June 2009

New York City takes 311 to cyberspace

June 30, 2009

The City of New York lauched 311 Online, a one-stop web portal for information about city services. The city also announced 311 Skype and Twitter accounts.

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Iowa DOT blocks social media applications over security concerns

June 30, 2009

The Iowa Department of Transportation has blocked online social media applications — including Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace — for its 3,000 employees because of security concerns.

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New York City seeks next big app

June 30, 2009

New York City Mayor David Bloomberg launched NYC Big Apps, an annual competition to encourage the public to create innovative applications using information from approximately 80 datasets from 32 city agencies and commissions.

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UTA’s Segways: Tools or toys?

June 30, 2009

Utah Transit Authority police are using Segway electric scooters to patrol TRAX light-rail platforms and Frontrunner commuter rail parking lots, thanks to ARRA funding.

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Hybrid buses come to Melbourne

June 30, 2009

The Victoria government will test two diesel-electric hybrid buses on suburban routes in greater Melbourne, marking the first such trial in Australia.

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District of Columbia launches “Where’s My Bus?”

June 29, 2009

The District of Columbia government launched a mobile application for its Circulator bus. Where’s My Bus? allows riders with an Internet-enabled device to learn how close the next bus is.

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Who owns Muni real-time data?

June 29, 2009

Several San Francisco (CA) blogs are covering a fascinating story about the use of San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s real-time data.

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UK commuters could use phone to pay for travel

June 29, 2009

UK Transport Secretary Lord Adonis is looking into options for expanding use of smart-card technology to pay for transit trips.

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SEPTA to inspect automatic train-control signals

June 29, 2009

SEPTA will inspect the automatic train-control signals on its 13-mile Market-Frankford Line following last week’s WMATA crash and a reported problem with the automated signals in Boston’s MBTA last month.

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New FTA report on implementing advanced technologies for rural transit

June 26, 2009

The Federal Transit Administration issued a new report: Operational Test for the Implementation of Advanced Technologies in Rural Transit Service.

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