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FEHRL and FHWA sign memorandum of cooperation
April 19, 2012
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of the US Department of Transportation and the Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories (FEHRL) located in Brussels, Belgium have signed a six-year memorandum of cooperation. This agreement complements the role of the FHWA as an associate of FEHRL, which aims to increase cooperation and coordination in road research, development and deployment, taking into account the shared challenges faced by the FHWA and the members of FEHRL, and the authority pro
Another section of West Coast Green Highway EV charging infrastructure announced
April 19, 2012
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has selected AeroVironment to manufacture, supply, install and operate a network of nine fast-charging stations for electric vehicles on Interstate 5 and US 2. Stations will be located every 40 to 60 miles along stretches of I-5 between the Canadian border and Everett and between Olympia and the Oregon border, as well as along US 2 between Everett and Leavenworth.
Germany to abolish emergency telephones on federal roads
April 19, 2012
The Björn Steiger Stiftung, a German foundation originally set up to improve the response time emergency services need to help injury victims, has announced that the emergency telephones on federal, state and county roads will be abolished in all federal states in Germany except Baden-Württemberg. The foundation attributed the decision to cost reasons but also pointed out that the emergency telephones were becoming more and more superfluous due to mobile location technology.
National City deploys new signal preemtion technology
April 19, 2012
National City, in San Diego county, California, has installed Opticom multimode signal equipment to enhance safety and provide more efficient traffic signal preemption and management. Currently, more than 70 intersections are equipped with infrared (IR) signal priority technology, most of which are Opticom devices. This allows emergency responders to activate green lights en route to their destination. With the new multimode technology installed at eight intersections, traffic signals can be triggered using
Amey and URS/Scott Wilson win ITS maintenance contract
April 19, 2012
Amey and URS/Scott Wilson have won a four-year contract to manage, maintain and improve ITS throughout Wales. This includes all the associated telecommunications and tunnel systems for the entire motorway and trunk road network in Wales. The contract, which starts this month, will see the companies managing a wide range of motorway technology including telephones, signals, CCTV cameras and the two traffic management centres.
Dynalectric to modify traffic signals in LA
April 19, 2012
Emcor Group’s Dynalectric Los Angeles subsidiary has been awarded contracts by the City of Los Angeles, California, to upgrade and modify the existing traffic signal equipment in the Wilmington and Canoga Park districts of Los Angeles, as part of the city’s new automated traffic surveillance and control system. The company will be responsible for the replacement of all of the signal controllers for both districts, as well as related installation of conduit, fibre optic cables, video cameras and poles, pavem
Armenia chooses Sensys traffic monitoring technology
April 19, 2012
Sweden-headquartered Sensys Traffic working in a consortium with Armenian companies Security Dream and Ellips GA and has announced that Security Dream has signed a build-operate-transfer contract with the Armenian police force for a national traffic monitoring system for 25 years.
Fewer UK pedestrians killed as drivers stop speeding
April 19, 2012
Latest road safety figures from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) show that compliance with 30mph (48km/h) urban speed limits continues to improve while pedestrian fatality levels are falling.
Connected navigation more popular than social media and radio streaming
April 19, 2012
In a new ABI Research connected car consumer survey, 1,500 respondents in the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, and China were asked about their use (and non-use) of several services available to the ‘connected car.’ Among those who do not currently use any infotainment services, connected navigation was named as the most desired infotainment service by between 59 per cent and 72 per cent (extremely/very interested) in all countries except China, where the greatest interest was in concierge services.
Daimler and Bosch announce JV
April 19, 2012
Daimler and Robert Bosch have signed agreements on the establishment of a 50:50 joint venture (JV) for electric motors. Subject to the approval of the antitrust authoritie, the new company, which is to be set up under the name EM-motive, will develop, produce, and market innovative electric motors for electric vehicles.
Volvo developing EV range extenders
April 19, 2012
Volvo Car Corporation has announced it is taking the next step in the company's electrification strategy by producing test cars with range extenders - electric cars that are fitted with a combustion engine to increase their effective range. The projects, supported by the Swedish Energy Agency and the EU, encompass three potential technology combinations. Tests of the various concepts will get under way in the first quarter of 2012.
UITP releases ‘Combined Mobility’ position paper
April 19, 2012
The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) has reached a new official position on ‘Combined Mobility’. The document shows how traditional public transport can overcome some of its shortcomings and offer high flexibility and convenience so as to meet mobility demand of modern fellow citizens: by building up the so-called ‘sustainable mobility alliance’ with car-sharing, cycling and taxis, public transport is able to offer a full mobility portfolio and compete with the private car in terms of co
Tool to help optimise road network performance
April 19, 2012
TomTom has launched Custom Area Analysis, a historical traffic product which gives customers access to highly granular speed and bottleneck information for road networks around the world. The product supports traffic modelling and analysis of road conditions and traffic performance. By providing a complete view of what is happening across the global road network, TomTom claims that Custom Area Analysis enables enterprises and governments to better understand and more efficiently manage their local areas.
Los Angeles highway closure fears prove groundless
April 19, 2012
Fears that the closure of a heavily congested stretch of highway in the US city of Los Angeles would lead to massive gridlock over the weekend proved groundless. The demolition of the Mulholland Overpass crossing above I-405 required a 53 hour closure of the busy highway along a 16km stretch. The highway carries amongst the heaviest traffic volumes of any stretch of road in the US and there has been concern that the necessary closure would cause chaos on the city as the inhabitants rely heavily on passenger
New York unveils ‘Midtown in Motion’ traffic management system
April 19, 2012
New York Mayor Bloomberg has unveiled a new, technology-based traffic management system that allows city traffic engineers to monitor and respond to Midtown Manhattan traffic conditions in real time, improving traffic flow on the city’s most congested streets.