• Aviation Safety: Better Data and Targeted FAA Efforts Needed to Identify and Address Safety Issues of Small Air Cargo Carriers. GAO-09-614, June 24, 2009 (55 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-614
• Highway Trust Fund: Options for Improving Sustainability and Mechanisms to Manage Solvency. GAO-09-845T, June 25, 2009 (14 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-845T
• International Aviation: Federal Efforts Help Address Safety Challenges in Africa, but Could Benefit from Reassessment and Better Coordination. GAO-09-498, June 16, 2009 (38 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-498
• Public Transportation: New Starts Program Challenges and Preliminary Observations on Expediting Project Development. GAO-09-763T, June 3, 2009 (16 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-763T
• Recovery Act: The Department of Transportation Followed Key Federal Requirements in Developing Selection Criteria for Its Supplemental Discretionary Grants Program. GAO-09-785R, June 30, 2009 (7 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-785R

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Home Screen RATP Apps	Welcome Screen RATP Apps
RATP Clickable Network Map	RATP Clickable Network Map: itinerary planning

RATP Clickable Network Map: itinerary confirmation	Itinerary Search
Itinerary Results	Itinerary Results: Options
Localisation using iPhone’s GPS	Traffic Information by Type
Traffic Information by Transport Mode	Traffic Information Details
Timetables Main Screen	Timetables: Buses (example)
Timetables: Search of a Specific Route	Timetables: Selecting Direction
Timetables: Selecting Departure Stop	Timetables: Display Time of the Next Buses

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The train was riding approximately at 188 mph or 300 kph. This is not top speed but… commercial speed: Marseilles to Paris in 3h08, 863 kilometers (or 537 miles)… Average speed of 171.2 mph with a stop in Avignon. What do you say?

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• Aviation Security: TSA Has Completed Key Activities Associated with Implementing Secure Flight, but Additional Actions Are Needed to Mitigate Risks. GAO-09-292, May 13, 2009 (62 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-292
• Federal Transit Administration: Progress and Challenges in Implementing and Evaluating the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program. GAO-09-496, May 21, 2009 (52 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-496
• Freight Rail Security: Actions Have Been Taken to Enhance Security, but the Federal Strategy Can Be Strengthened and Security Efforts Better Monitored. GAO-09-243, April 21, 2009 (123 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-243
• Motor Carrier Safety: Commercial Vehicle Registration Program Has Kept Unsafe Carriers from Operating, but Effectiveness Is Difficult to Measure. GAO-09-495, May 12, 2009 (37 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-495
• Responses to Questions for the Record: March 18, 2009, Hearing on ATC Modernization: Near-Term Achievable Goals. GAO-09-718R, May 20, 2009 (14 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-718R

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“MTA grants Italian rail car builder more time in contract negotiations” by Maeve Reston, Los Angeles Times, May 28, 2009

Los Angeles County’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority board delayed a decision today on whether to hire an Italian rail manufacturer to build 100 cars needed for Metro’s light rail line extensions. The delay — the second since March — would give MTA officials more time to work out the details of a new offer by the firm, AnsaldoBreda, for a $300-million financial guarantee on the potential 100-car contract. [...]

Link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/05/mta-grants-more-time-to-controversial-italian-rail-car-builder.html

“Subsidies attracting riders to mass transit” by Sean Holstege, The Arizona Republic, June 2, 2009

When Jim Wilson took a job at Arizona Public Service Co. a year ago, he figured he’d pay $75 a week in gas and $40 a month on parking to commute from Surprise to downtown Phoenix. So, when APS offered him a transit pass for free, he was thrilled. [...]

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/traffic/lightrail/articles/2009/06/02/20090602subsidy0602.html

“Time For Feds To Fund Mass Transit Operating Expenses?” by Linda Caruso, The National Journal, June 1, 2009

Americans are using public transportation in record numbers — taking 10.7 billion trips last year, an increase of 4 percent over 2007 — yet because of declining state and local budgets, many mass transit systems are facing the prospect of raising fares, cutting service and laying off staff. [...]

Link: http://transportation.nationaljournal.com/2009/06/is-it-time-for-the-feds-to-fun.php

“Recession hasn’t slowed light rail traffic” by Steve Harrison, Charlotte Observer, May 28, 2009

The Lynx Blue Line averaged 15,121 weekday trips in April – surprisingly high ridership given the severe recession. Charlotte’s light-rail line had been averaging roughly 14,000 trips for much of the year, and the Charlotte Area Transit System expected it to decline because fewer people are working. [...]

Link: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/749244.html

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“Rail industry urges shorter trains off-peak to cut carbon emissions”, The Guardian, May 28, 2009

The rail industry is urging the government to run shorter trains in order to meet Britain’s climate change obligations. Removing carriages outside rush hour would conserve energy and reinforce rail’s reputation as one of the greenest modes of transport, says an industry manifesto published today. Network Rail, owner of rail infrastructure, and the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) argue they can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2020 by running shorter trains at off-peak times. [...]

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/28/railway-trains-climate-change-carbon-emissions

“Union Pacific CEO: Regulation Inflating Funding Costs” by Doug Cameron, Dow Jones Newswires, May 27, 2009

CHICAGO -(Dow Jones)- The head of Union Pacific Corp. (UNP) warned Wednesday railroads face inflated funding costs because of uncertainty about future industry regulation. James Young, chief executive, intensified his criticism of the planned reauthorization of the Transportation Act later this year, which he said could damage future industry investment. “It’s bad law,” said Young in remarks to a rail shippers conference in Chicago. [...]

Link: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200905271341DOWJONESDJONLINE000780_FORTUNE5.htm

“Italian railways says to bid for Veolia Cargo”, Reuters.com, May 18, 2009

Italian railways Ferrovie dello Stato said on Monday it would bid for Veolia Cargo (VIE.PA), which competes on freight transport with French state-owned railway company SNCF.[...]

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSLI51107520090518

“European Train Travel: Working on the Railroad”, by Bruce CROMLEY, Time.com, May 28, 2009

Europe’s railroad industry, for decades dominated by stodgy state-owned monopolies, is ready for a renaissance of its own. A looming round of deregulation is set to spark an industry restructuring, pitting existing state-owned railroads against smaller private upstarts.[...]

Link: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1901431,00.html?iid=tsmodule

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood inspecting a TGV in Paris

Source: AFP

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The Jury of Globe Forum (www.globeforum.com) has selected 100 companies that offer the most exciting sustainable innovations and that are most likely to succeed, from more than 500 candidates from 16 countries. One of the companies selected is the Swedish developer of Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) systems Beamways AB. Being a part of the Sustainable Innovators 100 will enable Beamways to market its concept to investors and decision makers from all corners of the world, many of whom act outside the specialist networks where the Beamways concept is already well established.

Beamways CEO, Mr. Bengt Gustafsson, welcomes this opportunity. “We are proud to be selected”, he says and continues, “PRT systems are after many years as a technology playground with fanciful demonstration projects finally emerging as a serious tool to help solve the traffic problems of our cities. Our technology addresses the individual needs for flexibility in time and efficient routing while also improving the environment and public safety. We can also show that PRT can be made financially efficient for all parties in competition with other public transport systems and individual automobile traffic.”

Gustav Gorecki of the Globe Forum organization says: “Beamways is exactly the type of company we want to help develop. Early, competent and with a concept that is both perfectly in line with the targets of our organization as well as making sense businesswise.”

About Beamways

Beamways AB is a privately owned company based in Linköping, Sweden. The Beamways concept for Personal Rapid Transport (PRT) system has been developed over two years.

Beamways is in a two year period where it will conduct a number of studies to verify that the basic concepts works. Patents for the main ideas will also be obtained. After this period further capital will be needed to prove the concept with a complete test track.

In parallel with this technical development project Beamways also engages in political lobbying activities to promote PRT, participates in PRT studies and research and conducts marketing activities.

More information is available on our home page www.beamways.com.

About Globe Forum

The annual business conference and networking event Business Innovation for Sustainable Growth, is where entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, investors and government from different countries and regions are invited to create relations and develop sustainable business.

Globe Forum brings together a large number of different interested parties to create the leading marketplace for innovation and business development by turning a vision of the future into market opportunities and by promoting sustainable innovations between our focus markets.

www.globeforum.com

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However, after a couple of months of operation, the viability of the system has been proven endangered by the cost of maintenance… Around 1,500 bikes are repaired every day and these costs are definitely not compensated by user’s fares. According to internal sources, every bike wocould cost around €2,500 to JCDecaux, whereas only €1,000 were included in the business plan and budget.

As of today, the estimates are impressive: up to 11,600 bikes vandalized, 7,800 bikes that disappeared, and more than 3,200 complaints filed by JCDecaux for theft or vandalization. These alarming figures should however be put aside the large number of daily users (78,000 in average) and the number of kilometers travelled per bike per year (estimated at 10,000 km/year!). The quality of bikes even if necessary for users to enjoy a pleasant ride is not only a matter of maintenance and people need to be conscious they have to care about the vehicle they use, as any other mean of public transportation, as if it was a train, a bus, or a subway…

References

• Article: Vandalisme : Vélib’, un service pour tous, à chacun d’en prendre soin !, Velib Newsletter : here
• Article: Le Vélib’, si populaire mais si cher, lefigaro.fr, June 24, 2008: here

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This report evaluates the applicability, Federal policy implications, and possible public and private sector roles related to peak pricing strategies at ports and intermodal facilities in the U.S. and includes a detailed analysis of the PierPASS OffPeak Program, key port market characteristics, institutional issues pertinent to port peak pricing programs, and policy and program considerations.

The report is available at: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09014/index.htm

For additional information please contact: Ed Strocko, FHWA Office of Freight Management and Operations,  ed.strocko@dot.gov or +1 202-366-2997

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