More than fifty people braved the unusual July rain to see the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration demonstration, hosted by ITS Oregon on Wednesday. About fifteen people came from the Institute of Transportation Engineers Conference being held in downtown Portland. Portland Transportation Commissioner Sam Adams, Metro Council President David Bragdon, and Metro Councilor Rod Park were also there. In addition, staff from the Columbia River Crossing project and Metro attended. We had good media coverage and already there have been stories in The Oregonian, the Daily Journal of Commerce and on 1190 KEX. Pictures of the day are forthcoming. Thanks to all of those who made it happen, including TriMet, ODOT, and ITS Oregon’s volunteer squad.
VII Demonstration a Rainy-Day Success!
July 19, 2007
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Posted by makler
ITS America seeks new CEO/President
July 16, 2007ITS Oregon’s parent organization, the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, is seeking a new CEO and President. A press release and complete job description are available on the ITSA website.
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Posted by makler
Prez Picks: ITS Headlines from May 2007
July 2, 2007In case you haven’t seen it, Bernie Wagenblast maintains a daily digest of ITS news from around the country and around the world. His archive can be found at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications
I’ve just gotten around to browsing through the headlines from May and thought I would share a few that seem relevant to ITS Oregon. I encourage you to read and share your thoughts – this is a blog, afterall!
State is exploring traffic congestion – this oddly titled article in the Bergen County Record describes efforts underway in New Jersey to establish a traveler information system. Because EZ Pass is so prevalent, they have the advantage of using transponder-equipped cars as de facto probes.
511.org’s Improved Park & Ride Lot Information Makes It Easier to Connect to BART – this press release describes a promising effort in the Bay Area to provide real-time traveler information about park-and-ride availability at BART stations.
SEPTA’s nerve center tracks trains, buses by the minute – this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer reports efforts by SEPTA, which is Philadelphia’s transit agency, to create a centralized operations center (like TriMet’s Ruby Junction).
Port of Tacoma Picked to Test Cargo Detection – The Seattle Times reports that Tacoma was selected for a Department of Homeland Security technology demonstration.
Operations Center to Help Traffic Flow During I-10 Project – From the Arizona Daily Star, one of many articles describing how the Tucson region is counting on a brand new TOC to manage congestion during a major, multi-year highway widening project.
I hope you enjoy this. I encourage you to look up Bernie’s email/blog – there’s a lot happening out there.
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Posted by makler
Vehicle Infrastructure Integration Demonstration Coming to Portland on July 18th
July 2, 2007Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) is the next wave of advanced intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technology that has the ability to support improvements in the management and operations of our roadway system. VII is a movement toward equipping vehicles to communicate with each other and the roadway in real-time. To reduce traffic congestion, decrease emergency response time, decrease fuel consumption and increase roadway safety, VII supports interaction among traffic management, emergency response, traveler information and vehicle control systems.
On July 18th, the Intelligent Transportation Society of Oregon (ITS Oregon), is hosting a local demonstration of VII technology at the Portland Expo Center. The demonstration itself involves a regular car that will be outfitted with various technologies that communicate with the driver as well as an intersection that will be set up in the demonstration area. Participants will be able to ride in (and possibly drive) the demonstration vehicle on a closed course.
For more information, including hours and directions, please contact Jon Makler
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Posted by makler
2007 ITSA Annual Meeting Debrief
July 2, 2007On Friday, June 15th, ITS Oregon hosted a special event in which Galen McGill (ODOT) and Dean Deeter (Athey Creek Consultants) reported on their experiences at the ITS America Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, CA. The Center for Transportation Studies at Portland State University was kind enough to host the event, which enables anybody to view the archived session as a webcast. You can watch a live stream or download the file.
Galen’s highlights
- In-vehicle navigation systems from Square Loop and Dash Navigation
- USDOT programs, including $1 billion for congestion initiatives
- 2008 Annual Meeting and World Congress in New York City (November)
- ITSA’s “Vision Zero” safety campaign, which focuses on active, rather than passive, safety systems
Dean’s highlights
- Deployment of VII in the San Francisco Bay Area
- Travel time providers, such as Air Sage
- Systems Engineering as a “cornerstone” concept
- Mileage-based pricing
- Integrated corridor management
You can view the Galen-Dean June 15 Powerpoint presentation
