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Increasing numbers of US customers are turning to alternative fuel vehicles, according to the latest research from Mintel, which shows that sales are up 73%, with nearly 440,000 hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electrics sold thus far this year. The rapid sales growth in hybrid and electric vehicles makes the segment the fastest growing in the US for 2012, supplanting the still fast growing, compact car vehicle segment. The number of plug-in and electric models available to the public has nearly quadrupled over

European associations representing industry, research providers, academia, infrastructure, operators and users in the road, rail, air and waterborne transport sectors combine their voices to call for an appropriate budget share for transport research in the future Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. Transport is the backbone of the European economy, being fundamental to the four freedoms of the European Union, and underpins social interaction and development throughout the Member S

Transport for London (TfL) has allocated more than US$240 million transportation projects in London, aimed at improving traffic flow and making both walking and cycling safer. The funding has been allocated through the Local Implementation Plan (LIP), allowing the money to be spent on projects that support the Mayor's Transport Strategy. "This funding will benefit all of London and everyone living in, working in or visiting the capital," London Mayor Boris Johnson said. "A world class city deserves a world

A custom-built application, powered by ParkMe, enables drivers in the Washington, DC metropolitan area to instantly locate available parking at the touch of a finger with the introduction of parking operator Colonial Parking's new website location finder map and mobile app for iPhone. ParkMe allows the data from Colonial's 250 locations to be streamed to mobile apps, in-car navigation systems and GPS devices and provides drivers with parking information, such as rates, entrance points and even real-time oc

The Smart Cities Stakeholder Platform, part of the Smart Cities and Community Partnership, which was launched by the European Commission in early 2012, works as an advisory body for the EU’s leading research initiative on the future of cities. Members include technology producers, energy providers and urban visionaries. The open-invitation group is already 1,000 members strong, and is currently building a database of high-tech solutions to help build the smart cities of tomorrow. The ideas, coming from the

Sydney bus passengers can now track whether their bus service is running late, with the New South Wales (NSW) government making real-time information on bus movements available to mobile app developers. The latest versions of TripView, Arrivo Sydney and TripGo allow users to locate the nearest bus stop and ticket machine, predict when a bus is to arrive and see where a bus is on its route using GPS data from the Public Transport Information Priority System (PTIPS). The real time information will initially b

The city of Sacramento in California is to trial electric vehicle (EV) charging on its own EVs. Evatran, developer of Plugless Power wireless electric vehicle charging technology, has announced that the city is to take part in its Apollo Trial Program, joining industry participant such as Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, Duke Energy, Google, DTE Energy, and the Hertz Corporation. Plugless Power technology, based on the 100 year old principle of magnetic induction, was developed to allow electric vehicle

The Greater Wellington Regional Council is developing a transport study to upgrade the public transport system in the city of Wellington, New Zealand, with the study due to be wrapped up by April 2013. The council plans to build a light rail network to connect Kilbirnie and the Central Business District (CBD), and is also considering upgrading bus lanes or constructing a bus corridor under the transport study. Greater Wellington Regional Council chair Fran Wilde said stretching the study to include the sout

Canada-headquartered Mentor Engineering is to provide several agencies with comprehensive Intelligent Transportation Systems to help them better manage operations and enhance customer service. Capital Area Rural Transportation (CARTS) in Austin, Texas, has been a long-time Mentor paratransit client. Now, CARTS will be implementing Mentor’s fixed route solution, which includes the Mentor MyRide passenger information system. With MyRide, passengers are able to get real-time schedule and bus information anywhe

Australia’s Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and transportation consultants ARRB Group (ARRB) have signed a new partnership agreement that provides committed funding for capability development, research and technology transfer. The agreement builds on the long history of successful collaboration between ARRB and TMR and is precisely aligned to the strategic goals of both organisations. The primary technical focus of the agreement will be to create a national asset research centre of e

Austrian rail telecommunication systems integrator Kapsch CarrierCom has been awarded the contract to maintain the entire GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway) network on behalf of British railway infrastructure operator Network Rail. The multi-year agreement will see Kapsch supporting Network Rail’s control centre team to ensure the highest levels of network availability, enabling higher frequency of train services and greater safety standards. GSM-R is an international wireless communi

A real-time traffic data collection system developed by the Texas A&M University Transportation Institute (TTI) is going nationwide and could go global, according to the university. The development, known as AWAM (Anonymous Wireless Address Matching), uses the first portion of the MAC address from anonymous wireless devices, such as Bluetooth-enabled devices, carried in vehicles to measure the travel time between two points along freeways and arterial roads in rural and urban environments. It provides real-

A new 3G wireless communications solution which allows Siemens UTMC OTUs to be connected to the company’s PC SCOOT UTC instation has been launched by the company following extensive field trials. The newly released 3G option is available on Gemini2 and is provided by the use of an approved 3G router and antenna kit and is quick and easy to install. It allows junctions to be added onto the UTC system without the need for physically wired or fibre links, reducing installation and civil engineering costs. Ac

UK-based metric parking is to supply a further twenty-seven of their Elite pay and display parking machines for an extension to a parking project in a suburb of the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. The order follows the shipment of eighty-two similar machines last year to the city of Petaling Jaya and brings the total number of Metric machines in Malaysia to more than 1,000. Metric Group export manager Mike Hewett praised the part played by the Metric Group’s Malaysian distributor My One Solution, and said:

The Municipality of Randers in Denmark is using Bluetooth technology from Danish company Blip Systems to improve traffic flow in the city. Consultancy company Cowi developed the Cowi CitySense system using BlipTrack sensors from Blip Systems. The popularity of Bluetooth technology makes it ideal for traffic monitoring, as increasing numbers of drivers use Bluetooth-equipped headsets or hands-free systems for their mobile phone. Small boxes with built-in Bluetooth sensors monitor traffic on a 2.5 km long st