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RBF Consulting selected for ‘hot spots’ feasibility analysis
April 17, 2012
RBF Consulting has been selected by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to provide transportation planning and engineering for the Measure R funded I-605 Congestion ‘Hot Spots’ Feasibility Analysis. Hot spots are identified as major traffic congestion areas, attributed to increasing passenger car and truck traffic, localised capacity and/or operational constraints on the freeway, or arterial street system.
Calls for drunk driving prevention research measure
April 17, 2012
A broad range of safety, auto, insurance and alcohol industry groups and companies has called on the US Congress to pass legislation to provide funding for an advanced drunk driving detection research programme. They claim it could lead to more than 8,000 fewer highway fatalities each year and a nationwide economic cost saving of approximately US$130 billion annually. In a letter to House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee the groups called for inclusion of the ROADS SAFE (Research of Alcohol Detect
Airbiquity and Coulomb partner
April 17, 2012
Airbiquity, a specialist in connected vehicle services, and Coulomb Technologies, the creator of the ChargePoint Network, have announced a joint partnership to integrate the ChargePoint Network’s driver services into Airbiquity’s Green Vehicle service portfolio. Using Airbiquity’s connected vehicle service delivery platform, Choreo, the two companies will make ChargePoint Network driver services available to Airbiquity EV customers, including station location, real-time availability and reservations.
Nedap AVI and FAAC announce strategic partnership
April 17, 2012
After years of successfully cooperating for the Italian market, Nedap AVI and FAAC Group have announced a strategic global cooperation for solutions in vehicle access and parking. This strategic agreement will also include the marketing and sales of Nedap AVI products in combination with Zeag parking management systems. “The Nedap vehicle access product line fits naturally within the FAAC product range for vehicle access and parking. After years of cooperating for the Italian market, we are glad to also ext
Historic milestone for EVs claimed
April 17, 2012
Utah State University Research Foundation's Energy Dynamics Laboratory has announced that it has operated the first high-power, high-efficiency wireless power transfer system capable of transferring enough energy to quickly charge an electric vehicle. The lightweight, low-profile system demonstrated 90 per cent electrical transfer efficiency of five kilowatts over an air gap of 10 inches. The demonstration at EDL's North Logan, Utah, facility further validates that electric vehicles can efficiently be charg
Capita Symonds wins contract extension with UK Highways Agency
April 17, 2012
Capita Symonds’ Innovations team has secured a contract extension, valued at over US$1.1 million to $11.2 million UK Highways Agency Traffic Information System (HATRIS) contract which will take the project through to the end of March 2012. The HATRIS system, which has been developed and enhanced by Capita Symonds since 2005, is used to monitor and report on vehicle journey times across set routes on the motorway and trunk road network. This enables the Highways Agency and Department for Transport to identif
Dana increases equity stake in China- and India-based operations
April 17, 2012
Dana Holding Corporation has completed two transactions that will enhance its position for further growth in the emerging markets of China and India. The company has increased its stake in Dongfeng Dana Axle Company, a China-based commercial-vehicle axle joint venture, to 50 per cent and has also acquired the commercial-vehicle axle business of Axles India. "We are encouraged by the continued strong performance of the truck and bus markets in China, and of our partner Dongfeng, and look forward to the stren
First UK variable bus lane opens
April 17, 2012
UK highways servicing contractor, Ringway, has successfully delivered a scheme on behalf of Solihull Council to improve travel links in the Solihull area that includes a new variable bus lane, the first of its kind in the UK.The variable bus lane uses the Ringway-installed CCTV and digital signage to adjust the status of the bus lane in order that it does not remain empty during peak traffic times. “This pioneering bus lane is just one aspect of the ANITA Project, which has seen Ringway provide a dedicated
Commercial vehicle restrictions from TomTom
April 17, 2012
TomTom has announced the availability of Commercial Vehicle Restrictions integrated into TomTom Pro navigation solutions for the US. In some states, business vehicles can be restricted from using particular roads and classification varies by state and any vehicle that bears commercial license plates must adhere to these regulations.
Connected nav shipments to reach 27 million by 2016
April 17, 2012
Connected infotainment will be dominated by connected navigation, with global shipments reaching 27 million by 2016, according to a new report from ABI Research. However, widespread interest in multimedia streaming, social media integration, and in-car Wi-Fi is still unproven.
IBM, Honda, and PG&E enable smarter charging for EVs
April 17, 2012
IBM has teamed with American Honda Motor Company and Pacific Gas and Electric Company on a new pilot project that will allow communication between electric vehicles (EVs) and the power grid. This project will demonstrate and test an electric vehicle's ability to receive and respond to charge instructions based on the grid condition and the vehicle's battery state. With visibility into charging patterns, energy providers will have the ability to more effectively manage charging during peak hours and create c
Melbourne to stage the 2016 ITS World Congress
April 17, 2012
During this week’s 12th Asia Pacific Forum and Exhibition being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a meeting of the ITS Asia-Pacific board of directors has overwhelmingly endorsed Melbourne, Australia, as the venue for the 2016 ITS World Congress. It is expected that decision will be formally ratified and approved at the ITS World Congress Board meeting being held in Tokyo, Japan, in May. Brian Negus, president of ITS Australia, told ITS International that being selected by nine votes to one over Singapore, th
US to field trial connected vehicle technology
April 17, 2012
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced that the University of Michigan will conduct a road safety field trial in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which will include the installation of wireless devices in up to 3,000 vehicles in one location, to evaluate the effectiveness of connected vehicle technology to prevent crashes.
Repeal of motorcycle helmet law in Michigan is disappointing
April 17, 2012
AAA Michigan says it is extremely disappointed that legislation which allows some motorcyclists to ride without a helmet on the state's roadways has been signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder. Public Act 98, which has now come into effect, is poor public policy and will increase motorcycle fatalities and injuries, AAA Michigan reports. The repeal erases more than three decades of Michigan's mandatory helmet law. The new law allows motorcyclists to ride without a helmet if they have a $20,000 medical poli
RFID market will be worth over $70 billion over next five years
April 17, 2012
The market for RFID transponders, readers, software, and services will generate US$70.5 billion from 2012 to the end of 2017. The market was boosted by a growth of $900 million in 2011 and the market is expected to grow 20 per cent YOY per annum. Government, retail, and transportation and logistics have been identified as the most valuable sectors, accounting for 60 per cent of accumulated revenue over the next five years. “To date, the automotive sector has been a strong proponent of RFID, largely for immo