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Urban Traffic Control

Motown morphs into Mobility City
August 7, 2018
Detroit was once a byword for urban decay – but ITS America recently held its annual meeting there. This gave David Arminas a chance to assess how fast Motor City is moving down the road to recovery. Motor City, as Detroit is still called, was on its financial knees only five short years ago. The future looked bleak as the city and greater urban area bled jobs and population. It was on 18 July 2013 that Motown, as Detroit is also known, filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, the
Bluecity initiates Gatwick electric car sharing service
August 7, 2018
Bluecity has launched an electric car-sharing service comprising 100 vehicles for passengers travelling to and from London's Gatwick Airport. The company says a standard journey from Central London will cost around £15 in moderate traffic. Guy Stephenson, Gatwick Airport’s chief commercial officer, says the service also improves air quality. Ten cars and charging points are available on Gatwick's South Terminal forecourt. Users can reserve a car via the Bluecity app.
WSP to acquire Louis Berger in $400m deal
August 2, 2018
WSP is set to acquire US international professional services firm Louis Berger in a deal valued $400m. The transaction will add 5,000 employees to WSP and increase its reach in the US, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. Through the agreement, WSP intends to continue Louis Berger’s restructuring of its international operations and expects to incur $50m in one-time integration and restructuring costs in the coming years. Alexandre L’Heureux, president and chief executive officer of WSP, says the
UK government gets future mobility challenge underway
August 2, 2018
The UK government has unveiled plans under its Future of Mobility Grand Challenge which could change how people, goods and services move around the country. These initiatives have been outlined in the Last Mile and Future of mobility call for evidence, which provide an insight into how technology could make transport safer, more accessible and greener. Under the plans, electric cargo bikes, vans, quadricycles and micro vehicles could replace vans in UK cities as part of a strategy to change last-mile
Hertz to provide operational services for Aptiv AVs, Las Vegas
August 2, 2018
Car rental company Hertz has partnered with Aptiv to help operate and manage the technology firm’s autonomous vehicles (AVs) in Las Vegas. The initiative is set to launch this autumn and is intended to serve as a guide for the implementation of similar projects in future markets. Aptiv made 30 AVs available to Las Vegas riders using Lyft’s app in May.
Econolite to upgrade infrastructure in Caltrans District 7, Los Angeles
August 1, 2018
Econolite will provide infrastructure upgrades to the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) highways in District 7 – Los Angeles through December 2020. The $21.9m project’s stated aim is to improve safety and mobility for citizens and visitors. Under the agreement, Econolite will upgrade and replace more than 3,000 detection sensors and install new signal controllers and traffic cabinets. The contract’s scope also includes deploying new communication systems, including wireless, at
Ride sharing services increase traffic, says Schaller Consulting
August 1, 2018
Ride sharing services such as Uber and Lyft, also called transportation network companies (TNC), are increasing congestion in US cities, says Schaller Consulting. The transport consultancy’s latest report reveals TNCs add 2.6 new vehicle miles on the road for each mile of personal driving removed, increasing driving on city streets by 160%. Called The New Automobility: Lyft, Uber and the Future of American Cities, the document combines research and data from a national travel survey to create a detailed
University of Nottingham signs up with TSC’s Deep Academic Alliance
July 30, 2018
The UK’s University of Nottingham has entered into a partnership to deliver skills and technology on smart transportation. It has signed a formal agreement with Transport Systems Catapult’s (TSC) Deep Academic Alliance (DAA). The initiative is part of the UK government’s stated ambition to make the country a world leader in driverless and interconnected vehicles and intelligent transport infrastructure. The DAA supports TSC’s five-year academic engagement strategy to ensure transport innovation has g
Brigade Electronics uses ultrasonic waves to boost driving safety
July 30, 2018
Brigade Electronics says its Ultrasonic Detection System can help commercial vehicle drivers who operate in confined spaces or drive at low speeds to detect objects and people in blind spots. The solution scans an area around the vehicle using ultrasonic waves to detect moving or stationary objects - and then sends an alert to the driver. Up to two Ultrasonic Detection Systems can work alongside a camera monitor system. Meanwhile, an on-screen display module mounted inside the cab warns the driver o
Current by GE and Nokia to bring smart city technology to Canada
July 30, 2018
Current by GE is partnering with Nokia to bring smart city technology to Canada. The firms say cities will have access to digital technology to improve challenges such as parking, traffic management, public safety enhancements and monitor air quality. Through the agreement, Nokia will have access to Current by GE’s open data CityIQ platform, which will repurpose outdoor street lighting to collect data and distribute insights to cities. The combined digital solution is also expected to enable app develop