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IRF NewsFlash

December 10, 2008

IRF NewsFlash is a weekly news service that brings you the latest road industry headlines from around the world, keeps you updated on IRF events and publicizes IRF member news. If you would like your company's news broadcast to IRF's worldwide network, please contact Magid Elabyad.

In This Issue

IRF News

• IRF Upcoming Events
• IRF Member News

Industry News

• Road Safety
• Intelligent Transportation
• Road Financing
• Environment

IRF Upcoming Events

• 2009 IRF Fellows Orientation & Executive Leadership Program
  January 7 - 17, 2008
  Washington, DC USA
  
  
• IRF 2009 Annual Awards Banquet
  January 12, 2009
  Washington, DC USA
  
• IRF Road Scholar Career Fair
  January 14, 2009
  Washington, DC USA
  
• 2009 IRF Student Essay Competition
  Deadline for Submissions - May 31, 2009
  

IRF Member News

• A bright idea: lighted stop signs
• ... Gee the traffic is terrific - HNTB survey shows traffic congestion puts infrastructure improvements on Americans' wish lists
• Federal and provincial governments complete twinned highway 101 between Falmouth and Avonport, Nova Scotia
• Colombia to boost private sector participation in infrastructure projects

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Industry News

Road Safety

December 4, 2008

• Officials drop speed limit on E-5 after narrowing lanes for Metrobus line
• OCRS system will now include foreign trucks
• Spy Video Cameras Bring 1984 Home
• National auto club, Toyota, UP partner in road safety conference

December 5, 2008

• Rowan junior wins student essay competition
• HSE could drive telematics uptake
• RTA launches world class "Transition Scheme" for training driving instructors & examiners
• Road trauma steals the focus of this new lacklustre reality series

December 8, 2008

• Volvo: Green Corridors Provide for Safer and More Environmentally Sound Transports
• Campaign for improved school bus safety goes to Holyrood
• "Get There Safe" campaign on
• Road deaths toll poised to fall
• Kids learn about road safety the fun way
• Cops stunned by road risks
• Kampala city to get flyover roads
• Youth message proves challenging
• POLITICAL COMMITMENT IS NEEDED SO AS TO CHANGE CURRENT TRAVEL SPEED

December 9, 2008

• Infrastructure building is the real lifeline
• Volvo Joins Green Corridor Project in Sweden
• California Truck Driving Schools Offer New Careers!

December 10, 2008

• RTA launches scheme for training driving instructors
• Both sides back hoon crackdown
• Green corridors for better transport

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Intelligent Transportation

December 4, 2008

• Passage of Two Key Transportation Measures in California is Expected to Provide Significant Funds to Reduce Congestion
• Video analytics system detects pedestrians
• ITS's Gil Carmichael tells 15th World Congress that railroad-related interstate II transportation system is needed

December 5, 2008

• MDOT explores high-tech ways of tracking congestion

December 8, 2008

• Toll lane opening day ends without a bump
• Eutecus provides embedded video analytics technology for intelligent transportation
• IBM Research Unveils Breakthrough In Solar Farm Technology

December 9, 2008

• University of Hawaii-Manoa Announces Million Dollar Competition on Sustainability
• Research and Markets: Wireless Communications for Intelligent Transportation Systems
• BRT: A Case of Mistaken Identity

December 10, 2008

• Juno Beach, Florida Boosts Public Safety and Provides Residents With Wireless Broadband Access Service Based on Tropos Network
• Toyota and IEEE Partner to Recognize Environmental and Safety Technologies with Innovative Award
• INRIX Gains Significant Momentum in Public Sector Delivering Traffic Data to Government Agencies in Eleven States
• Transportation job fair set
• Focus on the World Commercial Vehicle Telematics Market
• Vision on wheels
• RuggedCom Expands Ethernet Switch Product Line Targeting Industrial Applications
• WYDOT opening new Transportation Management Center

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Road Financing

December 4, 2008

• Crescent City bridge audit calls for dumping toll-takers
• Australia: Greens want limits imposed on infrastructure fund
• Financial Federal Corporation Reports First Quarter Results
• Economy, automakers dominate Oakland County Business Roundtable discussion
• State looks at sliding gas tax rate to help finance halted road projects
• Africa Dodges the Financial Bullet, but Recession Is Another Matter

December 5, 2008

• Penn Pike details 25% toll increases saying mission changed to supporting state roads, transit
• Financial Federal Corporation Reports First Quarter Results
• Framework Put In Place For Special Assessments; Decision A Long Way Off

December 8, 2008

• China's leaders discuss economic policy for 2009
• Good roads, bridges will require gas tax increase
• Authority member: Public will play part in toll talk
• Traveling Through - Highway Trust Fund revenue falls as Americans drive less
• Competition Rises for Trails Grants

December 9, 2008

• Toward a Comprehensive Assessment of Road Pricing Accounting for Land Use
• NFL Stadium Negotiations Continue

December 10, 2008

• ERF calls for more transport spending in Europe
• The one tax that should be raised
• Point of view: Townships bear burden for dispatch
• NTTA executive director resigns

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Environment

December 4, 2008

• Study: CN rail deal would benefit area
• CalTrans completes Highway 12 truck lane
• Proposed Greenhouse Gas Regs Would Cut Highway Funding, Says ARTBA
• Detour expected to clog I-240
• A's seriously considering new stadium site in Fremont, near planned BART station
• Transition ramps to be installed on Tappan Zee Bridge
• Bridge goes horizontal, on track for spring 2009 opening
• Can downtown Columbia’s woes be fixed?
• South Berwick fights traffic jams
• Decongest me
• Rapid Routers Receives Patents for Green Technology Improvements
• EJ&E Sale Would Generate $60 Million Increase in Chicago Region's Gross Regional Product

December 5, 2008

• Planning law hasn't prevented Fla. growing pains
• New Bellevue budgets focus on transportation, utility challenges
• Rail Relocation group launches campaign ahead of '09 leg session
• Light rail's success outshines woes, Charlotte exec says
• Route 22 isn't worth widening, residents tell interviewers
• Statewide Coalition Kicks Off Effort to Put Texas Transportation on Track
• FTA signs off on Dulles rail
• South African Residents Up in Arms Over Single Lane on Oxford
• Draft EIR: Marina Center will bring minimal traffic increase
• Sharp Sticks: Not your grandpa's WPA
• PennDOT joins campaign to call attention to infrastructure
• Lane closings this week on Route 95

December 8, 2008

• Stimulus plan gives boost to county infrastructure
• Recession, schmession: Raleigh's growth topped only by Las Vegas
• South Street Bridge To Close For 2-Year Reconstruction Project
• Calabasas announces school bus incentive program
• Congressman talks traffic, Attention turns to Reyes Adobe
• Road work adds to woe for Taneytown businesses
• Experts: New I-5 bridge won't spur sprawl
• What are tiny leaning cars?
• Caltrans finishes one project, to close lanes for another
• Gauging of rail merger an 'intense disappointment'
• Planning law hasn't prevented growing
• Fuel Tax May Add To Woes Of Bus Services
• ADOT should consider new route
• Kaine Receptive to Panel's Call for Deep Cuts in Greenhouse Emissions
• Cameroon: Akwa - Traffic Congestion Due To Rehabilitation Work
• Public workshop forecasts effects of traffic growth on Va. 7

December 9, 2008

• I-94 wins honor as top traffic headache
• Businesses hope for boost from reopened Hwy. 40
• Stimulus plan gives boost to county infrastructure
• New Border Crossing Gets Boost from Governor
• Senate EPW chair calls on Obama to invest in infrastructure and green energy
• All Infrastructure Spending Is Not Created Equally
• Task Force Recommends Funding Increase
• Rebuilding N.J.'s Economy, Infrastructure
• Case Study: Reduce Traffic By Resolving Contradictions
• State clears hurdles on Cleveland shoreway

December 10, 2008

• Brigham City looking for some pork
• East- West Connector (former Route 84, Option 2)
• Norfolk opposes all six ideas to expand bridge-tunnel
• Stimulus Shouldn't Be an Excuse for Pork
• Regional Transportation to Offer Frank Assessment
• Mass transit revival
• Traffic may shift to new bridge side by Christmas
• Approval may be near for rail sale
• New York projects on public works wish list
• Investment for mass transit needed now, group says

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