News

TRA 2014 is to be held in Paris for the first time, showcasing French and European innovations for more efficient transport. The latest technological innovations will be on show in Paris from 14 to 17 April at CNIT - La Défense, providing an opportunity for all European stakeholders in transport research and innovation to exchange ideas and experiences about the latest scientific breakthroughs, to think about specific real-life applications and to discuss their research needs in order to guide the future

A new study into London’s lane rental scheme shows that since its introduction the amount of serious and severe disruption caused by planned roadworks has been cut by 46 per cent on the capital’s busiest roads, reducing delays for all road users. The scheme, which came into effect in June 2012 on the busiest parts of London’s road network, is designed to encourage utility companies to avoid digging up the busiest roads at peak traffic times. Following the introduction of the scheme, around 90 per cent of

US electronics and software specialist Trafficware Group has acquired PSI Acquisition, an Oregon-based manufacturing company that specialises in intelligent traffic solutions. PSI’s product line includes a variety of CALTRANS traffic control cabinets, controllers and conflict monitors, innovative power backup technology, and industry-leading cyberlock security access system. “Trafficware is committed to bringing innovation and technology to the traffic industry, as well as a broad portfolio of product

US electronics and software specialist Trafficware Group has acquired PSI Acquisition, an Oregon-based manufacturing company that specialises in intelligent traffic solutions. PSI’s product line includes a variety of CALTRANS traffic control cabinets, controllers and conflict monitors, innovative power backup technology, and industry-leading cyberlock security access system. “Trafficware is committed to bringing innovation and technology to the traffic industry, as well as a broad portfolio of product

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Office of Public-Private Partnerships (P3) has announced that it is accepting unsolicited proposals for transportation projects from the private sector until 30 April. The submission period applies to PennDOT-owned projects and infrastructure. During this period, the private sector can submit proposals offering innovative ways to deliver transportation projects across a variety of modes including roads, bridges, rail, aviation and ports. Proposals c

Final preparations are taking place for the M25 to become England’s first smart motorway, improving journeys and boosting the economy. Two sections of the motorway opening this month and next are between junctions 23 and 25 in Hertfordshire and between junctions 5 and 6/7 on the Kent/Surrey border. For the first time on a motorway scheme in England the hard shoulder will be used as a permanent traffic lane, with enhanced technology to manage traffic flow to improve the reliability of journey times.

The Ohio government recently outlined the scope of the 2014 highway construction projects to be financed with funds borrowed against future Ohio Turnpike tolls. In total, 936 projects are planned at an estimated cost of US$2.5 billion. Planned projects include the widening of a section of I-75, a three-year project expected to cost about US$260 million, plus a US$28 million reconstruction of part of I-75, US$31 million in improvements to I-475/US 23 in Toledo's western suburbs, and the US$18 million McCo

ABI research’s latest research finds that the number of subscribers to Factory-installed Safety and Security telematics services is set for solid growth in Western Europe at a CAGR of 47 per cent, reaching 42.5 million in 2019. “Traditional safety and security telematics continues its march forward in Europe with both VW’s Car-Net and GM/Opel’s OnStar scheduled for deployment. A slew of new electrical vehicles from VW, Tesla, BMW, Daimler, and others will also boost telematics uptake and awareness,” says

Brazil's national ground transport agency ANTT has launched a four-lot tender budgeted at US$2.55 billion to operate an interstate bus system in and around the nation's capital for 15 years. The public-private partnership involves interconnecting eleven municipalities in the mid-western state of Goiás to several of the federal district's administrative regions. The entire network is comprised of 551 bus lines in 33 sectors that transport some 90 million passengers per year, ANTT says. The tender stip

India’s ministry of road transport and highways has embarked on an exercise to see if the government can build more roads through its own resources using the revenue from toll collection. The ministry and the National Highways Authority of India are both flush with cash as more roads have come under tolling. Officials are considering moving away from public-private partnerships until economic conditions improve. Instead they are considering cash-contracts for new road construction and leveraging debt bas

New York City’s Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched its new and improved Zone Watch program as part of National Work Zone Awareness week, which runs from 7-11 April. The enhanced program will include nine camera-equipped trailers designed to better document and deter reckless driving through work zones and aligns with Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero initiative to make streets safer. In addition to the nine custom trailers, DOT will also purchase additional camera equipment that can be mounted t

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded a consortium of ST Electronics and Trapeze Switzerland a contract to supply, install and commission an Intelligent Bus Management System with a total value of about US$54 million. Currently, both local transport operators, SBS Transit and SMRT, use separate bus fleet management systems to manage their daily bus operations and provide bus arrival information to commuters. This new system will provide a unified solution for operations control, fleet

The purchase of Oregon-based PSI Acquisition enables Trafficware Group to expand their product offering into CALTRANS approved traffic control cabinets. PSI Acquisition, a manufacturing company specialising in intelligent traffic solutions produces a variety of traffic control cabinets, controllers and conflict monitors, innovative power backup technology and the industry-leading Cyberlock security access system. According to Trafficware CEO John Newhard, the company is committed to bringing innovatio

The Swedish government has presented planned investments as part of its national transport plan 2014-2025, which is based on an infrastructure proposal from 2012. A total of US$80.32 billion is to be invested in the transport network, US$23.7 billion in the operations and maintenance of roads, US$13 billion in the operation and maintenance of railways, and US$43 billion will go towards developing the transport system. The government is to invest US$30.6 billion in new railway infrastructure, including

Brazil's Odebrecht group is planning to invest some US$18billion in infrastructure projects by 2017. According to CEO Marcelo Odebrecht, the company will invest US$4.5 to US$7 billion per year over the next three years and much of it involves concessions and public-private partnerships (PPP), according to local reports. Through Odebrecht Transport, the company will be investing in transportation infrastructure projects such as federal highway BR-163 in the mid-western state of Mato Grosso, Galeão int