supported by radio systems supply partner, Simoco EMEA, Cubic will commence work on the contract this month and begin full service delivery by February 2016. “London’s
August 12, 2015
New report identifies 21 actions to help states address pedestrian safety
A new report released today by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) examines the current pedestrian safety data and research and outlines 21 steps states can take to address pedestrian safety. According to the most recent data, pedestrian deaths remain stubbornly high and have increased 15 per cent since 2009. The most recent full year of data indicates that 4,735 pedestrians died in 2013, which translates to one pedestrian in the US killed every two hours. The report, Everyone Walks Understan
August 12, 2015
Virtual reality laboratory opens
UK-based technology innovation centre, Transport Systems Catapult (TSC), has announced the opening of a ‘visualisation laboratory’ at its headquarters in Milton Keynes. The laboratory will allow designers and engineers to use cutting edge virtual reality technology to improve the UK’s transport network. The laboratory includes the UK’s first commercially available omni-directional treadmill built by Swedish company Omnifinity and features virtual reality built by local firm Virtual Viewing. The omni-d
August 12, 2015
France opts for Vitronic’s new autonomous speed enforcement
The French Ministry of the Interior has shown its confidence in Vitronic’s new speed enforcement trailer, which offers five days of autonomous operation, by purchasing fifty systems, to be put into operation by the end of the year. A further 100 systems is expected to be purchased by the end of 2016. The contract will run over two years, and comprises delivery, operation and on-site and remote service. Vitronic claims the trailer, a joint development with its partner company Cegelec Etupes Grands Projets