Metropolitan Transportation Commission/Caltrans/ITS America MEDIA ADVISORY

Join State Senator Tom Torlakson for a Press Briefing on October 6 on Intelligent Transportation Technologies and a Sneak Preview of New Technologies Making Driving, Parking and Riding Public Transit Faster, Safer and Easier

  WHO:
            -- California Senator Tom Torlakson, Chair of the Senate
               Transportation and Housing Committee

            -- Larry Orcutt, Acting Deputy Director for Maintenance and
               Operations, California Department of Transportation
               (Caltrans)

            -- Steve Heminger, Executive Director, Metropolitan
               Transportation Commission

            -- Representatives from more than 30 technology companies,
               government agencies and transportation research organizations

  WHAT:     Press briefing and exclusive sneak preview of the latest in
            traffic monitoring, collision avoidance, intelligent
            intersections, smart parking, electronic toll lanes and traveler
            information tools. Industry representatives from major car and
            technology companies will be on hand to demonstrate cutting-edge
            products and services, including systems that allow cars to
            communicate with each other and with roadways. The event is
            designed to provide highlights of the upcoming 12th World
            Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems being held November
            6-10, 2005, at San Francisco's Moscone Center and SBC Park. For
            more information about the World Congress, go to:
            www.itsworldcongress.org.

  WHEN:     12 noon - 2:30 p.m.
            Thursday, October 6, 2005
            Lunch Will Be Provided

  WHERE:    Caltrans District 4
            111 Grand Avenue (at Webster Street)
            6th floor Atrium
            Oakland, California
            Press credentials or media business card required

  PHOTO/TV OPPORTUNITIES:
            Tours of Caltrans' Transportation Management Center will be
            available after the briefing.

  PARKING:  Prepaid parking available at Douglas Parking directly across the
            street from the Caltrans building -- enter from Webster Street;
            tell the attendant you're with the Caltrans Press Conference.

  RSVP:     To ensure that everyone gets lunch, please respond to:
            Brenda Kahn, MTC, bkahn@mtc.ca.gov, Tel. 510-817-5773.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is the transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

  Contacts:

  -- Brenda Kahn * Senior Public Information Officer * Metropolitan
     Transportation Commission * Tel. 510-817-5773 office, 510-459-3881 cell
     * bkahn@mtc.ca.gov
   
   -- Lauren Wonder * Chief, Office of Public Affairs * Caltrans District 4 *
   Tel. 510-286-6120 office, 510-710-5891 cell * lauren_wonder@dot.ca.gov
   
   -- Sabrina Quirarte * Director of Communications * Intelligent
   Transportation Society of America * Tel. 202-721-4205 *
   squirarte@itsa.org

PRNewswire -- Oct. 3