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Latin American countries are expected to invest some US$40 billion in metro projects by 2025, according to a report from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). "In total, they will build or expand more than US$40bn in 20 projects," stated the report entitled Latin America and the Caribbean in 2025. The report, Latin America and the Caribbean 2015, indicates that some of the projects include construction of line 3 and line 6 in Chilean capital Santiago's subway, expansion of Brazil's São Paulo met

Cubic Transportation Systems and the New South Wales (NSW) state government have successfully completed the rollout of the new Opal smart card to all train stations in the greater Sydney, Australia, area, ahead of schedule. Opal became available to all train passengers in the region on 11 April in what state Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian described as an important milestone for public transport. The trains are the backbone of the public transport network in the greater Sydney area, carrying m

Siemens has completed a major upgrade of Manchester’s traffic signal system, with the replacement of a total of 52,000 traditional traffic signal bulbs with longer-lasting and energy saving LED lights across more than 1,800 sites, resulting in energy savings of US$1.26 million and maintenance savings in excess of US$505,000. The upgrade programme has reduced monthly energy usage from 1,000,000 KW/hr in March 2012 to 480,000 KW/hr in February 2014. The new traffic signals also benefit the environment thro

The latest report by Research and Markets, the Global Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Market Report, forecasts the Global Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) market to grow at a CAGR of 22.59 percent over the period 2012-2016. One of the key factors contributing to this market growth is the increasing adoption of safety measures. The Global ADAS market has also been witnessing the increasing deployment of ADAS in low-cost cars. However, ADAS are expensive and this could pose a challenge to t

The third eCall testfest event, organised by Ertico-ITS Europe and ETSI, will be held from 27 to 31 October 2014 in Vigo, Spain, hosted by CTAG in cooperation with CETECOM. More than 30 vendors benefited from more than 300 test sessions to check the interoperability of their IVS or PSAP devices at the last test fest. With eCall now coming closer to the market, verifying the eCall chain and in particular compliance with eCall standard requirements through different tests is critical. This third eCall test

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