News

The first European Conference on sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs), entitled Planning for a Liveable City, will be held in Sopot, Poland, on 12-13 June 2014. A sustainable urban mobility plan is a strategic plan designed to satisfy the mobility needs of people and businesses in cities and their surroundings for a better quality of life. The concept of sustainable urban mobility plans has gained considerable momentum in recent years. Many cities across Europe are currently working to integrate thi

North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) has announced the apparent successful bidder for its first public-private-partnership (P3) contract to improve the traffic flow along 26 miles of I-77 in the Charlotte area, one of the most congested roadways in the state. It includes the development of HOT lanes in both directions. Following a required bidding process and pending final review Cintra Infraestructures will construct the I-77 project through a joint venture with F.A. Southeast, W.C. En

The cycle hub at Birmingham’s Selly Oak railway station, which was officially unveiled to the public in March, has been named winner in the innovation category at the Chartered Institute for Highways and Transport Awards. Centro designed the unique swipe card activated structure to serve as a blueprint for hubs to be rolled out at stations across the region. The hub was created from unique designs drawn up by Centro staff. It is fitted with two-tiered racks providing individual spaces for bicycles, hold

New truck cab designs should make it easier for drivers to spot pedestrians and cyclists, thanks to draft rule changes backed by the EU Parliament. Other changes would enable designers to exceed current maximum weight and length limits in order to fit alternative-fuel engines and to streamline cabs to cut emissions. The draft rules would allow truck cabins to be made longer if designed to cut emissions, such as by improving aerodynamics; or to prevent accidents, by reducing blind spots or making the cab

According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research Smart/Intelligent Sensors Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019,”, the global smart/intelligent sensors market is expected to reach a value of US$21.60 billion by 2019, growing at a CAGR of 12.2 per cent from 2013 to 2019. Growing demand for automobiles and growth in the intelligent transport system (ITS) has led to the increase in demand of smart/intelligent sensors. The other f

Europe’s long-term lending institution, the European Investment Bank has, as part of a consortium of international banks, agreed to finance the deployment of 65 new Hitachi super express trains to be used on the East Coast Main Line between London and Scotland. This new fleet will replace the Intercity 125 and 225 trains currently in use on the line. The new East Coast Main Line trains will be financed under the Department for Transport’s Intercity Express Programme, which includes the financing, desig

Two consortiums bid for Colombia's US$927 million Conexión Pacífico 1 highway concession, which is the first project under the Autopistas para la Prosperidad program and part of the country's fourth generation (4G) of concessions. The Pacífico 1 four-lane stretch will run 49 kilometres from Ancón Sur to Bolombolo, and includes the construction of two tunnels and 42 bridges. The Autopistas para la Prosperidad, or highways for prosperity program involves building some 900 kilometres of four-lane highways,

US video wall specialist Activu Corporation has appointed John Stark as vice president of Product Management, where he will be responsible for the company’s product management function, leading the direction and development of future vision, collaboration and mobility solutions. Stark brings extensive control room vision product experience, with more than two decades working for companies such as Christie Digital Systems, Jupiter Systems, Barco Visual Systems, M3i Systems and Matrox.

Premier of Ontario, Canada, Kathleen Wynne has announced the Ontario government's plan to build a seamless and integrated transportation network across the province, Moving Ontario Forward, to create jobs, boost productivity and help every part of Ontario grow and prosper. The robust plan would put in place dedicated and substantial funding for public transit and transportation infrastructure. It would make nearly US$26.4 billion available over the next 10 years for investments in priority infrastructure

Technical services provider Royal Imtech takes a further step in its previously announced debt reduction program with the announcement of its intention to divest its ICT division. As announced on 18 March 2014, Imtech continues to be focused on achieving a long term sustainable capital structure and is committed to reduce indebtedness by at least US$554 million. To realise this debt reduction, Imtech will continue to review all options. The ICT division will be divested through an auction process in

Agreement between the Council and Parliament negotiators on the deployment of EU-wide eCall, which requires member states to upgrade existing eCall receiving infrastructure by 1 October 2017 at the latest to be able to respond to calls from eCall devices in cars has been approved by MEPs. According to text approved by the Parliament, EU member states have to install the necessary eCall answering infrastructure for the proper receipt and handling of all eCalls no later than 1 October 2017 and at least six

The inauguration of the French Landes A63 motorway marked the culmination of 27 months of major works carried out adjacent to traffic by the economic interest group GIE A63. The road concessionaire, Atlandes, of which Egis is a shareholder, had awarded the construction contract to GIE A63, which then hired Egis for the turnkey integration of fixed and operational equipment and an 80 per cent share of the engineering, procurement and construction management. Atlandes also awarded Egis the subsequent operati

The smart transport corridor between Helsinki in Finland and St Petersburg in Russia will bring new services for passengers, car drivers and public transport. Development of the Vedia multi-service concept, led by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Vediafi, unites newly opened mobile services that will result in smoother passenger traffic across the Finnish–Russian border and enhance passenger experience and traffic safety. Vedia multi-service is a key element of the Finnish–Russian intelligent

The Midlands got a boost today with the launch of the latest stretch of smart motorway, making greater use of technology on the M6 near Birmingham, bringing improved journeys and less congestion. Opening the hard shoulder to traffic during the busiest times between junctions 5 and 8 on the M6 will improve journey times, especially around Birmingham and marks a milestone for the Highways Agency, after several years of investment in this section of the M6. This ten mile stretch means the benefits can now b

International Road Dynamics (IRD), Canada-based intelligent transportation systems (ITS) supplier, has announced solid growth for the three months ended February 28, 2014. Revenue increased by 32.2 per cent to $10.3 million compared to $7.8 million for the same quarter last year. Solid growth was achieved in the Company's Canada and United States and Latin America markets, while EBITDA increased to $490,090 compared to a loss of $190,359 in the first quarter of 2013. Quarter one of 2014 is the fourth con