Vehicles licensed in Great Britain 2006

The Department for Transport today published National Statistics of on the stock of licensed vehicles in Great Britain in 2006.

Motor Vehicles currently licensed in Great Britain The total number of motor vehicles licensed at the end of 2006 was 1.4 per cent higher than at the end of 2005 (Table 1), at 33.4 million. There were increases in currently licensed vehicles for all body types, with the exception of company cars, where there was a decrease from 2005 to 2006. Changes from 2005 to 2006 in the stock of licensed vehicles include:

* The number of cars licensed increased by 1.1 per cent;

* The number of company cars licensed decreased by 1.0 per cent;

* The number of light goods vehicles licensed increased by 4.0 per cent;

* The number of motor cycles, scooters and mopeds licensed increased by 1.5 per cent.

* The number of heavy goods vehicles licensed increased by 0.6 per cent.

Motor Vehicles registered for the first time in Great Britain The number of vehicles registered for the first time during 2006 was 3.6 per cent lower than the number registered for the first time during 2005 (Table 2). With the exception of taxis there were decreases in first time registrations for all body types. Changes from 2005 to 2006 in the number of vehicles being registered for the first time include:

* The number of cars registered for the first time decreased by 4.2 per cent;

* The number of company cars registered for the first time decreased by 3.2 per cent;

* The number of light goods vehicles registered for the first time was relatively unchanged, decreasing by 0.4 per cent;

* The number of motor cycles, scooters and mopeds registered for the first time was relatively unchanged, decreasing by 0.3 per cent.

* The number of heavy goods vehicles registered for the first time decreased by 2.3 per cent.

Environmental Assessment Process

The environmental assessment (EA) process examines all the alternatives and environmental impacts of a major transportation initiative to determine a preferred solution. Transportation options considered include rail, transit, air, marine, and road improvements such as highway expansion or a new freeway. (See e-Laws: Environmental Assessment Act)

The approval of Ontario's Minister of the Environment is required before proceeding with an Individual EA. An Individual EA study describes all aspects of the project, including the purpose/need, alternatives, and environmental effects. This study involves consultation with agencies, stakeholders, and the general public. It takes two to four years to prepare, and results in the selection of a transportation alternative. Upon review, the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) decides if the EA is approved (with or without conditions), not approved, or referred to mediation or the EA Board for hearing.

More trains arriving on busy rail routes - Amended version

AMENDED VERSION

More than 12,000 extra seats will be provided on some of the country's busiest rail commuter routes, Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander announced today.

A package of improvements that includes expanding the Gatwick Express service, building new trains and leasing more carriages will boost capacity from the end of the year. All the additional seats will be available by the end of 2008.

The Secretary of State announced that;

* The Gatwick Express will be retained as a non-stop service between Gatwick Airport and London every 15 minutes. At the busiest times of day the service will also run beyond Gatwick to Brighton, doubling the number of express trains between Brighton and London Victoria in the high peak. Unused coaches will be taken from storage and reconditioned to provide the extra trains. At least two extra trains will also run between Redhill and London in the peak. These changes will provide more than 3,700 seats into and out of London at the busiest times.

* An extra 48 carriages will be made available on the Thameslink route operated by First Capital Connect. The first 16 are due to begin operating on the line, which runs from Bedford to Brighton through Central London, by the end of 2007 with all 48 in place by December 2008. This allows FCC to double the remaining four-carriage services to eight carriages during the peak. As a result, the company says it can add almost 8,300 seats during the busiest times. The extra coaches will be transferred from Southern.

* Southern will replace them with 48 new Electrostar coaches (the same model as the rest of its fleet). The investment of around £55 million is set against the background of the recent announcement by the Secretary of State that 1,000 new carriages are intended to be added to the network over the next seven years.

Mr Alexander said: "This is good news for both rail and air passengers. Not only are we adding more seats and more trains on some of the country's busiest rail routes, we are also keeping the fast, frequent Gatwick Express. We have done this by making better use of track-space, taking carriages out of storage and approving the building of new trains.

"The need to increase capacity is a real challenge facing the railway industry and it is a priority for my Department. No single improvement will provide all the extra capacity we want to see but piece-by-piece and route-by-route, we are working to address the challenge. I have already said that there will be 1,000 new carriages on the rail network by 2014."

The current Gatwick Express franchise will be ended early in May 2008 to allow the creation of a new franchise that will include both the Gatwick Express and Southern services.

Vehicle speeds in Great Britain: 2006

The Department for Transport today published National Statistics of vehicle speeds in Great Britain in 2006. These statistics relate to the speeds at which drivers travel in free-flow conditions across the road network.

* The level of cars exceeding the speed limit varies considerably between road types. The highest level of cars travelling over the speed limit occurred on motorways (54 per cent). This compares to 56 per cent in 2005. The lowest level was on single carriageway roads, with a speed limit of 60 mph, where 11 per cent of cars were driven over the speed limit.

* In 2006 nearly half (49 per cent) of all car drivers on 30 mph built-up roads exceeded the speed limit compared with 65 per cent in 2001 and 72 per cent ten years earlier in 1996. On 40 mph built-up roads, 28 per cent of car drivers exceeded the speed limit, this is an increase of 4 per cent on the 2005 level.

* The percentage of motorcyclists who exceeded the speed limit was similar to that of car drivers. However, the percentage of motorcycles travelling at more than 10mph above the speed limit on all road types was higher. Twenty five per cent of motorcyclists travelled at 80 mph or more on motorways compared with 17 per cent of car drivers. This compared with 27 per cent and 19 per cent respectively in 2005.

* On major, non-built-up single carriageway roads, 76 per cent of articulated heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) exceeded their 40 mph limit (28 per cent by more than 10 mph). The average speed recorded for articulated HGVs on these roads was 46 mph, just 2 mph less than the average speed of cars (48 mph), for which the limit on these roads is 60 mph.

* The survey also reveals a high incidence of speeding by HGVs on 30 mph roads: 44 per cent of 2-axle HGVs exceeded the speed limit, 15 per cent by more than 5 mph. This compares with 46 per cent and 18 per cent respectively in 2005.

What Does the Older Driver Guide Recommend?

The older drivers guide (Volume 9) includes 5 overarching objectives and 19 specific strategies. Volume 9 focuses on accommodating older drivers on the roadway as well as sustaining their driving proficiencies. The following sections offer highlights from the guidance and strategies.

Plan for an Aging Population.

The tenet behind the AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety Plan is that a comprehensive, integrated approach is needed to significantly reduce highway deaths and injuries, especially for improving the safety of older road users. Statistics clearly demonstrate the urgent need for action, which must go beyond the efforts of a single department, agency, or organization. The guide supports the principle that, "like the national plan, these State and local action plans need to reflect the input of a broad consortium of governmental agencies and organizations and interests in the private sector. Although State transportation departments can lead the effort, they need to create partnerships with other departments and agencies at the State, regional, and local levels." Potential collaborators include State offices on aging, area agencies on aging, transportation service providers, social service agencies, and various private sector organizations. Perhaps most important, seniors themselves need to be involved in the planning process.

The guide identifies several States and metropolitan planning organizations that already have addressed the challenge of planning for an aging driving population. These include California, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, and Maricopa County in Arizona. The electronic version of the guide includes links to actual planning documents that the States have developed. Patti Yanochko, program coordinator at the Center for Injury Prevention Policy & Practice in San Diego, CA, helped direct efforts in California. She says, "All of our many task force members and consultants worked diligently and with passion to produce recommendations that are meaningful and improve safety and quality of life for older adults."

Draft Bill to improve public transport and tackle congestion

A draft Bill to help improve public transport across the country and cut congestion in our towns and cities was published by the Government today. The draft Bill sets out proposals to restructure how local transport is delivered within communities. It would mean that the travelling public could benefit from local authorities taking local action to meet local transport needs.

If approved by Parliament the draft Bill would:

* Give local authorities the right mix of powers to improve the quality of local bus services, as proposed in Putting Passengers First last December following an extensive bus policy review.

* Empower local authorities in our major urban areas to review and propose their own arrangements for local transport governance to support coherent and effective transport planning and delivery.

* Update existing powers so that where local areas wish to develop proposals for local road pricing schemes, they have the freedom and flexibility to do so in a way that best meets local needs. It is expected that any scheme would be part of a wider package of measures to address local congestion problems and the draft Bill would require that the proceeds from any local schemes are spent on local transport. The draft Bill would give local authorities the flexibility and powers to deliver a tailored transport system better suited to the needs of the local area. For instance local authorities could:

* Introduce 'quality contracts' schemes to specify bus networks, timetables and fares in their local areas and to let contracts to bus operators to run those services.

* Propose reforms to the existing responsibilities of Passenger Transport Authorities and district councils in major conurbations outside London to enable a more coherent integrated approach.

* Propose new Passenger Transport Authorities in areas where they do not currently exist, and changes to the boundaries of existing Authorities where it makes sense to do so.

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander said:

"Improving public transport is vital if we are going to tackle congestion and climate change.

"Two-thirds of public transport journeys are made by bus, so it is only right that this Bill focuses on how we improve bus services.

"The measures we have published today will give local authorities the powers they need to ensure that local bus services meet local needs as part of a broader package which will give them the flexibility they need to tackle congestion."

The draft Bill is now made available for Parliamentary pre-legislative scrutiny by the House of Commons Transport Committee alongside a full public consultation.

In addition to publishing the draft Bill the Government also announced the first payments from the Urban Congestion Performance Fund totalling £2.2 million. The fund is designed to encourage local authorities in the ten largest urban areas to outperform their local congestion targets. The fund is worth £60 million in total over four years.

A High-Tech Route for Freight Efficiency

FHWA turns to the information highway to help reduce truck congestion on the Nation's roadways.

According to the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) recently released report Freight Facts and Figures 2005 (FHWA-HOP-05-071), international trade is growing faster than the overall U.S. economy. Between 1980 and 2003, the U.S. economy, measured by gross domestic product (GDP), doubled, while foreign trade quadrupled in real value, reflecting unprecedented global connectivity. Ocean, rail, and air carriers use trucks and highways for some component of almost every shipment. Already tight infrastructure capacity will be stressed further by limited new construction and the growing demand from freight transportation. In fact, the FHWA Freight Analysis Framework indicates that by 2020 freight volumes will increase by 70 percent from 1998 totals, and freight volumes through the Nation's primary gateway ports could more than double. Finding ways to improve the operational efficiency of moving this freight is critical to the Nation's economic vitality and global connectivity.

Officials at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recognize that moving freight involves moving information as well as the goods themselves. Although excellent information management can increase freight efficiency, poor information management can add costs, slow handoffs, open security gaps, create delays at gates, and even lead to erroneous freight movements.

Given the important and growing role that goods movement plays in the U.S. economy and the impact that it has on the transportation network, USDOT's ITS Joint Program Office and FHWA recently launched the Electronic Freight Management (EFM) project. EFM aims to improve the "information highway" that moves critical business information and facilitates the multimodal movement of airfreight, generating benefits for both private and public stakeholders. In particular, the project addresses weaknesses in freight data exchange processes that add costs, create security gaps, and, over time, contribute to congestion.

"It is well accepted that technology systems and electronic data represent one of the few remaining tools for improving both productivity and security," says Margaret Irwin, director of customs and cross-border operations for the American Trucking Associations. "In addition, regulatory costs can be successfully managed in the long term only by replacing labor-intensive paperwork with electronic systems. Given that international trade now represents 25 percent of our country's GDP, it is particularly important for ports and borders to operate more efficiently."

EFM advances several concepts, but the single key concept is to promote electronic data exchanges along a supply chain in an end-to-end manner more robustly than is currently being done. Typically, freight movements are supported by point-to-point communications, either paper-based or electronic, between parties who agree to such communications. Using the Internet to make data available broadly to any authorized and authenticated user in near real time is key to enabling freight transportation networks to operate more efficiently and securely. This type of data exchange provides buyers and other authorized parties with open visibility into supply chains. Program officials expect that these improvements will help to reduce unnecessary traffic on the transportation network and mitigate congestion.

What are examples of pipeline programs that core funds can support?

According to SAFETEA-LU language, States may use funds for "education [al] activities, including outreach, to develop interest and promote participation in surface transportation careers." This includes activities associated with preparing students for transportation careers, such as transportation-related internships, cooperative educational programs, activities to support universities and colleges, and scholarship programs (other than the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program, which is funded separately).

Extra funding for rural stations

Passengers on rural and regional rail services across the country are set to benefit from a £60,000 fund for Community Rail Partnerships, Rail Minister Tom Harris announced today.

The new Designated Community Rail Development Fund will help deliver improvements to make a real difference at local stations, such as more seats at stations, cycle parking and better information for passengers. It can also help fund awareness campaigns to encourage more people to use these lines.

Rail Minister Tom Harris said:

"This extra funding will support the small projects that can make a big difference to passengers using rural routes and will help Community Rail Partnerships provide services that really benefit their local community."

Community Rail Partnerships promote and develop the railway services for local people and will apply to Association of Community Rail Partnerships for the funding. A full list of the Community Rail Partnerships eligible for funding can be found below. All partnerships working on these lines can apply to the fund for a grant of up to £5,000 per route.

Jerry Swift, Network Rail's Account Director for Community Rail, said:

"Network Rail has seen real improvements around the network as a result of the work of Community Rail Partnerships. We are delighted to be able to support this initiative and we are looking forward to seeing some innovative schemes that benefit rail users and local people. Delivering a railway that meets local needs is key to seeing the network develop."

Neil Buxton, General Manager at ACoRP said:

"Community Rail Partnerships can deliver a lot from very little and I am pleased that we are working with the Department and Network Rail to get this project off the ground. Local rail is thriving in many parts of the country and with continued work we expect it to grow further over the next few years."

The following Community Rail Partnerships are eligible to apply for funding:
Abbey Line: St Albans - Watford Junction, Hertfordshire
Atlantic Coast Line: Newquay - Par, Cornwall
Barton Line: Barton-on-Humber - Cleethorpes, North Lincolnshire
Bittern Line: Norwich to Sheringham, Norfolk
Clitheroe Line: Clitheroe - Manchester, Lancashire and Greater Manchester
Derwent Valley Line: Matlock - Derby, Derbyshire
Esk Valley Line: Whitby - Middlesbrough, Teesside and North Yorkshire
Gainsborough Line: Sudbury - Marks Tey, Suffolk and Essex
Island Line: Ryde - Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Lakes Line: Oxenholme - Windermere, Cumbria
East Lancashire Line: Preston - Colne, Lancashire
Looe Valley Line: Looe - Liskeard, Cornwall
Maritime Line: Falmouth - Truro, Cornwall
Marston Vale Line: Bedford - Bletchley East, Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire
Medway Valley Line: Paddock Wood to Strood, Kent
Penistone Line: Barnsley - Huddersfield, South and West Yorkshire
Poacher Line: Skegness - Grantham, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire
Severn Beach Line: Bristol - Avonmouth - Severn Beach
South Fylde Line: Preston - Blackpool South, Lancashire
St Ives Bay Line: St Ives - St Erth, Cornwall
Tamar Valley Line: Gunnislake - Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall
Tarka Line: Exeter - Barnstaple, Devon
Wherry Lines: Norwich - Great Yarmouth and Norwich - Lowestoft, Norfolk and Suffolk

Ohio's Harvey Firestone and the Transcontinental Motor Convoy

In addition to producing seven U.S. Presidents, astronauts John Glenn and Neil Armstrong, a host of authors, actors and other celebrities, Ohio plays an important role in the 50th anniversary of our Nation’s Interstate. Harvey Firestone, founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, was born in Columbiana, Ohio, in 1868. As a young adult, he worked for the Columbus Buggy Company. In 1890, he started his own company to make rubber tires for carriages. And in1904 he joined Henry Ford to make rubber tires for the newly invented automobile. The two became family when Henry’s grandson married Harvey’s granddaughter.

In 1919, Lieutenant Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower led that famous military convoy across America as a test to see how well they could perform if the U.S. was attacked. During the 3,250-mile trip from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, the average speed was an unbelievable six miles per hour with drivers having to stop frequently to remove obstacles. Early automobiles were good only on roadways so a tractor was included in the convoy to pull cars out of mud on such unfinished roads as the Lincoln Highway. The convoy stopped at Firestone’s farm in Columbiana for a fried chicken dinner. Afterward, Harvey Firestone lent two of his trucks for the remainder of the trip. The pneumatic tires on Harvey’s trucks wore far better than the solid rubber tires on the convoy’s military vehicles-and the rest is history.

In June 2006, a national convoy retraced the route of the 1919 First Transcontinental Motor Train in reverse. On June 25, the anniversary convoy stopped in Akron, Ohio, at the Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire Company. Patrick Bauer, Ohio Division Assistant Division Administrator, attended this 50th Anniversary of the Eisenhower Interstate System Celebration with personnel from the State of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Government proposes new measures to encourage sustainable Biofuels

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander underlined the Government's commitment to sustainable biofuels today, as he launched a consultation on an environmental reporting system for this type of fuel and a package of measures to complement the reporting requirement.

The consultation is a key part of work on the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which means that by 2010, 5% of all the fuel sold on UK forecourts should come from biofuels. This is expected to save 1 million tones of carbon a year, the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the road.

In addition to the consultation, the Secretary of State today announced that:

* from April 2010 the Government aims to reward biofuels under the RTFO according to the amount of carbon they save. This will be subject to compatibility with EU and WTO requirements and future consultation on the environmental and economic impacts;

* from April 2011 the Government aims to reward biofuels under the RTFO only if they meet appropriate sustainability standards. This will be subject to the same provisos as above and subject to the development of such standards for the relevant feedstocks.

* the Government will ask the RTFO Administrator to report every three months on the effectiveness of the RTFO's environmental reporting system, and on the carbon and sustainability effects of the RTFO;

* the Government intends to set challenging targets for: the level of greenhouse gas savings we expect to see from biofuels used to meet the RTFO, the proportion of biofuels from feedstock grown to recognised sustainability standards and the amount of information we expect to be included in sustainability reports;

* the Government has asked the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership to explore the feasibility of a voluntary labelling scheme, allowing responsible retailers to show that the biofuels they supply are genuinely sustainable. Any scheme would need to be compatible with WTO rules.

Douglas Alexander said:

"Biofuels present an opportunity to address the climate change impact of transport. But we must ensure appropriate safeguards are in place. The UK is leading international debate on this issue. We are one of the first countries to develop a detailed methodology to allow transport fuel suppliers to report in detail on the carbon and sustainability impacts of their biofuels. And the comprehensive package of new measures we are proposing today only strengthens this global leadership role, by making clear our determination to put in place a mandatory sustainability framework for biofuels, putting us at the forefront globally of tackling this important issue."

To receive certificates under the RTFO scheme from April 2008, it is intended that transport fuel suppliers will have to complete a report on the carbon savings offered by their biofuels, as well as on the wider sustainability impacts associated with them. The RTFO Administrator will publish information on the environmental impacts of the RTFO. The consultation sets out the detail of the proposed requirements for these reports.

The consultation closes on 13 September. The RTFO Administrator will publish the final version of the reporting requirements as soon as possible after the RTFO Order has been made.

Our approach will be piloted with a number of transport fuel suppliers alongside the public consultation.

Outfall Organization

Because the Houston metropolitan area is flat, has relatively impermeable soils, and is subject to intense rain exceeding 114 centimeters (45 inches) per year, local transportation officials sought a high level of detail on storm water outfalls and the contributing drainage areas.

To capture this information, TxDOT developed an approach to collecting and mapping data on desktop computers that involves the following steps:

* Collecting "as-built" drawings illustrating the final configuration of constructed drainage infrastructure

* Digitizing the drawings and positioning them in the proper coordinate system

* Tracing relevant portions of the drawings so key information on drainage systems can be imported into OTS

* Documenting tabular supporting information about each object, such as a description of the material, shape, size, and location

* Loading the information into OTS

Customized desktop mapping tools and procedures support two mapping processes: inside the right-of-way (ROW) mapping and outside ROW mapping. The former captures information about roadway drainage areas discharging storm water runoff through outfalls. Outside ROW mapping captures information about regional watersheds draining to hydraulic structures, such as culverts, pipes, and channels, at roadway crossings.

"This information is enormously useful in tracing the source of an illicit discharge, one of our most challenging tasks," says Crisp. "ROW mapping also can be called upon in drainage studies and planning efforts."

Peak runoff flow rates at storm water discharge locations can assist agencies with determining pollutant loads as well as aid in planning and designing drainage systems. TxDOT also is developing a way to collect data on hydrologic values that will use traditional calculations to determine the peak runoff flow rates arising from hypothetical storms. These calculations generally follow TxDOT's design manual procedures. Calculated values will be stored in a simple spreadsheet and then uploaded to OTS and the main geodatabase.

Research at FHWA

A majority of FHWA's programs are aimed at applied research defined by incremental improvements that will lower construction and maintenance costs, improve system performance, add highway capacity, reduce highway fatalities and injuries, reduce adverse environmental impacts, and achieve other user benefits.

However, FHWA also has engaged in its share of advanced research, which focused on longer term, higher risk opportunities with the potential to dramatically change the way the United States builds, maintains, and safely operates the Nation's transportation system. The Turner-Fairbanks Highway Research Center in McLean, VA, continues to lead an ongoing advanced and applied/problem-solving research program, grounded in stakeholder needs. Many of the technologies developed from advanced research are used in the field today.

For example, researchers under contract with FHWA discovered that nondestructive testing of steel structures based on the principle of magnetostrictive sensing can be used to measure tension in individual cables. Follow-on, applied research led to the commercial development of a technology that is changing conventional methods for inspecting suspension cables and monitoring tensile stresses in new ropes.

Similarly, nondestructive testing and detection of bridge damage is possible today using fiber-optic sensor systems, also a result of advanced research studies. And advanced studies of core behavioral algorithms to describe the interactions of multimodal travelers, vehicles, and highway systems have resulted in the creation of next generation simulation (NGSIM) core algorithms and datasets. Researchers are using the validated, open-source algorithms developed under the NGSIM program to create more realistic simulations of traffic patterns. View these results in more depth in the article "A Decade of Achievement" in the November/December 2002 issue of Public Roads.

Department for Transport makes new appointments to ORR Board

The Department for Transport has today announced the appointment of Dr Chris Elliott FREng as a non-executive member of the Board of the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).

Chris Elliott is an independent consultant with expertise as a barrister and systems engineer and a visiting professor. He has extensive experience of rail and other transport issues. He has been particularly involved with the management of safety, working with European railway companies and in the UK with the Rail Safety and Standards Board to develop policies that properly reflect safety legislation. He will take up his post on 1 July 2007. At the same time, Professor Jeffrey Jowell QC is standing down from the Board after three years.

Chris Bolt, Chairman of ORR, welcoming the appointment, said: "I look forward to working with Chris. I know he will bring with him a wealth of knowledge, which will add to the breadth of experience already reflected in the Board. My colleagues and I extend our thanks to Jeffrey Jowell for his valued contribution since the Board was first established in 2004." Chris Elliott said "Having worked with the rail industry for eight years, I am very familiar with the work of ORR, and am looking forward to joining the Board of the industry's safety and economic regulator."

The Department has also announced the re-appointment of Peter Bucks for a further two years, to take effect from the end of his current term on 4th July 2008. Peter Bucks is currently Chairman of the ORR's Audit Committee and a member of the Remuneration and Periodic Review Committees. Chris Bolt, Chairman of ORR, said "I welcome the reappointment of Peter Bucks as this will ensure continuity on the Board as ORR reaches conclusions next year on the Periodic Review of Network Rail's outputs and finances for the next five years."

Functional Performance Specifications

Knowing What You Need

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has introduced an innovative Value Engineering technique that helps stakeholders communicate their requirements to designers called "Functional Performance Specifications" (FPS). This technique, which has recently been used successfully by the ministry on several projects, produces a report that clearly defines project requirements to the designer without limiting the solutions. Originally developed for the manufacturing sector in France and used extensively in the government sector in Quebec, these MTO initiatives mark the first use of FPS in Ontario.

An FPS report results from a facilitated workshop in which project stakeholders identify their requirements as functions, an active verb and a measurable noun. Each function is characterized based on criteria (how the function is accomplished), level (the acceptable result for each criteria), and flexibility (how much a level can be negotiated) as shown in the car-buying example in Figure 1.

Function: Select car Criteria Level Flexibility

Number of passengers 5 passengers F0 (no flexibility)

Style type SUV F3 (Very Flexible)

Fuel efficiency 12 litres/100 km F1 (minimal flexibility)

Price $15,000 F2 (medium)

MTO first applied FPS in the planning of the Traffic Volume Information System II (TVIS II), a software database that will store and provide information about traffic volumes on provincial highways to traffic professionals. The use of FPS allowed MTO to clearly define the features and goals of the software database project prior to development of the database.

Building on the effectiveness of using FPS to define database requirements, a three-day FPS study characterized required functions for a prototype concept for a truck inspection building. The designers used the FPS to develop architectural concepts for building and the prototype was quickly approved because it met stakeholder needs.

MTO also applied FPS to determine criteria for the installation of Fixed-Automated Spray Technology systems (FAST - see Road Talk, November 2002). "By following the FPS process, we were able to quickly define, as a group, the requirements and performance criteria for investing in Fixed-Automated Spray installations," said Area Engineer Mike Pearsall.

MTO has found FPS to be a very efficient technique in working with stakeholders to define their requirements on a variety of projects.

In projects where the needs are not clear, FPS can be of benefit because the process favors dialogue between stakeholders, owners, and suppliers. FPS is an excellent procedure for establishing performance criteria including technical, staffing, societal and regulatory criteria. FPS is also useful early in a project life where supplier innovation is an advantage. FPS lends itself to defining requirements for new products or services, changing business requirements, projects with multiple stakeholders and to clarify fixing business requirements prior to IT development.

More than an 8-second ride

The 2nd annual safe driving TWD Truck Roadeo for the Bancroft AMC was held on June 14, 2006, at the Fraser Ville Patrol yard near Peterborough. Later that month, 2006, TWD's Kingston/Ottawa AMC held their 7th annual event at the Brockville Patrol yard. These roadeos tested the skills and expertise of their maintenance workers. With the support of MTO Eastern Region, TWD has used this event to utilize a broad range of equipment for safety training purposes.

The Roadeo consists of a driving course with five obstacles and a pre-trip vehicle inspection. This year's inspection was based on winter maintenance equipment. A plow and sander combo truck is given five specific defects by mechanics and the participant is judged on technique and their ability to find the defects stressing the importance of a pre-trip inspection.

The obstacles on the driving course tested their operating skill. The offset alley required operators to maneuver through barricades offset to one another, with just the length of the truck separating the barricades. The serpentine obstacle tested the participants' ability to avoid barriers on both sides of the truck while making an "S" turn. This is done in a forward and reverse motion. Diminishing clearance and stop obstacles test the operators skill as the course starts with four inches of clearance on both sides of the vehicle and then narrows to one inch by the end of the obstacle.

MTO Maintenance Superintendents, Maintenance, Coordinators and Regional Fleet Coordinators judged and scored the skill testing events. At Brockville, Mike Woods of Barriefield Patrol finished first; John Watson of Brockville Patrol finished 2nd; and Jim Hales, also from, Barriefield Patrol finished 3rd. At the Fraser Ville Roadeo, Marvin Siydock of Whitney / Barry's Bay Patrol finished first; Rob Armstrong of Bow Lake Patrol finished 2nd; and John Gionet of Fraser ville Patrol finished 3rd.

TWD stresses safety in all aspects of their maintenance work and the Roadeo is just part of their on-going training. TWD's safety motto "Don't walk by" along with the safe driving roadeo have helped their staff achieve a category 1 achievement award from the Transportation Health & Safety Association of Ontario.

TWD Roads Management Inc. plans to continue to expand their annual safety events, eventually to all of their contracts throughout the province.

Resurgent railway gets strategy for 30 years of growth

A railway that will expand to carry at least 180 million more passengers is at the heart of the Department for Transport's rail White Paper, published today.

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly announced that capacity will increase to cope with more than 20 per cent growth in the next seven years, on a network which will be even safer and more reliable.

The strategy, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, also allows for potential doubling in capacity over 30 years through continual and rational growth of a rail network which is flexible enough to respond to changing passenger demand.

It must also be a railway which sharpens its environmental performance and thrives on new technology, the strategy makes clear.

Precise, costed plans for the near future include approval for the £5.5 billion Thameslink project, major redevelopments at Birmingham New Street and Reading stations to eliminate the system's biggest bottlenecks, and £200 million to start work on a strategic freight network.

Major cities around the country will benefit from extra capacity - with the Government delivering 1,300 extra carriages in the years to 2014. More than £10 billion will be invested in growing capacity in this period.

Ms Kelly said:

"Our railway is flourishing and in this White Paper we show how we will grow and develop the network for decades to come.

"Passengers want not only more capacity and reliability on their trains but also more modern stations, simple and efficient ticketing, better quality of service and value for money. They're right to be so demanding and this strategy can deliver what they want.

"Steady investment has given us a rail network which is in good shape for the first time in a generation and this means we can be ambitious for its future. It should be a railway which helps power economic growth and enhances the quality of our lives. We can't know precisely what our railway will look like in 30 years time but now we can be confident of making it bigger, stronger and more flexible."

Ms Kelly also announced that the Government will continue to limit fare increases under its control (including standard season tickets and savers) to no more than one per cent above inflation. A new simplified fares structure will introduce just four basic ticket types across the country.

More than 150 stations will be refurbished and upgraded at a cost of £150 million.

The Government formally submitted its spending plans (including the High Level Output Specification) today for approval by the Office of Rail Regulation.

Digital Eye on the Road

Video logging image samples, taken at 5 meter intervals in both directions of all SWR highways

The following article originally appeared in the May/June 2006 Southwestern Region Monthly Report and has been updated to reflect current findings.

Video logging is the general term used to refer to the system of truck-mounted digital cameras, Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies. Together, they provide geo-referenced images along highway corridors. Video logging enables MTO to view a highway through continuous images and extract, measure and catalogue highway assets; while the geo-referencing aspect of the data allows access from desktop GIS maps. Many road authorities are rapidly adopting the technology that allows an up to date look at highway features or elements of composition.

In October 2005, MTO awarded Stantec Consulting Limited a consultant assignment managed by the Southwestern Region (SWR) Geomatics Section to complete a demonstration project. The assignment acquired video logging of MTO Highways in the Owen Sound area, Highway 402 and Highway 403 in SWR as well as Highway 7 from Stratford westerly. The purpose of the project was to assess the benefits of video logging and feature/asset extraction technology. This coincided with a similar project undertaken by Central Region Geomatics.

The assignment specified two cameras with color, and geo-referenced digital images taken at 5 meter intervals in both directions of the highways. A total of approximately 1,840 kilometers of digital images (consisting of approximately 735,000 .jpg images) were delivered by the consulting firm and filed by MTO's Linear Highway Referencing System (LHRS) section number in order to ease the organization and GIS access to the data. When viewed in succession, the individual images create the sense of a moving video of the highway. Demonstrations of video logging resulted in positive feedback from Engineering, Contracts and Operational Services and concluded a variety of uses. The ability to view pavement conditions, entrances, signs and pavement markings provides benefit for MTO's daily operations, while public information, photos for report use or support to scoping projects would assist with inquiries from the public.

The video logging demonstration project was completed on the remainder of SWR in mid-2006. Plans for further assessment of this technology as a roadway management and cataloguing tool has been planned by the ministry.

North East is at the heart of strategy for rail growth

More carriages will be provided for Newcastle suburban services and longer Trans Pennine Express trains will operate in the North-East region, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly announced today.

Passengers will also see more punctual services with reliability improving to 92% of long distance on time and reductions in the worst delays falling by 36%. On regional services, performance will improve to 92% and the worst delays cut by 27%.

Capacity and performance improvements will be in place by 2014.

The announcement is part of the Government's plans to ensure that the national rail network can carry at least 180 million more passengers a year.

In today's rail White Paper, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly announced that capacity will increase to accommodate growth of more than 20 per cent across the country in the next seven years, on a network which will be even safer and more reliable.

The strategy, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, also allows for potential doubling in capacity over 30 years through continual and rational growth of a rail network which is flexible enough to respond to changing passenger demand.

It must also be a railway which sharpens its environmental performance and thrives on new technology, the strategy makes clear.

Precise, costed plans for the near future include approval for the £5.5 billion Thameslink project, the major redevelopment of Birmingham New Street to improve passenger capacity and station environment, works at Reading stations to eliminate a major bottleneck on the network and £200 million to start work on a strategic freight network.

Major cities around the country will benefit from extra capacity - with the Government delivering 1,300 extra carriages in the years to 2014. More than £9 billion will be invested in growing capacity in this period.

Ms Kelly said:

"Our railway is flourishing and in this White Paper we show how we will grow and develop the network for decades to come.

"Passengers in the North East want not only more capacity and reliability on their trains but also more modern stations, simple and efficient ticketing, quality of service and value for money. They're right to be so demanding and this strategy can deliver what they want.

"Steady investment has given us a rail network which is in good shape for the first time in a generation and this means we can be ambitious for its future. It should be a railway which helps power economic growth and enhances the quality of our lives. We can't know precisely what our railway will look like in 30 years time but now we can be confident of making it bigger, stronger and more flexible."

Ms Kelly also announced that the Government will continue to limit fare increases under its control (including standard season tickets and savers) to no more than one per cent above inflation. A new simplified fares structure will introduce just four basic ticket types across the country, ticket retailing will be streamlined to reduce ticket office queues, station access improved and passenger information improved.

More than 150 stations will be refurbished and upgraded at a cost of £150 million.

The Government formally submitted its spending plans (including the High Level Output Specification) today for approval by the Office of Rail Regulation.

Appointment of next DVLA chief executive

The Department for Transport today announced that, following an open competition, Noel Shanahan will succeed Clive Bennett CBE as Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) who retires at the end of 2007.

Noel Shanahan is currently Customer Services Director at DVLA, responsible for the Agency's customer strategy, including the shift towards electronic services. He has promoted the use of electronic vehicle licensing and the use of Directgov as the primary access point for customers not just of DVLA but of other DfT Agencies. He joined the Agency in 2004 after a career in the telecommunications industry, working for BT, Cable & Wireless and ntl where he had been Customer Services Director.

He will take up his new role towards the end of this year.

Welcoming the appointment, Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said:

"I am delighted to welcome Noel Shanahan to his new role. The Agency provides vital services to millions of vehicle owners and drivers right across the country, and employs over 6,000 staff. Under Clive Bennett's leadership it has embarked on an exciting programme of change, delivering services in new and more convenient ways to its customers. I look forward to working with the new Chief Executive in driving this forward over the next few years."

Noel Shanahan added:

"I am delighted and feel very privileged to have the opportunity to lead DVLA over the coming years as it continues its transformation into an electronic modern business. In my 21/2 years at the Agency I have seen the capabilities of its staff and their determination to do the right thing for customers and stakeholders. That's why I am so excited at the opportunity to work with them and to take up the challenges ahead."

Thameslink £5.5bn project at the heart of strategy for rail growth

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has approved the £5.5bn Thameslink modernisation programme.

The project will deliver a dramatic increase in capacity, with 12-carriage trains running through central London at a frequency of 24 trains an hour by 2015. The first phase of improvements will be delivered before the Olympics, with trains through central London lengthened to 12 carriages and running 16 times an hour by 2011.

Other major improvements include 900 new carriages with associated platform lengthening, power supply upgrades and increased depot capacity for the busiest routes in London and the South East, and £425 million capacity works at Reading station to tackle one of the network's biggest bottlenecks and provide four new platforms.

These schemes represent key elements of today's rail White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, which guarantees a railway that will expand to carry at least 180 million more passengers a year.

The Transport Secretary announced that capacity will increase to accommodate growth of more than 20 per cent in the next seven years, on a network which will be even safer and more reliable.

The strategy also allows for a doubling in capacity over 30 years through continual and rational growth of a rail network which is flexible enough to respond to changing passenger demand.

It must also be a railway which sharpens its environmental performance and thrives on new technology, the strategy makes clear.

The costed plans for the near future also include a £120m allocated for the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street and £200 million to start work on a strategic freight network.

Major cities around the country will benefit from extra capacity - with the Government delivering a total of 1,300 extra carriages in the years to 2014. More than £9 billion will be invested in growing capacity in this period.

Ms Kelly said:

"Our railway is flourishing and in this White Paper we show how we will grow and develop the network for decades to come.

"With more than two-thirds of rail journeys starting or ending in London, it is vital we deliver for the region's passengers - and so not only will there be more capacity and reliability on their trains but also more modern stations, simple and efficient ticketing, quality of service and value for money. People are right to be so demanding and this strategy can deliver what passengers want.

"The modernisation of the Thameslink route is a landmark project for passengers in the London and the South East. It will help relieve overcrowding on one of Britain's most congested routes, and open up new opportunities for passengers to and through London.

"Steady investment has given us a rail network which is in good shape for the first time in a generation and this means we can be ambitious for its future. It should be a railway which helps power economic growth and enhances the quality of our lives. We can't know precisely what our railway will look like in 30 years time but now we can be confident of making it bigger, stronger and more flexible."

Ms Kelly also announced that the Government will continue to limit fare increases under its control (including standard season tickets and savers) to no more than one per cent above inflation. A new simplified fares structure will introduce just four basic ticket types across the country, ticket retailing will be streamlined to reduce ticket office queues, station access improved and passenger information improved.

More than 150 stations will be refurbished and upgraded at a cost of £150 million. The list is likely to include Barking, Dartford, East Grinstead, Fleet and Twyford.

The Government formally submitted its spending plans (including the High Level Output Specification) today for approval by the Office of Rail Regulation.

Sacagawea-A Shoshone Woman's Impact on the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Sacagawea was born in a Shoshone tribe about 1790 in what is now Idaho. As a child she was kidnapped by the Hidatsas tribe and sold into slavery to the Mandan Sioux. No one is certain how Sacagawea ended up with the Canadian trapper named Toussaint Charbonneau, but the two were wed and in 1805 they had a son named Jean Bapiste. Charbonneau was hired as an interpreter and guide and he brought his wife to interpret when they reached her native area. Historian Stephen Ambrose, in his book Undaunted Courage about the Lewis and Clark expedition, contends that the teenage wife was not a guide and was not consulted by either Lewis or Clark. However, they did ask her for advice for a water route when they reached her native hunting grounds. She pointed them to a tributary of the Beaverhead River.

When Sacagawea was reunited with her tribe in 1805, Lewis met with the Shoshones Chief. Sacagawea recognized the chief as her brother, Cameahwait. Her reunion with her family cemented the expedition for Lewis and Clark. It may have been the breakthrough they needed since they required native help to get over the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana and Idaho. Cameahwait sold horses to the travelers and provided guides to get them over the mountains. Even with Shoshone help, the expedition suffered hardships going over the rough terrain. But without Sacagawea's family reunion, the expedition would have suffered worse hardship. The expedition reached the Nez Perce tribe, the Columbia River and later, the Pacific Ocean. They wintered at the mouth of the Columbia River and started home in the spring. When they reached the Mandan village, Charbonneau and Sacagawea stayed behind.

Following the expedition, Clark offered to school the young Charonneau child, Jean Baptiste. Sacagawea and her husband accepted the offer and moved to the St. Louis area. They had a daughter named Lizette and moved back to the Mandan village in 1811.

Shoshone oral tradition says Sacagawea returned to the Shoshones and settled at the Wild River reservation in the area now known as Wyoming, where she reportedly died on April 9, 1884, and was buried there. Other stories say that she died in 1812 of "putrid fever," in the Mandan village.

Sacagawea has been honored by the United States through its new Golden Dollar coin. The front features her portrait with her baby, Jean Baptiste, bundled.

Flooded Roadways

Since the beginning of time, creeks, rivers and other bodies of water have flooded their banks for a variety of reasons: steady and/or torrential rains, hurricanes, melting ice and other natural occurrences. Flash floods, caused by breaking dykes and dams are the most dangerous as there is little time for escape. Pathways, roads, and subsequently safety routes, are washed away. Modern times offer rescue crews and preparedness to save lives during disasters, but in the early years communities did not have such well-designed assistance.

Cumberland, Maryland, suffered major floods in 1810 and 1840 and many other floods followed from 1852 through 1937, some covering the main streets as deep as 17 feet.

Road under water.

Damaged U.S. 40 washed out from 2004 Flooding near Lansing.

In 1869, Brattleboro, Vermont, suffered a flash flood that rendered the Main Street under water and left in total ruins.

In 1913, Franklinton, Ohio, established in 1797 on the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers, flooded from the swollen waters. Not only were Franklinton streets under water, but also nearly 100 deaths resulted and many were left homeless. Marietta, Ohio, on the Ohio River, has seen its share of flooding from the time it was established. With downtown city streets under tons of water, the only transportation to safety is by boat.

Anaheim, California, home of Disneyland, suffered a flash flood in March of 1938 when a dyke broke in the Santa Ana River after heavy rainfall. With the road no longer visible, Anaheim residents used rowboats, debris and horses in their escape to safety. But the worst tragedy is the flash flood that swept over Atwood and LaJolla, killing families as they slept.

Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was struck by a flash flood in 1889 caused by a broken dam. Johnstown was nearly destroyed, and more than 2,200 people were killed. Streets were invisible under water estimated at "three stories high."

Some creeks are expected to overflow their banks in the springtime and alternate routes are established. Others are monitored closely to see if evacuation is necessary. Modern technology can determine if dams are under stress and predict when a body of water will overflow its banks. But with all our knowledge, floods still take a small death each year in the United States. In 1993, torrential rains caused levees to break on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers flooding towns and fields, offering few roadways to safety.

On a sunny spring day, a driver on an unfamiliar road may be surprised to find the road up ahead is covered with water from recent flood conditions. That is exactly what happened to us recently. We exited I-75 in Kentucky to see Wildcat Mountain and the Civil War Battlefield. Following the directions we drove down into a valley on a narrow paved road. Rounding a bend we were stunned to find that the road ended abruptly several hundred yards before us, and a river began. We were driving slowly due to the steep, curving roadway and were able to stop quickly. However, I understood at that moment how rapidly a vehicle could be washed away.

A few tips can keep you safe:

* Listen to the weather station before venturing out in wet weather.

* Avoid water-covered roads. If you cannot see the road or the line markings do not drive through the water. Water depth is difficult to determine, particularly at night, and water covering a road by only six inches deep could easily turn into two to three feet seconds later. People die every year when they try to drive across water and are swept away.

* Turn around and go back.

* Escape Route—if you live near a creek or other bodies of water, have an escape route planned.

Birmingham new street at the heart of strategy for rail growth

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has approved a £120 million grant for the development of Birmingham's New Street station and additional carriages will be provided in Birmingham to help relieve crowding.

The money will be used to dramatically improve access at the station and will increase the number of passengers it can handle by 50 per cent. It is anticipated that work will start in early 2009 and be completed by early 2015.

More will be invested in tackling key congestion pinch points in the West Midlands and these improvements will help increase capacity - up by 26 per cent on peak hour services into Birmingham.

The Government spending is included in today's rail White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, which guarantees a railway that will expand to carry at least 183 million more passengers a year.

The Transport Secretary announced that capacity will expand to accommodate growth of more than 20% in the next seven years, on a network which will be even safer and more reliable.

The strategy also allows for a doubling in capacity over 30 years through continual and rational growth of a rail network which is flexible enough to respond to changing passenger demand.

It must also be a railway which sharpens its environmental performance and thrives on new technology, the strategy makes clear.

Precise, costed plans for the near future include approval for the £5.5 billion Thameslink project, the major redevelopment of Birmingham New Street to improve passenger capacity and station environment and works at Reading stations to eliminate a major the bottlenecks on the network, and £200 million to start work on a strategic freight network.

Major cities around the country will benefit from extra capacity - with the Government delivering 1,300 extra carriages in the years to 2014 with associated platform lengthening, power supply upgrades and increased depot capacity. Up to £10 billion will be invested in growing capacity in this period.

Ms Kelly said:

"Our railway is flourishing and in this White Paper we show how we will grow and develop the network for decades to come.

"Passengers in the West Midlands want not only more capacity and reliability on their trains but also more modern stations, simple and efficient ticketing, quality of service and value for money. They're right to be so demanding and this strategy can deliver what they want - as our spending on Birmingham New Street shows.

"Steady investment has given us a rail network which is in good shape for the first time in a generation and this means we can be ambitious for its future. It should be a railway which helps power economic growth and enhances the quality of our lives. We can't know precisely what our railway will look like in 30 years time but now we can be confident of making it bigger, stronger and more flexible."

Ms Kelly also announced that the Government will continue to limit fare increases under its control (including standard season tickets and savers) to no more than one per cent above inflation. A new simplified fares structure will introduce just four basic ticket types across the country.

More than 150 stations will be refurbished and upgraded at a cost of £150 million. The list is likely to include Wolverhampton and Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Government formally submitted its spending plans (including the High Level Output Specification) today for approval by the Office of Rail Regulation.

Information Systems

Maintenance operations rely on accurate and timely information regarding road and weather conditions before and during winter storm events. Some of the technologies showcased how MTO is improving the flow of condition reporting at the field level.

Road and Weather Information Systems (RWIS) are comprised of pavement and weather stations located in 113 locations across the province. They are designed to provide field offices with current and forecasted road and weather condition information to assist with winter operations decisions.

To protect road surfaces and foundations, load restrictions are placed on surface-treated highways in northern Ontario. These restrictions are imposed during the spring thaw when the highway surface or foundation is susceptible to road damage such as fatigue cracking by fully loaded trucks. Instrumentation at three field sites is being used to develop frost prediction models that can be used with RWIS forecasts to accurately determine when the spring load restrictions need to be imposed and when they can safely be removed.

An infrared camera mounted on a utility pole in Eastern Region is being evaluated for its ability to automatically detect and measure frost, snow and ice on the pavement surface. This system illuminates the surface with an infra-red beam and measures the wavelength and intensity of light reflected back. This is used by the system to estimate the proportion and depth of material on the surface, and the traction level. It also provides a digital photo that is transmitted to a website used by maintenance staff for condition monitoring.

Truck Arrester Beds

Geography

In 1994, Ministry of Transportation Ontario constructed a truck arrester bed at the north entrance to the City of North Bay. Thibault Hill, with an elevation change of about 100 m on the eastbound Trans Canada Highway at the north entrance to the City is not an extremely steep or long hill: however, it has unique features that justified the choice of a truck arrester bed. It was hoped that the truck arrester bed would improve safety, as there have been several incidences (with one fatality) of trucks losing their brakes on the downgrade and failing to stop at traffic lights. The climate of North Bay is severe.

Government invests £1.25billion to improve local transport

People across the country will benefit from £1.25billion to improve local transport, Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander announced today.

The investment - the Local Transport Capital Settlement - is given to local authorities each year to help them deliver transport improvements in their communities.

The money will fund a range of improvements, including new road safety measures, better street lighting, road maintenance, park and ride facilities and cycle lanes.

Local authorities will also benefit from a share of £110million from a specific road safety grant. The grant means more money and flexibility for local authorities to deliver safer roads.

This year's investment delivers funding for 07/08. Some of this year's money is awarded according to the performance of local authorities in delivering better transport over the first five year Local Transport Plan period. Another part is based on the quality of their plans to improve transport over the next five years.

This investment is in addition to the funding for major transport projects across the country, which was announced in July this year as part of the Regional Funding Allocation process.

Douglas Alexander said:

"The Government has invested more than £9 billion in local transport over the last six years. The improvements made with this money have benefited passengers, motorists and local businesses across the country.

"We have seen sustained progress in reducing local road casualties. The condition of many local road networks is improving. Better infrastructure for buses, cyclists and pedestrians has been put in place so local transport is making a contribution to more sustainable development and economic growth".

The Department reviewed the delivery of the first Local Transport Plans, which local authorities produced for 2001/02 to 2005/06. The review highlighted many schemes across the country of particularly high quality.

Integrated transport allocations totalling £1,769 million across the country for 2008/09 to 2010/11, subject only to next year's spending review, are also included in today's announcement.

Looking to the Future

In the coming decades, older adults will comprise an increasing proportion of the U.S. population. This is a positive development for society because it indicates that people are living longer and healthier lives. But aging, and the chronic illnesses that become more prevalent with age, may bring about some changes in vision, cognition, and motor skills. These ability changes occur at different rates for different people, so it is incorrect to assume that all drivers of a certain age have deficits or are unsafe.

The transportation network must accommodate larger numbers of older drivers, pedestrians, and public transit users. Maximizing their ability to use the network is important since transportation plays such a significant role in maintaining independence. To the extent that older adults can safely drive or walk on their own, they will be able to preserve their quality of life.

"Thankfully, most of the infrastructure changes that communities make for older road users benefit users of all ages and society as a whole," says FHWA's Alicandri. "There are very few, if any, infrastructure recommendations that benefit older adults but hinder other road users. If you're not already an older road user, one day in the future you will be—and these infrastructure changes will help ensure that you will be able to get around safely on your own."

COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENTS

Rural areas and small communities are facing many environmental, demographic, and economic changes--challenges that are the inevitable byproducts of growing travel demand, increased sprawl, and dispersed destinations. The challenge is to maintain the vitality of these rural areas and small communities while preserving and protecting the natural, historic, scenic, and cultural environment. The USDOT has a wide range of programs directed specifically toward protecting and enhancing communities and the natural environment, both of which can be impacted by transportation. These programs are significant tools in preserving the quality of life and environment in rural America.

Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot Program

The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century established the Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot Program (TCSP) in response to the increasing interest in “smart growth” policies that encourage investments in maintenance of existing infrastructure over new construction, investment in high-growth corridors, and efficient access to jobs and services. The key purpose of this pilot program is to devise neighborhood, local, metropolitan, state, or regional strategies that improve the efficiency of the transportation system, minimize environmental impacts, and reduce the need for costly public infrastructure investments.

Transportation Enhancements

The purpose is to fund transportation-related activities designed to strengthen cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of the Nation's transportation system.

National Scenic Byways Program

The purpose of The National Scenic Byway Program is to provide national recognition of roads that represent outstanding examples of scenic, historic, cultural, recreational, and natural qualities as well as to provide technical and financial assistance.

Recreational Trails Program

The purpose is to provide and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both motorized and non-motorized recreational trail uses.

Bicycle Transportation and Pedestrian Walkways

The purpose is to promote the increased use and safety of bicycling and walking as transportation modes.

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program

The purpose of this program is to fund projects for areas that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (no attainment areas) and former no attainment areas that are now in compliance (maintenance areas) for ozone, carbon monoxide, and small particulate matter. Funding is to help meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act.

Intelligent Transportation Systems

The ITS program provides for the research, development, and operational testing of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) aimed at solving congestion and safety problems, improving operating efficiencies in transit and commercial vehicles, and reducing the environmental impact of growing travel demand. Proven technologies that are technically feasible and highly cost effective will be deployed nationwide as a component of the surface transportation systems of the United States.

Think! that yawn could save your life

Actor Joseph Fiennes urges motorists: Don't drive tired

Acting star Joseph Fiennes is the voice of a new Government campaign launched today to remind motorists of the dangers of driving when tired.

One in five of all crashes on major roads are caused by tired drivers but research shows many motorists are ignoring the simplest sign - the common yawn - that it's time for a break.

Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said:

"We all want to finish our journeys as quickly as possible but being tired at the wheel is a proven killer that we cannot ignore.

"People who drive for work are particularly at risk but there are simple steps we can all take to make our journeys safer. Plan regular stops into a long trip and if you find yourself yawning pull over and take a break - this could make the difference between life and death."

A You Gov poll of British drivers announced today shows only 18% of motorists always take a yawn as a sign to pull over.

Dr Neil Stanley, a sleep expert from the Clinical Trials and Research Unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, said:

"People read a yawn all wrong - they often mistake the energising effect that comes immediately after as a sign they can carry on, but tests prove this is not the case.

"Yawning quite simply means you're on the road to falling asleep - so if you're yawning behind the wheel it really is time to pull over."

Out of the 1,500 motorists polled by You Gov only one in five (22%) always plan breaks in their car journeys, while more than a quarter (26%) admit to having driven for up to or more than four hours without a break.

The poll also showed that:

* Four percent have driven for more than seven hours without a break.

* More than half (54%) of motorists at least occasionally try to beat their journey time on a trip they have done before.

* Three-quarters of motorists open a window to keep themselves awake on a long journey, while 4% shake their head vigorously and 3% slap their face.

Many drivers believe they can fight fatigue but the only real cure is sleep. The THINK! campaign's advice is straightforward:

* Don't start a long trip if you're already tired.

* Plan your journey to include a 15-minute break every two hours.

* If you feel drowsy find a safe place to stop (not the hard shoulder).

* As an emergency measure drink two cups of coffee or a high-caffeine drink and have a rest for 10-15 minutes to allow time for the caffeine to kick in.

The new £800,000 THINK! campaign includes a new hard-hitting radio advert featuring Joseph Fiennes, online advertising on journey planning websites, partnership marketing and messaging at service station washrooms, forecourts and petrol pumps. The campaign has been primarily targeted at people who drive for work as research shows they are at particular risk.

RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE SERVICE

USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service has several programs that can be used to support transportation related projects in rural areas and small communities.

-Applicants interested in implementing transportation related projects that will help improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities may be eligible for loans through the Business and Industry Direct Loan Program. For example, loans for projects that enhance public transportation infrastructure can reduce auto emissions that have a negative impact on the environmental climate of rural communities. Those same projects can stimulate the economy of rural communities by enhancing the flow of commerce, and by providing access to jobs.

-Community development projects that are transportation related may be funded by the Intermediary Relending Program. For example, lending institutions can be financed by the government to, in turn, provide loans for the revitalization of small downtown main streets.

-Through Rural Business Enterprise Grants, applicants may be eligible for grants used for, among other things, the acquisition and development of land and the construction of buildings, plants, equipment, access streets and roads. The funding of anyone of these activities can help reduce the cost of individual transportation related projects that, collectively, can enhance rural communities.

-Rural Business Opportunity Grants are intended to help promote sustainable economic development through the provision of technical assistance, training, and planning activities. An example of a possible use of grant funds might be for technical assistance needed to develop a plan to revitalize a small community's main street.

-Rural Economic Development Loans provide zero interest loans to promote rural economic development and job creation projects. An example of a possible use of these types of loans might be to assist businesses in a rural community with the development of a job access program.

-Rural Economic Development Grants can be used for projects that, among other things, create jobs, promote long-term improvements in economic development, reduce unemployment rates, and include a community-based economic development program. Many well planned community-oriented transportation projects can do all of the above.

Countries Included

The primary purpose of this project is to provide comparisons with the United States, and therefore possible guidance in the development and implementation of impaired driving policies in this country. Therefore, the main focus of data collection was on countries that would be considered most directly comparable to the US, economically and demographically, as well as those countries with which we have the most direct dealings. These countries include:

* Members of the European Union, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom

* Other western European countries, including Norway and Switzerland

* Canada

* Mexico

* Australia

* New Zealand

* Japan

Other countries of possible interest were included as data were available. These include Brazil, the Czech Republic, and Russia.

Laws Included

While many different laws are relevant to impaired driving, this project focused on several of the most important laws. These laws include:

* Illegal blood alcohol content (BAC) levels for various classes of drivers;

* The minimum purchase age for alcohol;

* Age of driving licensure;

* Standard sanctions for first offenses and multiple offenses;

* The imposition of more severe sanctions for drivers with higher BACs

* Graduated licensing systems;

* Systems for the regranting of licenses.

For some countries, of course, laws are not standard nation-wide, but rather vary by state or province. Where this is the case, information about each sub-national entity is reported separately.

Each of these areas of legislation, policy, and practice is discussed below. In addition, Appendix B provides information for each country.

Methodology

Most of the information for this report was gathered through inquiries from key informants identified in each of the countries of interest. Most informants were from government transportation agencies. Some informants were from relevant university departments. In some cased, available information was collected from other published or unpublished sources. Appendix A indicates the source(s) of information for each country.

Night time closures on the A1 between Chesterton and Water Newton, Cambridgeshire

Resurfacing work will begin on the northbound carriageway of the A1 between Chesterton and Water Newton in Cambridgeshire on Monday 21 April.

The work will take place on both lanes of the three-mile stretch of the A1 northbound between 8pm and 6am from Monday 21 April to Thursday 1 May.

While the work is taking place the A1 will be closed between the A1139 Fletton Parkway and Water Newton junctions. This closure includes the A605 slip road which joins the A1 northbound at Haddon and the A605 northbound slip road at Chesterton.

The slip roads will be closed to prevent traffic from joining the A1 northbound and entering the works.

Traffic intending to join the northbound A1 will be diverted via the A605/A1139, onto the A1260 Nene Parkway and onto the A47, rejoining the A1 at Wansford.

Income from Self-Employment

(1) For the purpose of this Regulation, a person’s income from self-employment shall be determined in the same manner as the person’s profit from the business in which the person was self-employed would be determined under the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the Income Tax Act (Ontario), but without taking into account,

(a) Expenses that are eligible for capital cost allowance or an allowance on eligible capital property;

(b) Capital gains or losses; or

(c) Losses deductible under section 111 of the Income Tax Act (Canada). O. Reg. 403/96, s. 62 (1).

(2) Despite subsection (1), an insurer and a named insured who is self-employed and not otherwise employed may agree in a contract evidenced by a motor vehicle liability policy that, for the purpose of determining benefits under this Regulation in respect of an accident that occurs during the period covered by the contract, the named insured’s gross income from self-employment for every week shall be deemed to be the weekly income amount specified in the contract if, at the time of the accident, the person continues to engage in the self-employment in which he or she engaged at the time the contract was entered into and the person is not otherwise employed. O. Reg. 403/96, s. 62 (2).

(3) In specifying a weekly income amount for the purpose of subsection (2), the insurer and insured may use information from any source, including,

(a) personal and corporate income tax returns and assessments;

(b) personal and corporate financial statements; and

(c) published data on the average wage for the industry or occupation in which the insured is self-employed. O. Reg. 403/96, s. 62 (3).

Employment

(1) An insured person who is entitled to an income replacement benefit shall make reasonable efforts to,

(a) Return to the employment in which he or she engaged at the time of the accident; or

(b) Obtain employment for which he or she is reasonably suited by education, training or experience. O. Reg. 403/96, s. 56 (1).

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if,

(a) Employment would be detrimental to the insured person’s treatment or recovery; or

(b) The insured person is participating in a vocational rehabilitation program. O. Reg. 403/96, s. 56 (2).

(3) If an insured person does not comply with subsection (1), the insurer may notify the insured person that the insurer intends to stop payment of the benefit in accordance with subsection (4). O. Reg. 281/03, s. 29.

(4) If at least 10 business days have elapsed after a notice is given under subsection (3) and the insured person is not in compliance with subsection (1), the insurer may stop payment of the benefit. O. Reg. 281/03, s. 29; O. Reg. 546/05, s. 27.

(5) Section 37 does not apply in respect of a stoppage of benefits, or proposed stoppage of benefits, under this section. O. Reg. 281/03, s. 29.

(6) If, after the stoppage of benefits under subsection (4), the insured person subsequently complies with subsection (1), the insurer shall resume payment of the benefit in respect of periods after the insured person complied. O. Reg. 281/03, s. 29.