Skip to main content

News

Final eCoMove event
September 17, 2013
The eCoMove final event, to be held at Eurogress, Aachen, Germany, from 20-21 November, offers a variety of events including a conference, an exhibition presenting the final results of the project and live driving demonstrations on public roads. Showcasing state-of-the-art cooperative intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for energy efficiency, the event will look at mitigating the environmental impacts of road transport through the latest ITS technologies: eCoMove technological advances aim to lower roa
Ohio Turnpike infrastructure project funds
September 17, 2013
The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission (OTIC) has approved the US$930 million funding needed for ten projects in northern Ohio, each within twenty miles of the turnpike. The 241 mile-long, limited-access toll highway serves as a primary corridor to Chicago and Pittsburgh.
Singapore extends real time message signs
September 16, 2013
Motorists in Singapore can look forward to improved real-time traffic information and better traffic flow as the country’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) begins works to enhance existing electronic signboards along the expressways. The 380 existing island-wide expressway motoring advisory system (EMAS) electronic signs will be replaced with thirteen new signs. The new signs will be more readable, as they can display text and simple graphics in up to seven colours, including green, cyan and purple. The first
Study finds support for toll express lanes, less for mileage charges
September 16, 2013
A new report by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (MWCOG) finds that support for a toll managed lanes network grows somewhat the more it is discussed, whereas a vehicle miles travelled charge loses support after discussion. Among 300 people who participated in five-hour moderated small group discussions of alternative ways of dealing with traffic congestion in the Washington DC metro area, toll express lanes on all major highways receiv
Towards a more efficient use of transport research infrastructures
September 16, 2013
The European Transport Research Alliance (ETRA) has organised a one day conference on ways towards facilitating the wider and more balanced use of (large) transport research infrastructures in Europe as well as facilitating the linking of relevant research data bases and exchanges of data. The idea is to promote this cooperation and networking of research infrastructures as part of the process for creating the ERA–T, the European Research Area in the field of transport. The conference takes place on 10 Octo
NATSO dismisses tolling study claims
September 16, 2013
NATSO, the US association representing travel plazas and truck-stops, has rejected the report prepared by the Reason Foundation that pushes for widespread tolling. "The public detests interstate tolls, and with good reason," said NATSO president and CEO Lisa Mullings. "Tolls divert motorists and truck drivers to non-interstates, leading to more traffic deaths. Additionally, it costs the government more money to collect tolls than to collect fuel taxes."
Tyre pressure monitoring system for Mahindra Reva's EV e2o
September 13, 2013
Schrader International, US manufacturer of sensing and valve solutions, is to supply its tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) from Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles, a subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra, one of India's largest vehicle manufacturers. As part of the agreement, Schrader will provide TPMS technology and the company's advanced "snap-in" valve sensor to Mahindra Reva's electric vehicle e2o. The TPMS-enabled e2o may be exported to the European market in 2014. Schrader's market-leading TPM
UK van drivers drive more carefully in their personal vehicles
September 13, 2013
A new study by TomTom indicates that more than a third (39 per cent) of UK van drivers admit to driving more carefully when using their personal vehicle. The research, conducted among light commercial vehicle (LCV) drivers, found 67 per cent of those did so to save money on fuel and vehicle wear and tear and 29 per cent because of the absence of working time pressures.
Plug-and-lay connected car solution launched
September 13, 2013
According to Delphi Automotive, its new cloud-based automotive connectivity service for European consumers, Delphi Connect, provides a ground-breaking car-to-cloud/cloud-to-car connectivity service and works in most vehicles built after 1996. To access the service, car owners simply plug the Delphi Connect module into the on-board diagnostics (OBD) port of their vehicle, which is usually located under the steering column. The service utilises a dedicated and secure cloud server to store data and provide
Sweden gets train de-icing system
September 13, 2013
Dutch construction company Ballast Nedam is to supply Swedish public transport organisation Trafikförvaltningen Stockholm (TF) with a train de-icing system to improve winter train services in the country. The system is based on Ballast Nedam’s existing fully automated de-icing system which sprays the entire train with warm water system, redesigned to TF’s train specifications. The amount of water is adapted for each set of wheels depending on the degree of ice build-up. This ensures that the ice, which p
IBTTA applauds new interstate study
September 13, 2013
A new study, Interstate 2.0: Modernising the Interstate Highway System via Toll Finance, by US public policy think tank, the Reason Foundation, details how much it will cost to reconstruct and widen Interstate highways in all 50 states and shows how to pay for the modernisation efforts with toll revenues. It makes the case for lifting the federal prohibition on tolling existing lanes of the Interstate highway system and states: “…as the reality of the cost of Interstate reconstruction and modernisation s
High Speed 2 should be part of integrated transport policy
September 13, 2013
The UK’s Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is calling for the High Speed 2 (HS2) proposals to be reassessed to become part of an integrated transport programme of metro, rail, bus and road projects to revitalise the cities of the Midlands and North. The call comes as the Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin reasserted the case for the new rail line. Prof Phil Blythe, chair of the IET Transport Policy Panel, said: “We are supportive in principle of high speed rail, but we believe that
Three EU projects join forces
September 12, 2013
The Polite project together with two other European projects, Superhub and RITS-Net, are to join forces in an intermediate open workshop organised by Polite, to generate a common analysis on policy and governance improvements in intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for public transport. The workshop will offer a study visit on public transport management systems and traffic management in an historical city, such as Ferrara. According to Patrizia Bianchini, councillor of Territorial Planning, Trans
Delay costly upgrades with intelligent transport systems
September 12, 2013
Three Parsons Brinckerhoff transport specialists will present at the Australian Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Summit in Sydney on 18-20 September. Parsons Brinckerhoff ITS Technical Executive, Kim Thomas, said the specialists will stimulate discussion about systems engineering and how to develop smarter transport solutions that make road operations safer and more efficient.
Malaysia to invest billions in rail development
September 12, 2013
Malaysia plans to spend a staggering US$50 billion to develop its rail network over the next seven years, including a high-speed rail linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore set for 2020, and the urban mass rapid transit system that is rolling out in 2017. Compared to developed countries where rail transport makes up a third of public transportation, Malaysia's share is less than four per cent.