Marketing Transportation E-news is a monthly news brief from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).  E-news is part of Are We There Yet?  We Can Be!, AASHTO’s campaign to build support for improving the nation’s transportation system. Each issue includes news briefs, upcoming events, critical information, and columns from advocates and supporters of transportation.

Tracking Santa's Flight
The men and women of the North American Aerospace Defense Command are tracking Santa! The Track Santa website, http://www.noradsanta.org, features holiday games and activities that change daily; is available in seven languages; and can be tracked via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and TroopTube (type in "@noradsanta" into the search engine to start your tracking). On Christmas Eve, children can also track Santa's journey with up-to-the-minute updates on Google Maps and Google Earth through the NORAD Tracks Santa website.

Creating an "Instant Road" from Bricks
A new automatic Dutch paver-laying machine called the Tiger-Stone is helping to reinvent the traditional brick road. Bricks are easy to procure, reuse, repair, and replace. They tolerate water and freezing without forming cracks, and some newer systems actually absorb rainwater between the pavers and infuse it back into the ground again, reducing storm water runoff – all leading to a "greener" roadway. The downside is that brick roads have been labor-intensive to install. With the new machine, the paving stones or bricks are placed in a type of bin attached to an electric crawler that inches forward along a sand base layer. As the crawler moves forward, the bricks drop into place on the road. Presto, new road! Video of the machine at work at http://www.nidokidos.org/automatic-brick-paving-machine-t49681.html.

Prevalence of Drugs in Vehicle Crashes Rivals or Exceeds Alcohol, According to a New International Study
Drug use by drivers in North America now rivals or exceeds that of drivers who have been drinking, according to a new report issued this month by the International Transport Forum. Depending on the country, drugs were found in approximately one in six drivers either injured or killed in road accidents. Cannabis (marijuana) and benzodiazepines (among the most commonly prescribed depressant medications) top the list of drugs involved in lethal motor accidents, according to the study. For more information and policy recommendations or to see the executive summary of Drugs and Driving: Detection and Deterrence, to go http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/jtrc/safety/drugs/DrugsSummary.pdf.

Travelers Along I-95 Corridor Benefiting from Innovation and New Technology
Tracking real-time traffic speeds and travel times along more than 5,000 miles of roads in the I-95 corridor from Maine to Florida is enabling states to respond more quickly to emergencies, improve traveler information systems, and save money. Among the enhancements created by the I-95 "Vehicle Probe Project" are advanced incident monitoring in New Jersey; http://i95travelinfo.net for destinations in 15 states; dynamic messaging signs in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina to display travel times; and enhanced 511 service in Florida. The Coalition is a partnership of transportation agencies, toll authorities and other related organizations. More information at: http://bit.ly/hkvomr.

Entries for Scenic Byway Awards Due In January
Proud of your byway project? Share your success story and you could win a prestigious Scenic Byway Award. Good candidates for nomination include completed projects or outstanding individuals, organizations or agencies demonstrating excellent community involvement and public outreach, partnerships, innovation, or advancement of the byway's corridor management plan. Application deadline is January 2011. Sponsored by America's Byways Resource Center, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and AASHTO. Complete details, deadlines and application forms at http://bywaysresourcecenter.org/events/conferences/.

Stateside

One More Reason to Head to California
The California Department of Transportation recently re-launched its http://www.AmtrakCalifornia.com website. The new streamlined site invites users to check out destinations, book travel, shop for cool stuff, and, with one click, find out if your train is on time. The travel-friendly "home" page shows the cheapest fares for key cities along Amtrak California's Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquin routes and includes an enhanced station directory and an interactive map to locate train stations near specified destinations. Kids 'n' Trains enables schools and youth groups to explore California and its rich history via Amtrak at significantly reduced fares. This special program is made available by the California Department of Transportation in partnership with Amtrak®.

Chicago Metropolis 2020 Offers Transportation Solutions for Illinois
In highlighting the connections between transportation and the economy, a new report by Chicago Metropolis 2020 argues that unless new thinking and revolutionary ideas are brought to bear on the transportation system, long-term competitiveness will erode in Illinois. Among the findings of Building Our Economy: Transportation for a New Illinois are proposals to rethink the power structure of the transit agencies; put counties in charge of township roads; use tolling on major highways; and create an Illinois Freight Authority to move goods faster and grow the economy.

• Ing. Alberto Alemán Zubieta, CEO of the Panama Canal Authority, will provide an update on the Panama Canal Expansion at the upcoming AAPA seminar on Shifting International Trade Routes, Feb. 1 – 2, 2011, Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, Tampa, Fla. Presented by the American Association of Port Authorities and the U.S. Maritime Administration. Details at http://www.aapa-ports.org/Programs/seminarschedule.cfm?itemnumber=17549.



• AASHTO's Washington Briefing, March 2 – 4, 2011, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Washington, D.C. Details at http://www.transportation.org/meetings/297.aspx.



• Making Connections, a national transit training conference for public transportation leaders, trainers, professionals and policymakers, will be held March 17, 2011 in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the Transportation Learning Center to exchange ideas, share successes, and learn about cutting edge best practices and new developments in public transportation workforce development. Details at http://mc2011.eventbrite.com/.