January | February 2024
[2023]
GPTQ AWARDS
ENGINEERING UNDER THE
GOLD DOME
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK FUELS GEORGIA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
20 COVER STORY:
7
Engineering Under The Gold Dome
THE PULSE News Coverage From In And Around The Engineering Community
SEVEN LAWMAKERS BRING PROBLEM-SOLVER’S ETHOS TO GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
14
POLITICAL PULSE
30 40 Driving Forward
2023 GPTQ Awards
CLOSE-KNIT TRANSPORTATION NETWORK FUELS GEORGIA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOOM
AWARD-WINNING TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
Stay Up-To-Date With Political News That Affects Engineers In Georgia
55
ASSOCIATION NEWS Updates From The Associations That Make Up The Georgia Engineering Alliance
66
A LOOK BACK A Back-Page Throwback Picturing Georgia’s Most Historic Landmarks
ON THE COVER Back Row: Houston Gaines, Frank Ginn, Holt Persinger Front Row: Ed Setzler, Brad Thomas, Gabe Okoye, Vance Smith
EDITORIAL BOARD
Publisher: Michael “Sully” Sullivan Editor-in-Chief: Brett Hillesheim Creative Director | Designer: Sabrina Tongren www.in8-design.com Contributing Editors: Joy Ugi Contributing Writers: David Caraviello Christy Tarallo Contributing Photographer: Jennifer Stalcup Accounting Services Manager: Melisa Beauchamp Advertising Sales Manager: ACEC Georgia 229 Peachtree Street NE Suite 1800 Atlanta, GA 30303 brett.hillesheim@acecga.org (404) 665-3539
ANITA ATKINSON PE, Patterson & Dewar Engineers / ASCE Georgia / GEF CANDANCE SCALE / SAME CHAD BECKER Kimley-Horn STACEY CHAPMAN CIT, Croft Architecture and Engineering STEPHANIE DAMMEN-MORRELL Hussey Gay Bell MICHELLE ERSTE CPSM, iParametrics / SMPS Atlanta LIGIA FLORIM Cobb County DOT / WTS Atlanta PHILLIP HATCHER PE, SE, Uzun + Case / SEAOG JENNY C. JENKINS PE, VHB / ASHE Georgia CATHERINE JOHNSON AECOM / NSBE KELLY PATRICK PE, PTOE, Cobb County DOT / ITE Georgia JOHN PIERSON PE, Georgia Tech Research Institute / ASCE Georgia RANDAL RIEBEL PE, Delta Air Lines / GSPE THOMAS TRUE PE, LS, Maser Consulting SASHA UGI Croy Engineering BILL WELLS ITS Georgia
Send change of address to: ACEC Georgia 229 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1800 Atlanta, GA 30303 or email editor@engineeringGA.com
Facebook.com/EngineeringGA @Engineering_GA www.EngineeringGA.com Engineering Georgia 2024 is published bi-monthly by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Georgia (ACEC Georgia) and its partner associations ASCE, ASHE, GEF, GSPE, ITE, ITS, SAME, SEAOG, SMPS and WTS. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. In8 Design, ACEC Georgia, and its partner associations ASCE, ASHE, GEF, GSPE, ITE, ITS, SAME, SEAOG, SMPS and WTS, as well as their representatives, employees and agents, are held harmless from any claim, demand, liability or action on account of, or in any way arising out of, the client’s advertising, products and services, or its participation in Engineering Georgia.
Atlanta Post
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Happy New Year from Engineering Georgia magazine! January is not only the beginning of a new year, but it is also the beginning of the annual Georgia General Assembly session. Back in 2016, we ran a cover feature to honor the members of what we dubbed the “Engineering Caucus” of the Georgia General Assembly – the state Senators and state Representatives who are engineers and/or work in the engineering industry. With all of the turnover in the General Assembly over the past eight years, we thought it was high time to do it again and we are truly honored to feature the impressive engineering industry professionals who now make up the Engineering Caucus. Back in 2016, only one of the eight members of the Engineering Caucus was a member of ACEC Georgia. So, it is with not a small amount of pride that I point out that four of the seven legislators in the 2024 Engineering Caucus work for or with ACEC Georgia member firms: Rep. Houston Gaines (Carter Engineering), Rep. Holt Persinger (LJA Engineering), Rep. Brad Thomas (Capital Projects), and Rep. Vance Smith, who has done consulting work with several ACEC Georgia member firms. Rounding out the eight are Sen. Frank Ginn, Rep. Gabe Okoye, and Sen. Ed Setzler (who previously worked with ACEC Georgia member firms MACTEC (now Wood) and CROFT). Senators Ginn and Setzler are the only two legislators who were featured in both the 2016 and 2024 issues. In addition to the seven members of the Engineering Caucus, Georgia is also fortunate to have engineers in two of its eight statewide constitutional offices: Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, PE, SE (both of whom appeared on the 2016 cover when they were members of the General Assembly). We are honored to also feature both of these exemplary public servants in this “Engineers Under the Gold Dome” issue. You may be wondering, “what about the rest of those guys from the 2016 cover?” Well, former Sen. Bill Heath retired from the Senate in 2020, and the remaining three now serve in appointed public offices: former Rep. Mike Dudgeon serves as the Chair of the State Charter Schools Commission, former Sen. Hunter Hill is the Executive Director of the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority and former Sen. Rick Jeffares was recently appointed by the State Senate to serve as a member of the State Election Board.
Engineers are rational, logical problem-solvers and we are grateful to have all of the Engineers Under the Gold Dome who are featured in this issue bringing their problem-solving skills to bear in keeping Georgia the number one state in the nation for business and to live, work and raise a family. We hope this issue will inspire more engineers to get involved in the political process, including running for office. After all, we could always use a few more members of the Engineering Caucus! We are also proud to feature the winners of the annual Georgia Partnership for Transportation Quality (GPTQ) Awards in this issue. The Georgia Partnership for Transportation Quality (GPTQ) is a long-standing partnership between ACEC Georgia, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Highway Contractors Association. The GPTQ Preconstruction Design Awards recognize the creativity, innovation and ingenuity that goes into these best-in-class transportation infrastructure engineering projects from across the state of Georgia. As always, if you have any thoughts on how we can make Engineering Georgia magazine better for you, your company, or our industry, please don’t hesitate to let me know. With best regards,
GET SOCIAL Michael L. "Sully" Sullivan President / CEO, ACEC Georgia Publisher, Engineering Georgia
SULLY@ACECGA.ORG 770-356-3769 @MICHAELLSULLY MICHAELLSULLY MICHAELLSULLIVAN
CHA is known for its diverse services in design, engineering, and project management across multiple sectors. This move is expected to drive further growth and enhance their service offerings. Since partnering with First Reserve in 2018, CHA has seen significant expansion, including employee growth and revenue doubling. The company also acquired nine firms, expanding its presence in the Southeastern U.S. and enhancing its services in transportation, water, and program management. Jim Stephenson, CHA's CEO, along with the current executive team, will continue leading the company. The partnership with H.I.G. is seen as a strategic step to bolster CHA's growth and market position. H.I.G. Capital plans to support CHA's expansion across North America. First Reserve praised its successful partnership with CHA, highlighting the company's strong industry position and client-focused culture.
ATLANTA VENTURES LEADS REVITALIZATION OF SOUTH DOWNTOWN
The South Downtown district of Atlanta is on the cusp of a major revitalization, with Atlanta Ventures at the helm of this transformative project. Taking cues from the Atlanta Tech Village, the plan is to create a dynamic business incubator that will breathe new life into the downtown area. This redevelopment is a cornerstone in the larger scheme of rejuvenating the city's heartland, with a focus on economic and cultural renewal. The incubator is envisioned as more than a business enterprise; it is a deliberate move to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship, making South Downtown a beacon for budding businesses and tech startups. The project promises to revitalize the city's nucleus by introducing a mix of contemporary workspaces, residential offerings, and leisure amenities, reimagining the essence of urban living and working. Furthermore, the initiative is poised to be a driving force for continued urban development, drawing investments and talents to the region. It dovetails with Atlanta's overarching goal to forge a more interconnected, vibrant, and sustainable downtown area, solidifying its stature as a frontrunner in business and innovation. This pivotal redevelopment of South Downtown is instrumental in redefining Atlanta's metropolitan fabric and its economic trajectory.
GEORGIA TECH EXPANDS AI COURSES TO STRENGTHEN ENGINEERING PROGRAMS
CHA CONSULTING ANNOUNCES SALE FROM FIRST RESERVE TO H.I.G. CAPITAL
In a significant enhancement of its curriculum, Georgia Tech has integrated artificial intelligence education into 12 core courses across various engineering disciplines. This initiative aims to equip students with hands-on experience and knowledge of AI and machine learning, which are increasingly sought after in the industry. Courses range from data analytics in chemical engineering to the foundations of machine learning, reflecting the college's commitment to preparing its graduates for the future of technology. N
CHA Consulting, Inc has been acquired by H.I.G. Capital, a global investment firm. The acquisition from First Reserve was completed on January 19, 2024, though financial details were not disclosed.
engineering ga [ feature the pulse [ news briefs ]]
January | February 7
8 Engineering Georgia
PLUG POWER BOOSTS CLEAN ENERGY WITH LIQUID GREEN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION IN GEORGIA
Plug Power Inc. has announced the start of liquid green hydrogen production at its Georgia facility. Securing a $1.6 billion loan from the Department of Energy, the company is set to advance the deployment of green hydrogen, with the Georgia plant expected to produce 15 tons per day. This initiative marks a significant stride towards sustainable energy and net-zero emission targets.
GEORGIA'S ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES FOR CLEAN WATER AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Georgia's commitment to environmental stewardship takes a significant step forward with the impending re-issuance of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. This program is essential for safeguarding the state's water resources by regulating the discharge of pollutants and effectively managing stormwater systems. NOVA Engineering is pivotal in this initiative by facilitating community engagement and ensuring that local stakeholders have a voice in these vital decisions. Through these meetings, NOVA fosters a collaborative approach to environmental management, emphasizing transparency and public involvement in preserving Georgia's natural water systems.
SAVANNAH BRIDGE PROJECT ELEVATES GEORGIA'S INFRASTRUCTURE
The Georgia Department of Transportation's recent awarding of a $189 million contract marks a significant milestone in the state's infrastructure enhancement efforts. The project, aimed at raising the Eugene Talmadge Memorial Bridge, is a strategic move to boost the capabilities of the Port of Savannah, one of the busiest nodes for maritime trade in the United States. By increasing the bridge's clearance, the project will enable access for larger cargo ships, thus escalating the port's capacity and efficiency. Set to commence in 2025, this infrastructural upgrade reflects Georgia's commitment to nurturing economic growth and fortifying its position in global trade networks. Beyond facilitating the movement of goods, the raised bridge is also expected to have a ripple effect on local economies, generating jobs, and encouraging investment in the surrounding areas. The initiative underscores Georgia's proactive approach to addressing the modern demands of commerce and its foresight in adapting to the evolving landscape of transportation and logistics.
INNOVATION IN CONSTRUCTION: ATLANTA'S NEW WORKPLACES
As Georgia celebrates a decade as the top state for business, Atlanta's construction sector is booming with new projects to accommodate this growth This surge is marked by a slew of new projects, with multi-use developments and the enhancement of affordable housing at the forefront, showcasing the vigor of the city's architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) industry. With substantial investments drawing in both domestic and international companies, Atlanta's future in business and innovation looks promising, with sectors like manufacturing, data centers, and health care driving new developments. A
engineering the pulse [ news ga [ feature briefs ]]
January | February 9
CROFT & ASSOCIATES
is excited to welcome Jeff Hassenboehler, CPA, to their team in the role of Controller. Bringing a wealth of knowledge with over three decades of experience in accounting, Hassenboehler is set to oversee the management of the company's financial information systems and data. His responsibilities Jeff Hassenboehler will encompass the establishment and diligent maintenance of procedures, processes, and internal controls, ensuring the timely and accurate reporting of financial results.
Sachin Karmarkar
EMC is delighted to announce the promotions of Richard Baldwin, PLS, and Cody Rogers, PE, to Associate Owners. Richard Baldwin, PLS Having joined EMC in 2015, Richard Baldwin has over 15 years of Project Management experience and currently serves as EMC’s Augusta Survey Manager. An active member of SAMSOG, NSPS, and the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, Baldwin enjoys traveling and attending his children’s sporting events outside of work. Together with his wife, Dusti, they are proud parents to Kaitlyn, Jacob, and Christopher.
Cody Rogers, PE Cody Rogers's dedication since joining EMC in 2015 as a Jr. Design Engineer has led him to a promotion to Project Manager in 2021, and he now serves as EMC’s Statesboro Branch Manager. A Magna Cum Laude graduate from Georgia Southern University, Rogers Cody Rogers spends his free time fishing, reading, gardening, and spending time with his wife Heather and their daughter Reagan. His contributions extend to his past presidency of the ASCE Savannah Chapter and current advisory role to the ASCE Georgia Southern Student Chapter, in addition to his involvement with ITE and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Georgia.
JACOBS welcomes Dwayne Tedder,
Dwayne Tedder
10 Engineering Georgia
Jack Wegmet
KECK & WOOD
EMC ENGINEERING SERVICES
Richard Baldwin
Jesus Quiñonez
Jimmy Crain
is proud to introduce the newest members of their team: Sachin Karmarkar PE, PTOE, PTP With more than 15 years of experience in Traffic Engineering and Planning, Karmarkar will collaborate with clients and his team to provide quality solutions and solid deliverables. Additionally, his experience in travel demand modeling strengthens and expands the firm's traffic engineering and planning capabilities. Jesus Quiñonez graduated in December of 2023 from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. As a transportation professional, he will be honing his skills through collaboration with the entire Roadway team.
Aurie Manigo
Jack Wegmet immediately traveled to the 103rd Transportation Research Board’s Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, the same week that he joined the firm. Wegmet was invited to participate in the TRB’s poster session to discuss his paper titled “Investigation of Discrepancies" in South Carolina Traffic Collision Forms. He served as a collegiate intern for Keck & Wood in 2022, while attending USC.
Brian Faulkner
Jimmy Crain is a recent Georgia Southern graduate. Crain joins the firm’s Roadway team. His eagerness to grow and learn makes him an excellent fit into the company’s culture. And congratulations to Keck & Wood’s New Professional Engineers! The firm also extends congratulations to Aurie Manigo and Brian Faulkner for recently becoming Professional Engineers.
PE, as the Traffic Practice Leader in their Atlanta office. Dwayne comes to Jacobs with more than 25 years of experience in the planning, design, construction, management, and operation of transportation infrastructure projects. Tedder will lead the firm’s traffic practice, serving clients and communities and helping to grow Jacob’s talented staff and market presence in Georgia and the Southeast.
engineering the pulse [ on gathe [ feature move ]]
MAULDIN & JENKINS
Tom Houlihan
is proud to appoint Tom Houlihan as Managing Director to lead the Firm’s Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) practice. Houlihan brings extensive experience, with a background leading over $3 billion in transactions. His expertise in strategic planning, financial reporting, and litigation support marks a significant addition to Mauldin & Jenkins, further solidifying the firm's industry-leading position.
THC is excited to welcome new team members to its Georgia operations.
Chris Sellers
Melinda McGrath
Nick Ferlito
Wayne Roberts
NEEL-SCHAFFER
is excited to announce leadership promotions and changes, with Chris Sellers, PE, stepping up as Executive Vice President and East Region Manager, overseeing 10 offices. Melinda McGrath, with her extensive background, will now manage the firm’s Mississippi and Louisiana offices as the Central Region Manager. Sellers and McGrath have also been appointed to the Board of Directors. Additionally, Senior Vice President Nick Ferlito, PE, PTOE, will take on the role of Louisiana Area Manager, leading daily operations in the state.
Mike Phillips
Jennifer Peace
Kyle Eidson
The firm also announced the promotion of two of employees to Vice President. Mike Phillips, PE, CFM, an esteemed member of the firm since 2000 and the Hydrology and Hydraulics Technical Leader, has been promoted to Vice President. With his office based in Nashville, Phillips is a Certified Floodplain Manager who has led several major projects for the Departments of Transportation in Tennessee and Georgia, contributing significantly to the firm's success across the East Region. Jennifer Peace, PE, DBIA, who has been pivotal in Neel-Schaffer's growth since joining in 2008, is also stepping into the role of Vice President. Operating from the Birmingham office, her expertise in large transportation projects and her DBIA certification have been crucial to the firm, particularly with her involvement in the $800 million West Alabama Highway project. Kyle Eidson, PE, who began his journey with Neel-Schaffer in 2004 and has become the Central Region's technical leader for Roadway Design, continues to serve as a Senior Project Manager. Based out of the Brandon (MS) office, Eidson plays a key role in mentoring designers and managing the integration of cutting-edge design software.
Jennifer Roberts
Wayne Roberts Joining as a Project Manager and Senior Right of Way (R/W) Acquisition and Relocation Agent, Wayne Roberts brings over 24 years of R/W acquisition experience. His expertise will be invaluable in managing projects and expanding THC's services throughout Georgia. Roberts holds a BBA in Business Management from Mercer University and is GDOT pre-qualified in multiple R/W disciplines. Jennifer Roberts As a new R/W Acquisition and Relocation Agent, Roberts will handle property negotiations and relocations. With over 30 years of experience in site selection, construction, and financial management, she brings a results-driven approach to the team. She is also GDOT pre-qualified as a Negotiation Agent Trainee and has earned a BBA in Business Management from Mercer University.
WALTER P MOORE
Kelly Roberts
is thrilled to announce Kelly Roberts's promotion to Managing Director of the Atlanta Structural Engineering team. A leader in structural design, Roberts specializes in sustainable design, life cycle assessment, and the integration of sustainable materials. She has been recognized as a significant influencer in the industry and will now lead the team's strategic direction and daily operations. The firm is also pleased to announce that Doug Robinson will continue to serve clients and focus on the role of Principal-in-Charge on select projects for the Atlanta team. A
Doug Robinson
Alex Davis, PE, who joined Neel-Schaffer in 2017, has been promoted to the role of Engineer Manager. Overseeing the Hancock County office, Davis is the State Aid County Engineer and acts as the client liaison for several significant airports and local government agencies.
Alex Davis January | February 11
TOP 5 FIVE Five Invaluable Resources for Engineering Leaders Tackling Change Management
Top Five is a regular feature in THE PULSE! Top Five explores recommendations for podcasts, books, activities, and more. In this issue, Engineering Georgia explores leading through change. In an era where change is the only constant, leaders must be adept at managing transitions. These five resources are at the forefront of change management and provide innovative strategies and insights for today’s challenges. COMMUNICATING CHANGE Book: by Elizabeth Harrin
This guide is an invaluable resource for those looking to articulate change effectively. It offers practical advice on tailoring your message and understanding the dynamics of your team to facilitate smooth transitions. Perfect for project teams seeking to enhance their communication strategies during periods of change.
THE STRATEGY GAP
ACHIEVEIT
Online Resource: A platform that centralizes strategic planning and execution, enabling leaders to monitor progress and adapt their strategies with agility. It’s an essential tool for those looking to integrate a technology-driven approach to their change management processes.
Podcast: Featuring an episode with Deborah Roethler, an Innovative Change Manager, this podcast dives into the subtleties of organizational dynamics and offers strategies for adaptable and sustainable growth. It’s a treasure trove of insights for leaders seeking to foster trust and agility in their companies.
LEADING TRANSFORMATION
Book: by Nathan Furr, Kyle Nel, and Thomas Zoega Ramsoy
This book presents a unique case study that blends neuroscience with change management. It’s particularly useful for those interested in using storytelling and visual tools to communicate their vision for change effectively.
THE CATALYST Book: by Jonah Berger
A compelling read that equips leaders with strategies to reduce resistance to change by removing obstacles. Berger provides a step-by-step guide to understand, engage with, and overcome the roadblocks to change, making it essential for leaders looking to shift perspectives within their teams.
12 Engineering Georgia
These resources will equip you with the knowledge and tools to navigate the complex currents of change management, ensuring that your organization not only adapts but thrives.
the pulse [ top 5 ]
January | February 13
POLITICAL PULSE Georgia's Path Forward: Strategic Investments in Infrastructure and Economic Growth CHRISTY TARALLO
T
The second year of Georgia’s 157th General Assembly convened on January 8th, 2024. Fresh on the minds of the Governor and legislators was yet another budget surplus, this time in the amount of $5 billion, and a contentious upcoming election cycle. Fortunately for Georgians, the last several years under Governor Kemp’s and current House and Senate leadership have brought about lower tax burdens and historic investments in education, infrastructure, and income and property tax rebates. The Governor’s amended budget for the current fiscal year, which revises the state’s spending plan for the final 90 days of the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2024, increased overall spending by $3.1 billion and added an additional $2 billion of undesignated surplus dollars. The original fiscal year 2024 budget introduced last year was a recordsetting $32.4 billion; however, the new budget, which includes the designated and undesignated surplus dollars, brings the total to yet another record-breaking $37.5 billion. Of the $3.1 billion in new spending, the Governor allocated an additional $1.5 billion to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), on top of the backfill of revenue to replace last year’s gas tax suspension. Of this $1.5 billion, $667 million will be reserved for
[ political pulse ]
construction projects in GDOT’s existing pipeline, $641 million will go towards freight movement improvement, and $200 million of the Governor’s recommendation will go towards Local Maintenance and Improvement Grants (LMIG). This historic investment by the Governor is the largest single-year increase in transportation funding in Georgia's history and a much-needed and appreciated down payment on Georgia’s future transportation infrastructure needs. We applaud Governor Kemp for his leadership in affirming the importance of transportation investment to our state’s economic future. GDOT’s Director of Planning, Jannine Miller, presented her team’s freight and logistics findings to the first Senate Transportation Committee meeting of the 2024 legislative session in January. Her presentation, which primarily focused on Georgia’s freight and logistics outlook over the next several decades, was a harbinger of things to come if continued significant investment, like the Governor’s $1.5 billion recommendation, do not continue to be made. GDOT’s Planning Division estimates that by 2050, freight movement will nearly double in weight to 900 million tons and will more than double in value to $1.6 trillion. Ms. Miller and her team further surmise that without continued significant investment in Georgia’s freight and logistics infrastructure by 2050, congestion costs—defined as estimated delays for shippers—will double for the manufacturing industry, quadruple for the distribution & retail industry, and increase by roughly 80% for food and agriculture, while all other industries will experience an estimated 125% increase in congestion costs. It’s important to note here that the Planning Division’s analysis has only been done for freight impacts, and does not include the day-to-day Georgians commuting on the state’s roadways.
The total of the additional investments that have been identified as critical needs across the state, according to the Planning Division, is $90 billion in funding over a 25-year period. Most of that estimated $90 billion is identified as an additional need on top of estimated annual funding in order to improve both freight and people flow on Georgia’s roadways. Ms. Miller also presented on some of the challenges facing truckers in Georgia and across the nation. Nationally, 98% of truck drivers reported that they experience issues finding safe parking, with the average truck driver spending nearly an hour looking for parking. Further, it is estimated that there is only one available parking spot for every eleven trucks. In 2019, Georgia ranked within the top five states for availability to truck parking, but with the increased traffic flow based on the state’s favorable business environment and popularity of current infrastructure due to its efficiency, the state will likely need to continue to invest in truck driver amenities. Fortunately, this can likely take the form of public-private partnerships, as the private sector tends to be favored among truck drivers.
THE ORIGINAL FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET INTRODUCED LAST YEAR WAS A RECORD-SETTING $32.4 BILLION; HOWEVER, THE NEW BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES THE DESIGNATED AND UNDESIGNATED SURPLUS DOLLARS, BRINGS THE TOTAL TO YET ANOTHER RECORD-BREAKING $37.5 BILLION.
The Planning Division’s report found that the Savannah area presents an opportunity for freight and movement improvements. Due to the Port’s popularity with shippers, the Planning Division believes that without targeted investments, by 2050 roughly 40% of the available industrial space would be over an hour drive from the Port, which will increase costs for shippers and distributors tremendously—a cost that consumers are likely to feel in their wallets. Currently, most industrial space is only a 10-to-20-minute drive. The Planning Division has identified 12 recommended improvements to existing lanes and corridors throughout the area, as well as 12 intersection and interchange improvements. These improvements are estimated to cost more than $1.4 billion.
A more detailed version of Ms. Miller’s analysis of the future of Georgia’s freight needs can be found on the GDOT website. After the presentation, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming), stated that over the next year, through surplus funding, federal funding, and regular GDOT appropriations, there will be roughly $4 billion for GDOT to invest in the state for existing needs. He further stated that they believe that there are likely 10 years left on the gas tax, which results in $2.2 billion annually for the state, but that will eventually need to change to some other source of funding as gas-fueled cars begin to phase out at a quicker rate.
Ms. Miller and her team have spent years studying and analyzing the heightened need for increased infrastructure investment and dedicated revenue streams for transportation in the state of Georgia. The Governor’s recommendation for $1.5 billion in additional revenue for GDOT is not only a historic down payment on the state’s roads, bridges, economic development centers, and supply chain infrastructure, but it’s a recognition that it’s critically important not to let up on the gas of transportation investment. A
engineering [ political gapulse [ feature ] ]
January | February 15
the pulse
OUT & ABOUT ACEC Georgia’s first Mentorship Program Class at their final session and Holiday Party.
Members of ACEC Georgia’s Engineering Leadership Academy (ELA) listen to Lisa Exely and AshleyAnn Chambers from Volkert present on Business Development and Marketing 101.
Jonathan Tilenis (HRC) and Cindy Jenkins (Jacobs) participate in activities during their second ELA learning day.
ACEC Georgia’s Thirsty Thursday event in Cobb County.
Michael “Sully” Sullivan (ACEC Georgia), Don Harris (KCI), and Greg Teague (Croy) at ACEC Georgia’s Thirsty Thursday event in Cobb County.
ELA class members during their second ELA learning day.
Participants of ACEC Georgia’s 2023-2034 Future Leaders Program listen to Joe Macrina (CHA), Kevin Hebblethwaite (Stambaugh Ness), and Jeff Adams (Stambaugh Ness) present on Profitability, Managing the Finances of an Engineering Firm, and Accounting Best Practices.
ELA class members participate in activities during their second ELA learning day.
Members of ACEC Georgia’s first mentorship program enjoy their final session during a holiday party for mentors and mentees.
18 Engineering Georgia
the pulse
GEORGIA NUMBERS by the
7,780
THE SIDNEY LANIER BRIDGE in Brunswick isn't just Georgia's longest bridge – it's a towering example of engineering prowess, spanning over 7,780 feet. With its impressive cable-stayed design, it not only connects communities but also stands as a beacon of structural artistry.
2,500
DID YOU KNOW? Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, renowned as the world's busiest, sees over 2,500 flights daily. This bustling hub connects millions, making Georgia a global crossroads in the truest sense.
200,000
GEORGIA SHINES BRIGHT in solar energy, ranking 9th in the U.S. for solar power capacity. It's not just peaches getting sun here; over 200,000 homes are powered by this renewable source, marking a sunny future for the state.
13,000
GEORGIA IS A GROWING tech titan, with Atlanta alone boasting over 13,000 technology companies. This tech boom reflects the state's innovative spirit and its pivotal role in driving the nation's digital future.
22
SAVANNAH'S CHARM is in its numbers - 22 park-like squares in its historic district! Planned in the 1730s, this unique layout makes it one of America's most picturesque and pedestrianfriendly cities.
47%
GEORGIA ISN'T JUST FAMOUS FOR ITS PEACHES; it's also a leader in urban forestry. Atlanta, the "City in a Forest," boasts an impressive tree canopy that covers over 47% of the city area, making it one of the most tree-covered cities in the U.S. This leafy landscape not only beautifies but also plays a crucial role in improving air quality and reducing urban heat. January | February 19
ENGINEERING UNDER THE GOLD DOME Seven lawmakers bring problem-solver’s ethos to the Georgia General Assembly DAVID CARAVIELLO
C
Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fortification in the nation, having loomed over the waterfront in St. Augustine, Fla., since 1695. Overseeing the restoration of its seawall is Ed Setzler, who, for the past six years, has led the federal liaison program at the engineering firm Croft. Handling such delicate sites is part of the job for a planner whose other projects have included the restoration of the del Morrow Lighthouse in Puerto Rico and constructing an Everglades visitors center designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. N
20 Engineering Georgia
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO LEGISLATIVE WORK IN AS MUCH AS YOU DEPEND ON FOLKS OUTSIDE YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE. HOW YOU’RE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT IT AND SYNERGIZE IT—THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS. engineering ga [ feature ]
January | February 21
It’s a job requiring detailed preparation and a willingness to seek expertise from the engineers, preservationists, and other experts whom Setzler works with daily. That approach is similar to the one he takes as a Georgia state senator representing District 37, a post he was first elected to in 2022. “The direct parallel to what we do in the legislature is, you’re responsible for things that are very, very, very deep, but you’re tapping into other people’s technical expertise to deliver it. You're working with a lot of really significant details in banking and criminal law and education and civil rights, you name it. You're touching all these things. And any one person in the room has about one-eighth of the needed expertise—so how do you integrate that and make sure you have the right partners on the team?” Setzler asked. “When you’re working on, say, the lighthouse in San Juan, it’s easy to say, ‘Oh, I’ve got a structural engineer.’ But Craig Bennett of Bennett Preservation Engineering is the premier historic masonry structural engineer in the Southeast. Michael Planer (of PES Structural Engineers) has worked with us on a lot of those kinds of things. So how do you bring in their expertise? It's very similar to legislative work in as much as you depend on folks outside your area of expertise. How you’re able to learn about it and synergize it—that's really where the magic happens.” Indeed, the seven members of the Georgia General Assembly who are engineers or work with engineering firms all bring that collaborative problem-solving mindset to their work under the Gold Dome in Atlanta. In addition to Setzler, there’s Rep. Brad Thomas (District 21), a PE and co-founder of the industrial services firm Capital Projects. There’s Rep. Gabe Okoye (District 102), a PE and founder of the wastewater engineering firm Essex Geoscience.
22 Engineering Georgia
There’s Rep. Vance Smith (District 138), a former GDOT commissioner and construction company owner whose business development firm has worked with several engineering companies. There’s Sen. Frank Ginn (District 47), who holds an agricultural engineering degree and has worked has worked extensively within the electric utility industry, and today works in government services for Thomas and Hutton. And there’s Rep. Houston Gaines (District 12) of Carter Engineering Consultants and Rep. Holt Persinger (District 119) of LJA Engineering, who both work in business development for their firms. For PEs like Thomas, writing engineering codes and writing legislation “are really just cousins of one another,” he said. “It’s very much a skill set we already have.” Even for the legislators who are not engineers by trade, being around engineers—and having them to consult with on certain topics—can help foster a broader understanding of issues that pertain to a number of different disciplines. “I think it gives me a better perspective when legislation that deals with engineers, construction companies, or GDOT comes forward. I'm very fortunate to have a perspective because I've kind of been in those arenas,” Smith said. “I was talking this morning about a piece of legislation that deals with qualificationbased bids, and it wasn’t Greek to me, because I’ve been there. It’s been a great education for me. It gives me another way to look at things. I know what they’re talking about, I can relate to people working in those fields, and it helps me make a better judgment call on what I need to do.”
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BRINGING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
Days after he turned 18, Brad Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Navy and became a diesel mechanic. Enmeshed in the world of pumps and valves and heat exchangers, he realized he enjoyed the work and wanted to learn more about the systems involved. A mechanical engineering technology degree from Georgia Southern University followed, and work involving hydrogen plants and renewable energy began his climb up the career ladder. Thomas was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2020. One year later, he and partner Bradford David founded Capital Projects, a multidiscipline industrial services firm based in Suwannee, Ga. “If you were really to boil it all down to what engineers are, I would say, it comes down to quality of life, right?” Thomas said. “I mean, good roads, that's a quality of life issue. Running water, you're not going get that without engineers. Power, natural gas distribution, everything that our constituents in the state of Georgia touch has had an engineer touch it at some point. From the vehicle you drive to the water you drink, to the hot water for your shower, to the paper your kids write on for school—all of it is done by engineers. So having that understanding, I think, is really a unique thing to bring to the table.” N
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Gabe Okoye, meanwhile, came to the United States from his native Nigeria in 1981, intending to study in a very different field—medicine. “I quickly found out I wasn’t cut out for it,” he said. “I didn’t have the heart to be a medical doctor. So I asked myself, ‘Where do I go to not see blood in my profession?’ And engineering came to mind. And that’s how I ended up an engineer.” Okoye put himself through college, earned a civil engineering degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and moved to Atlanta to take a position with Superior Environmental. In 1998 he founded his own firm, Essex Geosciences, which largely works in wastewater engineering. The former Gwinnett County Commissioner of Planning and longtime Lawrenceville resident was first elected to the House in 2022. His background as an engineer and a problem-solver, Okoye said, are among the reasons why he champions issues like transit and road infrastructure as a legislator. But those two worlds don’t always mesh smoothly, he added. “Sometimes it’s really irritating, but you have to wear your patience. You have to wear it well,” Okoye said. “Because being technical, you see things the way they should be. Politics is a different ballgame. What’s white may be passed as black, and what’s black may be passed as white.”
THE DIRECT PARALLEL TO WHAT WE DO IN THE LEGISLATURE IS, YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THINGS THAT ARE VERY, VERY, VERY DEEP, BUT YOU’RE TAPPING INTO OTHER PEOPLE’S TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO DELIVER IT. - Ed Setzler 24 Engineering Georgia
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Clearly, House leadership values the expertise of its engineer legislators, given that Okoye and Thomas both serve on the Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications Committee, and Thomas is vice chair of the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure Innovation. Engineers are also valuable under the Gold Dome for another reason, Thomas added—they fully understand the perils of unintended consequences. “That's a skill set that is absolutely paramount to policy writing—the ability to understand how a policy implementation is going to play out when the rubber meets the road,” he said. “We
write policy for all kinds of infrastructure, and understanding how transmission of energy works, how a basic failure mechanism of how a bridge is designed, and how that affects financial policy decisions for the state—it's really a unique perspective that we bring. I'm glad that we're a citizen legislature, and I'm glad that we have so many different people with so many different perspectives in the capital. But I think we definitely have a have a good voice there when it comes to policy.”
‘YOU’RE TRYING TO IMPROVE THINGS’
Frank Ginn’s father was an agricultural engineer who spent four decades in agribusiness development for Georgia Power. When the younger Ginn graduated high school, he didn’t have any defined career plans—so he attended the University of Georgia and earned his own agricultural engineering degree, and then blazed his own path within the electrical utilities industry in the Peach State. But Ginn didn’t stop there—he later began a two-decade-long run in city and county management, where he used his agricultural engineering training and utilities background to help municipalities run natural gas systems, build water systems, and improve water and sewer systems. Then, in 2010, Ginn won election to the Georgia state Senate for the first time. “All engineers are problem solvers—they like fixing things and doing stuff. And so, for me, serving in the legislature has been a natural fit,” Ginn said. “What’s interesting is when you work for a utility company like I’ve worked for Georgia Power in years past, you’re trying to improve things and make life better for people. And it sure does help when you know how things work. As an engineer, that’s when you can put things into focus and work to solve problems.” N
THAT'S A SKILL SET THAT IS ABSOLUTELY PARAMOUNT TO POLICY WRITING—THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND HOW A POLICY IMPLEMENTATION IS GOING TO PLAY OUT WHEN THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD. - Gabe Okoye
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Ed Setzler, meanwhile, graduated from Furman University with a physics degree and gravitated toward the engineering industry after a nine-year stint in the U.S. Army, where he earned the rank of captain and served as a logistics planner for global military deployments in Europe, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf. Setzler managed infrastructure engineering and environmental programs for MACTEC before joining Croft in 2012. Setzler served nine terms in the Georgia House before moving into the Senate. If there’s a through line from his military career to his tenure in the General Assembly to his work with engineering firms, it’s a firm belief in systematic decision-making—collecting all information first, and then methodically weighing pros and cons—rather than simply relying on gut instinct. “The military decision-making process is almost directly mirrored by AIA’s schematic design process,” he said. “And so the way that we think through bills and alternatives and sort of structured thinking about things, particularly in a judiciary setting, is very, very helpful. The way you think through things systematically, I think, is a real help in bringing diverse groups of people on board with ideas. Because you can see the work and see how the decisions are formulated, and that's a great consensus-builder.”
IF YOU WERE REALLY TO BOIL IT ALL DOWN TO WHAT ENGINEERS ARE, I WOULD SAY, IT COMES DOWN TO QUALITY OF LIFE, RIGHT? - Brad Thomas
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As with other legislators working in the engineering industry, Setzler’s committee assignments reflect his day job—he’s vice chair of the Senate Science and Technology Committee, which he also chaired as a member of the House. Likewise, Ginn’s background is reflected in his position on the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee and Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee, among others. “I've solved a lot of environmental issues in my work career, everything from overflowing lift stations to problems with water treatment to anything you
can think of. I’ve started a lot of recycling programs and things like that. I didn't know I was a tree-hugger till I got involved in that kind of stuff,” Ginn said. But the agricultural engineer certainly isn’t hesitant to seek out opinions on other issues if he needs them. “We live in a world where you need to know a little bit about everything. And as a legislator, you find out there's a lot of different sides to all kinds of issues,” Ginn added. “And you’ve got to know a little bit about everybody's perspective and then work toward a solution. And for me, that's what I try to get when I'm working on legislation or working to solve a problem. You're trying to get everybody that's involved with that in the room at the same time, and let's put our heads together and come up with the best possible solution.”
HAVING EXPERTS CLOSE AT HAND
For decades, Vance Smith Construction moved earth for golf course construction, hauled gravel and topsoil for subdivision development, and cleared land for road projects. Vance Smith Sr. started the business in 1952, and it eventually counted both his son and grandson among its employees. But it was no match for the Great Recession and the ensuing construction slowdown, so in 2008, the Smith family shut down the company and sold all of its equipment. “I kind of grew up around it,” Vance Smith Jr., who represents House District 138, said of the company his late father founded. “I worked there during high school, worked there during college, and after college went to work there full-time. It was good. We did a lot of grading for homes and businesses and did earthwork on 18 or 19 golf courses. It was just a great business.” N
ALL ENGINEERS ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS—THEY LIKE FIXING THINGS AND DOING STUFF. AND SO, FOR ME, SERVING IN THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN A NATURAL FIT. - Frank Ginn
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With the family business dissolved, Smith started his own company doing business development for various entities. Having served a previous 16-year stint in the Georgia House followed by two years as GDOT commissioner, his skills as a facilitator proved a natural fit for constriction companies. That in turn led to connections with engineering firms, and Smith has since done business development work with the likes of Contour Engineering and Pond. Smith, who returned to the House in 2018, recalls backing a bill to have structural engineers recognized as an engineering division by the Secretary of State’s office. His association with engineers “helped me understand what was going on trying to get that classification in the Secretary of State's office. So it's a big advantage for me, and it helps me to kind of explain it to other people who haven't worked with some great engineers from these different companies,” said Smith, who holds an economics degree from Columbus State. Holt Persinger, who holds a landscape architecture degree from the University of Georgia (UGA) and was first elected to the House in 2023, works as a business development manager for LJA Engineering in Buford, Ga. Houston Gaines, another UGA grad who was first elected to the House in 2018, has worked since 2021 as vice president of business development at Carter Engineering Consultants in Watkinsville. “It's great to have experts in our office like the folks who are engineers who understand the issues that impact them every single day. I believe the most important part of my job as a legislator is going out and seeking experts in different areas, whether it's folks who understand taxes or higher education or various issues, and relying on them to make sure that we're making good sound public policy at the state level,” Gaines said.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE EXPERTS IN OUR OFFICE LIKE THE FOLKS WHO ARE ENGINEERS WHO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES THAT IMPACT THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY.
- Houston Gaines
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“My knowledge of planning and design informs my understanding of legislation dealing with large-scale economic development projects and associated infrastructure needs," Persinger said. "My professional background lends to my advocacy for legislation that continues to make Georgia the number one state to live, work, and raise a family.” “If there's an issue in the engineering space, or that involves land surveying or landscape architecture, I have experts that I can ask for their opinions and their thoughts on,
just like I do for any bill that affects any other industry. We rely on experts in those areas to ensure we're making good public policy. And that's something that I think we've done in the House in particular is, make good sound public policy that helps Georgia thrive and grow.” For all the Georgia legislators who work in the engineering realm, the common threads are evident—solving problems, fostering an improved quality of life, possessing first-hand knowledge of complex issues or direct access to those who have it. Small-town attorneys often make the best legislators, Setzler said, because they deal with so many different aspects of their profession on a daily basis. In that regard, those legislators who come from the engineering profession can relate. “You end up getting a working level of experience, really in a way that probably no one other than a small country attorney gets,” he added. “They touch every part of the code every day. But engineers, from a project delivery standpoint, touch those same areas very, very intimately, and have lots of expertise in it. You get lots of touches across the code as an engineer.” A
MY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND LENDS TO MY ADVOCACY FOR LEGISLATION THAT CONTINUES TO MAKE GEORGIA THE NUMBER ONE STATE TO LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE A FAMILY. - Holt Persinger
January | February 29
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DRIVING FORWARD A close-knit transportation network fuels Georgia’s economic development boom DAVID CARAVIELLO
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It was the mid-2000s, and the relationships between transportation leaders in Georgia were contentious at best. Atlanta had become one of the fastestgrowing metro areas in the United States, new roads were desperately needed, and the state enacted a $15.5 billion “Fast Forward” program that aimed to fast-track transportation development—trying to get done in six years what otherwise would have taken nearly two decades to complete. N
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“I'VE NEVER SEEN A STATE THAT WORKS SO SEAMLESSLY TOGETHER IN ALL DIFFERENT COUNTIES, AND ON A STATEWIDE BASIS WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.”
Jannine Miller
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The result was more frustration, as transportation agency heads clashed over who would get the funding and whose projects would be prioritized. “It was just a degradation,” recalled Jannine Miller, now Director of the Georgia Department of Transportation Office of Planning, and Executive Director of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, State Road and Tollway Authority and Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority. “These agencies were trying to respond to taxpayers and customers, but it just devolved into, ‘Who’s really in charge?’”
“THE PEACH STATE HAS BROKEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECORDS FOR THREE FISCAL YEARS IN A ROW, MOST RECENTLY TOTALING $24 BILLION IN INVESTMENTS AND EXPANSIONS IN 2022-23.” interconnected transportation web. “I've never seen a state that works so seamlessly together in all different counties, and on a statewide basis when it comes to economic development,” said Ed McCarthy, chief operating officer of Georgia Ports Authority. “There's a singular purpose.”
By late 2023, things had changed noticeably. Six Georgia transportation leaders sat together on a stage in an Athens convention center, talking about their close professional relationships and how they supported one another—MARTA General Manager Collie Greenwood and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport General Manager Balram Bheodari running into one another at an Atlanta city council meeting, Greenwood and Atlanta Regional Commission Executive Director Anna Roach appearing together at the MARTA station groundbreaking, GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry gazing out from Atlanta's tallest-in-the-nation control tower.
How did that happen? Amid the rancor of the mid-2000s, executive directors and board chairs of four different state transportation agencies began to gather in a room together, “just to talk as human beings and discuss what's going on, and how we can potentially work together,” Miller said. “So it was leadership that made it happen, pulling ourselves out of it. We just realized that this is a better way to do it—this is helpful to us, this is helpful to you. And when we're not at each other's throats, we're actually getting good things done. So it just kept going.” The result of that cooperation is a transportation system that’s become the backbone of an economic development boom unlike anything Georgia has ever seen. The Peach State has broken economic development records for three fiscal years in a row, most recently totaling $24 billion in investments and expansions in 2022-23. The $5.54 billion Hyundai manufacturing facility in Bryan County and the $5 billion Rivian manufacturing plant east of Atlanta represent the two largest single investments in state history.
The state’s transportation infrastructure has played a critical role in making all that a reality, and positioning Georgia for further investment to come. “He was able to see from Atlanta Airport all the way to Russell McMurry According to the consulting firm McKinsey, Georgia has Stone Mountain,” Bheodari crowed. “It’s a phenomenal view.” the world’s busiest passenger airport, the fourth-busiest seaport in the United States, the fifth-highest-quality roads and the seventhAgency heads who once clashed over funding and project highest-quality bridges in the country, and the largest rail network in prioritization now hold weekly meetings and communicate regularly the Southeast. Add in agency heads who are “all pulling in the same with one another, all of it fostered by the indisputable fact that roads, direction,” as Miller calls it, and the result is an enviable formula for trains, ships, airports and public transport are all part of the same economic success. N
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“Economic development and transportation are certainly joined at the hip,” McMurry said. “It takes many things for positive economic development, obviously, but transportation is sort of foundational. Georgia is seeing a manufacturing revolution, if you will, in the big job announcements. Hyundai and Rivian are the ones that get the most attention, but in (2023) there have been 6,000 new jobs totaling over $7 billion in private investment that are all manufacturing and are not Hyundai or Rivian. And so that just shows you that having a strong transportation system like we have in place is sort of foundational to bringing industry and business to Georgia.” Each state agency plays a part. Georgia Ports, which is responsible for $59 billion of the state’s gross domestic product, hosts potential investors in the Peach State who are briefed on the port’s current capacity and its future expansion plans. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport has 600,000 square feet of cargo warehousing capacity that it plans to expand to 1.2 million. GDOT ensures companies have the access needed to transport products from potential manufacturing sites. MARTA and Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority help employees get to work. ARC is tasked with distributing $168 billion in local, state, and federal transportation infrastructure funding. “The airport is not a standalone enterprise. We depend on an entire ecosystem,” Bheodari said. “We depend on an ecosystem that is a network of transportation that connects people to the airport. Rail connects to the airport, MARTA connects to the airport, and people drive to the airport. The port has a connection to us and brings in goods that are needed. Perishable goods are trucked to the airport. So it’s a network where all the pieces are codependent on each other. And that network strengthens the region.”
GEORGIA’S ‘SECRET SAUCE’
To Miller, the link between Georgia’s transportation system and the state’s success on the economic development front starts with grip—or rather, GRIP. That’s the acronym for the Governor’s Road Improvement Program, an initiative adopted in 1989 by the state’s General Assembly, which aims to place 98 percent of Georgia’s population within 20 miles of a four-lane road, and link most cities with interstate highways. Overseen by GDOT, GRIP as of February of 2023 was comprised of 19 road expansion projects covering 3,323 miles—most completed, a few undergoing construction, preliminary engineering or right-of-way access, a couple yet to begin. Not only do four-lane GRIP corridors make travel in rural areas safer for drivers, Miller said, but they also foster economic development by making it easier for companies to access potential manufacturing or distribution sites. “That’s enabled companies to locate facilities like manufacturing, distribution or food processing anywhere they needed to, and they don't have to worry about road access,” she added. “Wherever it's good for the other aspects of their site location—whether it’s workforce climate, close to sources of resources, or close to suppliers—they can pick anywhere in the state, and know that they could
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get to interstate highways very, very efficiently. So GRIP corridors have been a huge boon for Georgia over the past decades. It's kind of our little secret sauce.” GDOT is a partner in the state’s economic development efforts, talking with potential investors about infrastructure that’s already in place and infrastructure that’s planned for industrial sites. GDOT is making $480 million in infrastructure investments around the Hyundai and Rivian sites, McMurray said, to support freight movement in both locations. The potential return on that investment is evident in West Point, where Kia has spent over $22.7 billion and created over 28,000 jobs since 2020. To many companies investing in Georgia, port access is critical. Recent upgrades at Georgia Ports have included the opening of Mason Mega Rail, a $1.5 billion project that created the largest on-terminal intermodal facility in North America. Mason Mega Rail added 10 tracks and doubled rail lift capacity at the Port of Savannah, greatly extending the terminal’s reach. In December, the port’s board approved an additional $127 million to build the Blue Ridge Connector, which will link Gainesville to the Savannah terminal. “The port is the economic engine that connects throughout the state, and really throughout the South Atlantic region,” McCarthy said. “And with a population base the size of Atlanta, we’re the closest port to that. So there’s a direct relationship between Atlanta and the port and how we’ve grown, because the population has moved south over the past 10 years. We need to be able to grow and supply what the population base needs.”
Ed McCarthy
At Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, which accommodated 93.7 million passengers in 2022, there’s a focus on what Bheodari calls “front door connectivity”—potential investors knowing they’ll need just one flight to get home from Georgia, or vice versa. That can be particularly appealing to international investors like those from South Korea, which, thanks to the presence of Kia (which has been in West Point since 2010) and Hyundai (which is building a facility in Bryan County), has become a major player on the Peach State manufacturing scene. Indeed, there’s a direct flight between Hartsfield-Jackson and Seoul/Incheon. N
“IT TAKES MANY THINGS FOR POSITIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, OBVIOUSLY, BUT TRANSPORTATION IS SORT OF FOUNDATIONAL.”
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“There are a number of reasons why a company will choose a location,” Bheodari said. “But this front door-to-front-door connectivity opens up an entire realm of opportunity for businesses.” At MARTA, the emphasis is on connecting those businesses with potential employees. “We think that economic development is being able to get your most important resource to the job site reliably day in and day out,” Greenwood said. MARTA used the pandemicrelated drop in ridership to enact improvements like better lighting and monitoring in stations, implement neighborhood adopt-a-station programs, and lay the groundwork for the replacement of 224 railcars. In June, it broke ground on its first bus rapid transit line (BRT) connecting downtown Atlanta with south downtown.
Collie Greenwood
“When it comes to organizations that are resource-heavy, their employees really want public transit,” Greenwood said. “There are a lot of organizations that are voicing their concern, making sure that we don't drop the ball because their employees tell them day-in and day-out that they need MARTA to make this thing work. Transit that is highly reliable and high-capacity, such as a BRT or a heavy rail system, is exactly the key. Economic development is companies doing business, and companies doing business are very reliant on their people.” ARC is not only prioritizing the distribution of $168 billion in infrastructure funds over the 30-year length of its long-range transportation plan, but reexamining the way it pursues funding to begin with. Roach said Atlanta has had little luck in securing grants from large programs like INFRA (Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highway Projects) and Mega (the National Infrastructure Project Assistance program). “We’re all scratching our heads, thinking, ‘Why are New York and San Francisco so successful at attracting these grants?’” Roach said. The answer: ARC was thinking too small. “They are doing multi-jurisdictional, hugely impactful projects, and we're asking for too little, basically,” she said. “They are telling a regional story that has a nexus across all of those projects that are getting funded. And so what we need to do in metro Atlanta is change the way we go after funding by having a unifying theme—a very clear, crisp and connected story about what we're trying to accomplish.
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“WE THINK THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS BEING ABLE TO GET YOUR MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE TO THE JOB SITE RELIABLY DAY IN AND DAY OUT.”
And then go big, ask for more money, make sure that you are targeting multi-jurisdictional projects of scale. That's what the federal government will pay attention to. So that’s what we’re doing.” Every dollar will be needed because the transportation needs of Georgia and metro Atlanta will only increase as plants like Rivian and Hyundai come online—attracting thousands of workers and almost certainly fostering further economic development. By all accounts, the Peach State has been a massive economic success. So now Georgia’s transportation leaders wrestle with a different question: what comes next?
BIGGER, BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE
At Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Bheodari is living in the present and the future at the same time. While the gateway welcomes tens of millions of fliers annually, it’s
also preparing for 2035, when the airport is forecasted to handle 120 million passengers. It’s also working to double its air cargo capacity to 1.2 million square feet, with the understanding that companies investing in Georgia will want increased efficiency in supply chains and distribution.
Anna Roach
Preparing for the future at the Atlanta airport also includes widening Concourse D, the narrowest at Hartsfield-Jackson, by building modular extensions off-site and then trucking them over and assembling them to the existing concourse. It means extending the “Plain Train” subway system to reduce wait times between trains, and increasing capacity by 2,000 more passengers an hour. It means modernizing 69 restrooms, replacing jet bridges, and spending $7 billion annually over the next 10 years on capital projects. N
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“When we overlay all the projects, and the areas where those projects are going to occur, I need to have full visibility of the impact to the traveling public,” Bheodari said. “We're very strategic in which projects we undertake, the timing of each project, and the project's location. Everything we do is with the traveling public in mind, to minimize stress to their travel experience.” Similar preparations are underway at Georgia Ports, which is renovating its Ocean Terminal to serve two large container ships simultaneously. Georgia Ports is also spending Balram Bheodari $200 million to create 100 acres of new container storage at its Garden City Terminal. And it’s purchased 152 acres on Hutchinson Island, which sits in the middle of the Savannah River, for a planned 395-acre cargo container terminal. Georgia Ports handled 5.9 million TEUs (each equivalent to a 20-foot container unit) in 2022 and, like ATL, is girding to accommodate a big increase—in this case, 12 million TEUs by 2033. “That’s what we’re preparing for,” McCarthy said. “Historically, we've grown at a six percent container rate on an annualized basis. We want to make sure we have enough space for the next 10 years to meet that demand, so we build in a buffer. If we're growing by six percent over the next 10 years, that's why we're building enough capacity to handle 12 million TEUs, and that keeps us ahead of that 20 percent buffer. So if we're at say, nine to 10 million containers, we have 12 million TEU capacity to make sure that we're fluid.”
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Hartsfield-Jackson and Georgia Ports are vital links on Georgia’s economic development front because of the role they play in getting raw materials to manufacturers and getting finished products out. McMurry said GDOT has also earmarked about $100 million for improvements at several regional airports around the state to support air cargo. Kia West Point is already producing 340,000 vehicles per year—Rivian, when it comes online, will make 400,000 annually, and Hyundai between 300,000 and 500,000. And that’s on top of the output of other major Peach State manufacturers, and those still to come.
more investment now. 2050 sounds like a very long time away. But in transportation, it takes 15 to 20 years to do big things. It just takes that long to do big things. We can go fast on some things. But major corridor improvements, major upgrades just take a very long time.” So how to handle the expected increase in vehicular traffic, given that the number of drivers on Georgia roads is expected to double by 2050? “No matter where you are in the world, where there's economic activity, there's always going to be a lot of traffic volume. Sometimes it gets into congestion because there are just so many people and goods that want to get to various places. So we really can't build enough roads to be able to get ahead of that,” Miller said.
“EVERYTHING WE DO IS WITH THE TRAVELING PUBLIC IN MIND, TO MINIMIZE STRESS TO THEIR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE.”
“It's a little bit scary when we look into the future and know that the freight tonnage in Georgia by the year 2050 will basically double from what it was in 2019. We see that population growth in metro Atlanta will add almost three million people by the year 2050. And so I'm a little concerned that we have a lot to do to be able to provide for the transportation that people want for personal mobility, and for freight mobility as well,” McMurry said.
“There are so many other major manufacturing announcements across the entire state that really will have a big impact long-term on our transportation network. So we really have to focus on making
The answer, she added, perhaps lies in projects like the express lane expansion coming to Interstate 285—which will eventually have two express lanes running in each direction for nearly 50 miles. “We believe it's going to enable further economic development because reliability is one of those things site location consultants look for: How many workers can I have access to with a 30-minute commute?” Miller said. “Your job pool gets bigger because of the express lanes. They’re reliable, with no congestion in those two lanes. Bigger, better infrastructure.” A
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[2023]
GPTQ AWARDS Award-winning Transportation Projects EDITED BY BRETT HILLESHEIM
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GRAND PRIZE
Project Name: Firefly Trail Bridge Over Trail Creek
Firm: Kimley-Horn
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Each year the Georgia Partnership for Transportation Quality (GPTQ) honors the state’s best engineering projects. Often faced with difficult challenges ranging from aging infrastructure to poor soil to congested traffic, engineers always find innovative solutions to challenging transportation problems. GPTQ Awards go to the most outstanding projects nominated in each category. These categories embody the on-going quest for innovation and quality in meeting the state’s transportation needs and goals. Each award was presented to the engineer or engineering firm most responsible for the accomplishment of the project in each category. A partnership of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), the American Council of Engineering Companies of Georgia (ACEC Georgia) and the Georgia Highway Contractors Association (GHCA), GPTQ’s mission is to strengthen the working relationships of the parties responsible for designing building, operating, and maintaining the state’s vital transportation network. These professionals are dedicated to bringing projects in on time on budget while meeting the expectations and needs of stakeholders. N
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GRAND PRIZE & CONTEXT SENSITIVE PLANNING AND DESIGN INCLUDING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESSES Project Name: Firefly Trail Bridge Over Trail Creek Firm: Kimley-Horn
The Firefly Trail Bridge Over Trail Creek project, managed by Kimley-Horn, represents a strategic blend of historic preservation and modern functionality within the context of community infrastructure. AthensClarke County, acting as both project owner and administrator, navigated the redesign of a historically significant but structurally outdated railroad trestle. The trestle's location and cultural significance, partly derived from its appearance on the cover of R.E.M.'s 1983 album, made its preservation a priority for both local residents and fans worldwide.
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Kimley-Horn's role encompassed a thorough structural evaluation of the trestle and extensive community engagement to determine its integration into the new 39-mile Firefly Trail. The firm facilitated listening sessions and attended community festivals to gather input and promote design concepts for the bridge's renewal. This community-focused approach resulted in four design alternatives, with public meetings and digital platforms used to solicit broader community feedback. The final design solution rehabilitated the central portion of the trestle and added new steel deck arches, creating a distinctive gateway while addressing practical requirements and community preferences. Weathering steel was chosen for its durability and visual compatibility with the existing structure, avoiding the environmental concerns associated with traditional timber treatments. The project's completion marks a successful exercise in civil engineering and public collaboration, delivering a bridge that resonates with the community's past while supporting its future recreational needs. No DBE firms were involved in the project. N
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RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION
Project Name: Jones Bridge Right of Way Acquisition Firm: Jacobs
The Jones Bridge Right of Way Acquisition by Jacobs is a noteworthy example of efficient project management in the Right of Way Acquisition category. Tasked with expanding Jones Bridge Road in Johns Creek, Ga., Jacobs effectively streamlined the process to achieve remarkable time and cost savings. By securing land from 55 different parcels within 12 months, a task typically slated for 27 months, they were able to save $1 million and fast-track the project's initiation. The firm's practical measures included a straightforward design strategy that anticipates future road expansions while meeting immediate needs with a three-lane road, bike lanes, and pedestrian paths. Moreover, the acquisition process was not only swift but also fiscally responsible, enabling construction to commence in 2023 and sidestepping inflationary costs expected in the following year.
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Jacobs' methodology also extended to community engagement, where they conducted multiple meetings with property owners and homeowners' associations to align project details with community preferences, such as the inclusion of sound abatement fencing. This feature, designed to reduce noise, was integrated without compromising the aesthetic of the surrounding area. In managing the project's diverse aspects, Jacobs utilized local resources, including small businesses and translators, to accommodate the cultural diversity of the area. The project also provided a platform for mentorship, with team members like Jan Nichols advancing in their career through hands-on experience in the acquisition process. Overall, the Jones Bridge Right of Way Acquisition project demonstrates Jacobs' ability to deliver on client needs efficiently, manage costs effectively, and exceed project expectations while maintaining a clear focus on the practical aspects of project management and execution.
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BRIDGE/STRUCTURAL DESIGN Project Name: Rogers Bridge Firm: Thomas & Hutton
The Rogers Bridge reconstruction project involved Thomas & Hutton as the leading firm, with CHA Consulting handling the bridge design, Edwards-Pitman Environmental focusing on environmental aspects, and United Consulting Group overseeing geotechnical elements. Their collective efforts resulted in the successful design and construction of a new 308-foot bridge over the Chattahoochee River. Tasked with managing the project, Thomas & Hutton coordinated a range of tasks including surveying, engineering, and compiling the necessary documents for construction bidding. The project aimed to replace the old Rogers Bridge, which could no longer support traffic and primarily served as a support for water mains. Through extensive stakeholder engagement and considering input from local communities, a design that replicated the historical appearance of the original bridge was selected. This choice was made to maintain the bridge's historical significance while ensuring it met current and future transportation needs. The construction of the new bridge, which was completed and opened in July 2023, posed various challenges, such as keeping essential utility services running and adhering to environmental regulations due to the bridge's location within a national recreation area. The use of a large crane to install the bridge span was a key operational decision to reduce environmental impact and avoid disturbing the river. The completed bridge now provides a key link for pedestrians and cyclists between Duluth and Johns Creek, improving access to local parks and pathways. N
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and state agencies to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. This included drafting a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) to support conservation research efforts.
NEPA, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, PRESERVATION, RESTORATION, AND/OR ENHANCEMENT
Project Name: State Route 119 at the Ogeechee River and Ogeechee River Overflow Bridges Firm: Arcadis US, Inc.
The State Route 119 at the Ogeechee River and Ogeechee River Overflow Bridges project, executed by Arcadis US, Inc., showcases a thorough approach to addressing environmental compliance while facilitating infrastructure improvements. Arcadis managed the environmental aspects of the project, including the impact on Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and protected species, and coordinated with both federal
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The project's complexity arose from the need to demolish and replace two structurally deficient bridges, maintain access for adjacent properties and recreational areas, and adhere to strict environmental protection standards. Arcadis worked with multiple partners, including New South Associates for history and archaeology, Southeastern Archaeological Research for underwater archaeology, and CCR Environmental for ecological surveys. Their collaboration was crucial to navigate the project's challenges successfully. Arcadis's strategies included early engagement with regulatory agencies to determine potential environmental impacts and the implementation of measures to minimize damage to wetlands and habitats. They also focused on maintaining water quality and adhering to species protection guidelines during construction. The outcome of the project is a pair of new concrete bridges that replace outdated structures, enhance transportation efficiency, and respect the ecological sensitivity of the area. The involvement of diverse expertise and comprehensive planning underscored the project's commitment to environmental stewardship and structural integrity.
HIGHWAY DESIGN - LARGE PROJECT (GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO $100 MILLION) Project Name: SR 316 @ SR 53 Interchange
Firm: GDOT Office of Roadway Design The SR 316 @ SR 53 Interchange project, overseen by the GDOT Office of Roadway Design, exemplifies a proactive and efficient approach to highway design for a large-scale infrastructure project. The GDOT team, with Fletcher Miller as the Roadway Key Team Lead, coordinated the project through various design and construction phases, culminating in the successful opening to traffic. Key to the project's success were the partnerships with GDOT’s Offices of Bridge Design, Environmental Services, and Program Delivery. The project team, notably including Tyler from Roadway Design, delivered on GDOT’s goal to produce "quality designs on time" by providing high-quality and on-schedule milestone products throughout the project lifecycle. The project's distinction came from Tyler's initiative to revise the original concept, leading to substantial avoidance and minimization of impacts on the natural environment and surrounding community. This revised concept also yielded significant cost savings, reduced the number of required ROW parcels, and minimized the construction stages, effectively integrating the project into the existing land use and reducing its environmental footprint. The interchange redesign, which involved flipping the original concept so that SR 316 spans over SR 53, improved safety and traffic operations, surpassing the initial project expectations. Public participation was actively sought through multiple meetings, and even without the extensive involvement of reviewing agencies due to state funding, environmental considerations were carefully managed. Tyler's innovative thinking and willingness to reassess the project design midway through the process resulted in a cost-effective, environmentally considerate, and community-friendly outcome. N
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HIGHWAY DESIGN - SMALL PROJECT (LESS THAN $20 MILLION)
Project Name: SR 60 BUS @ Oak Grove Rd Firm: GDOT District One
The SR 60 BUS @ Oak Grove Rd project, facilitated by GDOT District One, showcases a collaborative and expedited approach to addressing safety concerns at a critical intersection near local schools in Dahlonega, Ga. The intersection, providing essential access to Lumpkin County High, Middle, and Elementary Schools, had been a point of concern for local motorists and parents, prompting the County and City to seek a partnership with GDOT. In a departure from traditional GDOT project timelines, District One adopted an accelerated schedule to meet the urgent need for
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safety improvements. By acting as a consultant for Lumpkin County and the City of Dahlonega, District One was able to present several design layouts, ultimately selecting an alternative that minimized both cost and environmental impact. The team faced the challenge of fitting a roundabout, sidewalks, lighting, and walls into a confined space on the side of a mountain, all while accommodating large vehicles like trucks and school buses. The project involved closing SR 60 BUS during construction, which necessitated meticulous planning to avoid disrupting school traffic. The design and construction phases were compressed to ensure the intersection would reopen in time for the new school year. Despite the challenges and a tight deadline, District One, working closely with local stakeholders and managing utility coordination, delivered the project within 18 months. The successful completion of the roundabout not only improved safety but also demonstrated GDOT's ability to efficiently manage and execute a complex project in partnership with local entities.
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TRAFFIC SAFETY AND/OR INTERSECTION DESIGN Project Name: SR 11 @ Old Swimming Pool Rd Firm: District One Traffic Operations
The SR 11 @ Old Swimming Pool Rd project, managed by District One Traffic Operations, is a case study in traffic safety and innovative intersection design. Initially, there was community concern and apprehension toward the proposed Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) as a solution to the safety issues at the intersection, which serves as a primary access point to local schools. Despite the data not supporting a signalized intersection, the prevalence of angle crashes prompted the recommendation of an RCUT to improve safety. In response to additional requests for signalization, the traffic operations office undertook an education campaign to address community concerns and demonstrate the safety benefits of the RCUT using modeling software. By engaging with community members and local officials, the district was able to shift perceptions and gain support for the project. Construction began in 2021 under the quick response program, and since completion, the intersection has seen a significant reduction in crashes and no injury-related incidents. The success of this project is not only measured by the improved safety record but also by the cost savings it represents. Prior to the RCUT's construction, crash costs amounted to over $4 million. The RCUT was constructed at a fraction of this cost, resulting in a significant return on investment. The district's efforts have been acknowledged by the community, and there have been no further safety concerns reported at the intersection, proving the effectiveness of the RCUT and the district's proactive approach to traffic safety design. N
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DESIGN-BUILD
Project Name: Cheshire Bridge Road Bridge over South Fork Peachtree Creek Emergency Replacement Firm: Michael Baker International, Inc.
The Cheshire Bridge Road Bridge over South Fork Peachtree Creek emergency replacement project, managed by Michael Baker International, Inc., represents an exemplar application of the designbuild methodology under crisis circumstances. The necessity for the project arose from the severe damage inflicted on the existing bridge due to a gas line rupture, which resulted in its closure and subsequent demolition. Without pre-existing costing plans or site investigations to guide the reconstruction, Michael Baker International quickly mobilized to perform rapid site assessments alongside design efforts. The firm was able to navigate the complexities of simultaneous design and construction phases, demonstrating the flexibility of the design-build model. This approach allowed for the foundations of the bridge to be laid while the design of the roadway and bridge was still in progress, illustrating an agile response to an urgent community need. Particularly notable was the coordination with local stakeholders, including businesses affected by the bridge's demolition. Solutions like the construction of a soldier pile wall were implemented to preserve the functionality of adjacent properties and to minimize disruption. Despite the accelerated timeline and the challenges of utility relocations, the design-build team successfully completed the project, opening the new bridge to traffic within a remarkably short period. The project not only restored vital connectivity for the heavily trafficked corridor but also upheld the social and economic fabric of the local community with minimal impact.
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PLANNING AND DESIGN OF AN ALTERNATIVE MODE TRANSPORTATION FACILITY Project Name: Runway 9L End-Around Taxiway aka Taxiway Whiskey
Firm: Aviation Infrastructure Solutions The Runway 9L End-Around Taxiway project, known as Taxiway Whiskey, at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, managed by Aviation Infrastructure Solutions, marks a significant advancement in airport design and efficiency. The project team, including Michael Baker International for civil design and project management, CERM for geotechnical work, Pond and Company for civil design and utility relocation, and other DBE firms for specialized services, collaborated to create a solution that allows aircraft to taxi around the end of the runway without interfering with takeoff operations. This critical infrastructure improvement was designed to enhance throughput at one of the world's busiest airports, reduce ground traffic congestion, and significantly decrease the potential for runway incursions. By cutting down the number of runway crossings, the new taxiway has led to notable reductions in taxiing time for aircraft, contributing to fuel savings and overall operational efficiency. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis, which affected supply chains and personnel availability, the design-build team efficiently carried out the necessary site investigations and phased construction to meet urgent deadlines. The project, completed and celebrated with an opening ceremony in October 2022, has been recognized for its innovative approach and sustainability impact. It represents a successful collaboration between various stakeholders and a design-build process that allowed for flexibility and quick adaptation during both design and construction phases, demonstrating an efficient response to the emergency needs of the aviation community. N January | February 51
INNOVATIVE SOLUTION TO A DESIGN PROBLEM / BEST USE OF NEW PRODUCTS Project Name: Sardis Road Connector with Turbo Roundabout Firm: WSP USA Inc.
The Sardis Road Connector with Turbo Roundabout project, spearheaded by WSP USA Inc., is a forward-thinking endeavor in the realm of transportation infrastructure. The project spans approximately 3.55 miles, creating a crucial connection between SR 53 to the south and SR 60 and SR 283 to the north. Designed to accommodate increased traffic from Hall County's population growth, the connector aims to enhance both connectivity and congestion management in the area.
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A significant feature of this project is the introduction of one of Georgia’s first turbo roundabouts—an innovative solution designed to reduce conflict points from 16 to 10 compared to traditional multilane roundabouts, thereby improving operational capacity and safety. WSP USA Inc. conducted a comprehensive alternatives analysis, ultimately selecting a build alternative that included this advanced turbo roundabout. The design effectively reduces congestion, enhances safety, and improves the overall flow of traffic through the corridor. The project also emphasizes community involvement and stakeholder engagement, with multiple subconsultants contributing to different facets of the design and environmental impact assessment. The collaboration between WSP USA Inc., local agencies, and community stakeholders exemplifies a holistic approach to transportation planning that prioritizes safety, efficiency, and sustainable growth. This project not only meets the current transportation needs of Hall County but also sets a precedent for innovative intersection design in the region. A
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JOHN PIERSON, P.E., F. ASCE Pierson Enterprises ASCE Georgia President www.ascega.org
MEMBERSHIP IN ASCE OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF LEADER DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES DESIGNED TO HELP YOU GROW AT ALL LEVELS AND ADVANCE IN YOUR CAREER A few of our Georgia Section members recently attended one such great opportunity, the 2024 ASCE Eastern Multi-Regional Leadership Conference (EMRLC) held in Miami, Fla. The event is aimed at enhancing leadership skills, providing professional development and networking opportunities, and increasing exposure to ASCE’s organization, programs and resources. The Georgia Section provides support for these types of activities. Join us and join the fun and wildlife. We’ll send you with an extra Georgia Section ASCE shirt just in case you come across someone needing it!
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SARAH BLACKBURN, PE Gresham, Smith and Partners ASHE Georgia President www.georgia.ashe.pro
RECAP OF TRANSPORTATION SUMMIT HAPPY HOUR We had a great time at 40 Watt Club before this years Transportation Summit! Thank you to everyone who came out!
RECAP OF HOLIDAY SOCIAL We held our annual holiday social on December 12th. We were able to donate plenty of toys to Toys for Tots. Thank you to all who came out and donated and a big congratulations to all our section award winners! President’s Award: Lindsey Dunnahoo (AECOM) Volunteer of the Year: Ben Kauss (HDR) Members of the Year: Karyn Matthews (Arcadis) and Scott Jordan (SEI) Sponsor of the Year: Gresham Smith
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS At our January Luncheon we awarded the Babs Abubakari Memorial Scholarship. The Babs Abubakari Scholarship is rewarded to a recipient pursuing a civil engineering degree from his alma mater (Georgia Tech) in honor of the life Babs lived as well as for the contributions he made in the transportation community. Congratulations to Garyoung Lee!
RECAP OF JANUARY LUNCHEON The October luncheon was held at Maggiano’s in Cumberland on January 19th. Our speaker was Russ Ford, Pre-Construction Engineer at Cobb County DOT, who spoke about the county’s DOT and exciting direction its headed. It was a great presentation accompanied by a chance to network and eat some fantastic food. Thank you to all who came out!
UPCOMING EVENTS MARCH 3RD – 4TH
2024 ASHE/ITE WINTER WORKSHOP: AT BRASSTOWN VALLEY RESORT 2024 ANNUAL POKER TOURNAMENT
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ROBINSON NICOL, PE, PTOE Atlas GAITE President president@gaite.org www.gaite.org The 14th Annual ITE/ASHE Transportation Winter Workshop will be a hybrid in-person/virtual conference. It will occur on Sunday, March 3rd, and Monday, March 4th, at the Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa in Young Harris, Ga.! The Transportation Winter Workshop is a one-anda-half day joint conference held by Georgia Section ITE (co-chair Aimee Turner) and the Georgia Chapter of ASHE (co-chair Tabatha Carlton) each winter. The workshop contains technical sessions, group projects (in-person only), networking, and social events, and the workshop is full of opportunities to gain technical knowledge and meet other transportation professionals! You can find the registration information on the GAITE website gaite.org/meetinginfo.php?id=141. Georgia ITE (GAITE) held its Annual Meeting on December 15th at Maggiano's Cumberland. The Georgia Section's annual awards and scholarships were presented at the annual meeting. In addition, our 2024 GAITE Board Member was sworn in. The 2024 GAITE board is President Sam Harris, Vice President Christy Jeon, Secretary-Treasurer Bing Zhang, District Representative Jody Peace, District Representative Bill Ruhsam, Past President Representative Scott Mohler, Past President Robinson Nichol, and Board Liaison Zhang Huang. The GAITE awards provide a distinguished recognition initiative that celebrates excellence and innovation in the transportation industry within the state. These awards may encompass various categories, including individual achievements, project excellence, and contributions to advancing the field. The winners of the 2023 GAITE awards are Georgia Section Agency Achievement Award: City of Atlanta DOT, Georgia Section Award for Innovation in Transportation: Georgia Department of Transportation TIA Office for the 5th Street Pedestrian Bridge, Marsha Anderson Bomar Young Member of the Year award: Sam Harris, GDOT, John D. Edwards Jr. Individual Achievement Award: Zhang Huang, AtkinsRéalis, Karl Bevins Distinguished Service Award: Tom Sever, AECOM, Georgia ITE Transportation Professional of the Year Award: Kathy Zahul and the Presidents Award: Robinson Nichol, Atlas. The Georgia ITE Leadership Program is designed for transportation professionals in Georgia who want to advance their leadership capabilities within the field. The 2023 Leadership Program graduates are the following: Susan Jin, P.E., Peyton Moran, AICP, Katelyn Iles Lister, E.I.T., Hannah Murray, E.I.T., Emily Wiseman, E.I., Ye Hansen, E.I.T., Melvin Hill, Amenti Bonja, E.I.T., Jared Allen, E.I., Pratiti Khan, P.E., RSP1, Vishwa Gopalan, P.E., Raul King Viera, P.E., Divya Kolasani, E.I.T., Madison Dorminey, E.I.T, Austin Ngoddy Jr., Kumari Duvvuri, P.E., Andrew Johnson, E.I.T., and Greg O'Donnell. 58 Engineering Georgia
Georgia ITE offers scholarships to support students pursuing education and careers in the field of transportation engineering and planning. The winners of the 2023 Transportation Engineering Scholarship Partial awards ($2000) are Brianna Saez (undergrad, KSU), Patrick Tedder (undergrad, KSU), Reid Cabe (undergrad, GT), Zaria Dunn (undergrad, UGA), Dylan Apelu (graduate, GT), Praful Patil (graduate, GT), Proma Dutta (graduate, KSU), Tulio Sulbaran (graduate, GT), Rupa Anne (graduate, GT) and Yangjiao Chen (graduate, GT) The winners of the Transportation Engineering Scholarship ($4,000) are, Elsie Lappin (undergrad, GSU), Ibrahim Alamayreh (undergrad, KSU), Christian Douglas (graduate, GT), Matteo Saracco (graduate, GT), and Ryan Salameh (graduate, GT). The winner of the John D Edwards Memorial Award ($7,500) is Abraham Pizano (undergrad, GT). The annual meeting concluded with the incoming GAITE President Sam Harris's speech about his initiative to create a GAITE-led STEAM camp for 2024. In 2024, the Southern District ITE meeting will be held in Wilmington, NC, on April 7-10th. If you want to join Georgia ITE, please see our website at gaite.org/join.php. You are automatically added as a local section member when you join ITE International. Members receive discounts on our monthly meetings and events and have the opportunity to serve on our various committees.
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PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING WITH THE GEORGIA ENGINEERING FOUNDATION TO HELP ENSURE THIS AMAZING PROGRAM CONTINUES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ENGINEERS THROUGHOUT GEORGIA!
CAPT JOHN PRIEN, CEC, USN (RET) The Clorox Company GEF President john.prien@clorox.com www.gefinc.org
HELP WANTED
One of the main goals of the Georgia Engineering Foundation (GEF) is awarding scholarships to engineering students throughout Georgia to help promote bringing new engineers into our industry. This year, GEF received over 300 applications from college students pursuing an engineering degree throughout Georgia. Since the application window closed in October 2023, the applications were reviewed and we selected 120 candidates to be interviewed virtually by a GEF volunteer. Ultimately over 45 scholarships will be awarded through donors and member organizations of GEF this year. Scholarship candidates are selected based on academic achievements, participation in the industry through student organizations, internships and co-ops, and financial need. Other factors used in determining scholarship recipients include matching candidates with the various scholarships available based on engineering disciplines and other factors determined by the scholarship donor or sponsor. This year, GEF was fortunate to have several volunteers to help conduct interviews and input results. Scholarship winners will be awarded their scholarship in May 2024 at their respective universities. GEF is always in need of more volunteers to get involved. It is a great way to meet the future leaders in our industry while giving back to the engineering community. It is a minimal time commitment with a
very big payoff. If you are interested in volunteering with GEF, please reach out to GEF directly at President@gefinc.org to help. There are so many ways to help contribute to the process depending on the amount of time you can contribute. Some ways you can contribute include assisting with reviewing completed applications to determine eligibility, interviewing candidates for selection, working with the Board of Directors throughout the year to prepare for the online application window, review applications when the window closes, assisting with notifying the selected students and coordinating awarding their scholarship and connecting them with their respective donors, and reaching out to the universities to continue the relationship between Georgia Engineering Foundation and their programs. Please consider volunteering with the Georgia Engineering Foundation to help ensure this amazing program continues for future generations of engineers throughout Georgia! GEF is always in need of more help for sponsoring a scholarship either individually or through your company or organization. Scholarships start at $1,000 annually and are a great way to help the engineering industry in Georgia. Please consider donating or volunteering in 2024! Visit the GEF website at www.gefinc.org or email President@gefinc.org to find out how you can get involved today.
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GEORGIA SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS CONGRATULATES THE 2024 WINNERS OF THE PRESTIGIOUS GEORGIA ENGINEER OF THE YEAR AWARDS.
MITCH PAULK, PE, PLS GSPE President mitch.paulk@land.engineering www.gspe.org
The winners below were recognized at the 2024 Georgia Engineering Awards on Friday, February 23, 2024. The awards ceremony, held annually, recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions by individuals and companies in the field of engineering across the state. The winners demonstrated exceptional skill, innovation, and dedication, serving as inspirations for future generations of engineers in Georgia.
MICHAEL C. RAY, P.E., F. ASCE, F. AACE, CCP, PSP, PMP Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
JOHN KOON, PHD, P.E., F.ABET, F.ASCE, NAE Engineer of the Year
MATT TANNER, P.E., M. ASCE
RYAN BALES, PHD, P.E.
GREGORY WILES, PHD, P.E.
RICHARD L. CURTIS, P.E., D.GE, F. ASCE
Construction
Government
Education
Private Practice
BAREN K. TALUKDAR, PHD, P.E, M. SEI, F. ASCE, F. ACI, F. IE(IND) Industry
DAVID GLASSMAN, P.E. Young Engineer
RYAN WALTMAN
Engineering Student of the Year
LUKE SANDERS
Engineering Technology Student of the Year
EBERLY & ASSOCIATES
LOWE ENGINEERS
Small Engineering Employer
Mid Size Engineering Employer
DEWBERRY
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
Large Engineering Employer
Public Sector Employer
CAROLINE CAMPBELL SMITH, EIT, CFM, ENVSP Engineering Organization Volunteer of the Year
CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! Facebook.com/gspeorg
Linkedin.com/company/Georgia-society-of-professional-engineers
TO LEARN MORE VISIT GSPE.ORG | TO JOIN VISIT NSPE.ORG/MEMBERSHIP/JOIN-NOW
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www.youtube.com/GSPEng
ITS GEORGIA FEATURED VOLUNTEER In each edition of Engineering Georgia, we like to highlight a volunteer who generously gives their time to the Chapter. This issue, we are spotlighting Kaitlyn Stewart the Assistant State Signal Engineer at the Georgia Department of Transportation and an ITS Georgia Board Member.
THOMAS GLUECKERT, PE, PTOE Kimley-Horn ITS Georgia President itsgachapter@gmail.com www.itsga.org
HAPPY NEW YEAR! As we embark on an exciting journey in 2024, I am honored and thrilled to welcome you as the new President of the Intelligent Transportation Society of Georgia (ITSGA). I have had the privilege of being a part of ITSGA for the past eight years, serving on the board of directors and witnessing the remarkable growth and impact of our organization. At ITSGA, we are not just a professional society; we are a community of passionate advocates for the transformative power of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). We believe in the seamless integration of technology to enhance the management of diverse transportation systems. Like my predecessor, I share the excitement of exploring new technologies that bridge the gap between planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance. The digital tools at our disposal, with their ability to operate in real-time without the need for extensive roadside equipment, continue to astonish me. This prompts us to ask essential questions about how these tools challenge the traditional delivery of capital build projects and reshape our workforce. It is a thrilling time to be at the forefront of these advancements. I am pleased to share that ITSGA's membership is built at the agency/firm level, without limits on the total number of individuals. This provides a fantastic opportunity for professionals across the transportation spectrum to take advantage of discounted rates and actively participate in our events. Additionally, we are excited to introduce a new membership plan tailored for agencies and firms located outside of Metro Atlanta. Please contact our Membership Chair at membership@itsga.org to learn more. As we gear up for a year full of exciting events, I’d like to extend an invitation to the community to branch out of our typical niches and learn what is going on in the intelligent transportation arena with some of the following meetings:
MARCH 27, 11:30 – Meg Pirkle from GDOT will be joining for Women’s History Month. Chief Engineer Meg Pirkle will highlight a range of innovative ITS and operations projects currently in progress at GDOT including connected vehicles, NEVI, hydrogen fuel initiatives, and preparation for upcoming major events! Our monthly meeting will be hosted at the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Office located at One Georgia Center.
ANNUAL MEETING – SEPTEMBER 15-17 – Meet us in Augusta to engage your peers as we get together and exchange knowledge and demonstrate new and emerging technologies. Don’t miss the networking, social events, and presentations at this exciting event. The call for abstracts will be opening shortly - don’t miss out on an opportunity to present and be recognized for all that you and your team are doing. ITSGA thrives on the dedication of volunteers, serving as a gateway to becoming a Director or Officer. If you are eager to contribute, please reach out to me at president@itsga.org or visit our website at itsga.org for opportunities! Here's to a year of innovation, collaboration, and growth with ITSGA!
When did you know you were going to be involved in transportation engineering or policy? I was a civil engineering major at Georgia Tech and interned at a transportation firm for the duration of my undergraduate degree. I knew transportation is what I would pursue after college while in grad school. I was really enjoying the more detailed subject matter of my classes and I was a teaching assistant for the introduction to transportation undergraduate class. What got you interested in transportation? I gravitated towards transportation in college because I felt like I understood it the best from a user's perspective. Growing up in the suburbs of Atlanta, I understood how painful it could be to navigate through the city. Being an overconfident teenager, I always assumed that if I were in charge, I could do it better. Now having spent several years at GDOT, I fully understand how naïve I was at the time. But I always enjoyed jigsaw puzzles as a kid, and traffic operations sometime feels like one big puzzle you are trying to solve. What is the coolest project you have worked on? I currently work in the signal operations group at GDOT where I manage one of the statewide signal operations contracts. I really enjoy this contract due to the immediate nature of this work. Perhaps it’s the need for instant gratification in my generation, but I find something so satisfying about being able to make a change and see it implemented in the real world in a manner of minutes. And I also take pride in being able to receive a citizen complaint from a 511 operator and fix their issue in a timely manner. It makes me feel like my job is positively impacting people in my community. Another aspect of this contract is assisting the GDOT District offices with performing maintenance on our signals. I believe it is vital for us to ensure our infrastructure is in good working order. Being confident in the functionality of our signals is the foundation for GDOT’s ability to have cutting edge initiatives such as our connected vehicle program. What does the future of transportation look like to you? I think the future of transportation will include a lot of innovative and emerging technologies. Connected, autonomous and electric vehicles are on our doorstep. It will require cooperation among many facets of our industry to be able to respond to this emerging market and I am confident in our industry’s ability to work together and continue to provide a good user experience for motorists in Georgia. What are you doing for ITS Georgia? I am on the Board of Directors for ITS Georgia and serve on the Legislative Committee as well as the Student Chapter Committee. The 2023 Legislative Committee updated the organization’s bylaws and I’m looking forward to inaugural year of the new bylaws being in effect. I am also looking forward to working with the ITS Georgia student chapters. As a young engineer, I think it is important that we continue to collaborate with colleges and encourage participation with ITS Georgia members that are recent graduates. Lastly, I am leading a committee for the 2024 ITS Georgia Annual Meeting and hope to help put on the best conference ITS Georgia has ever had.
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Atlanta Post EZRA BAILEY SAME Atlanta Post President ebailey@wileywilson.com www.sameatlantapost.org
The mission of SAME is to “build leaders and lead collaboration among government and industry to develop multidisciplined solutions to national security infrastructure challenges.” Our goal at the Atlanta Post is to further this mission with the activities planned this year. We hope you’ll consider joining us for the fun!
SERVING TOGETHER, DELIVERING THE POST VISION AND FULFILLING THE MISSION OF THE SOCIETY I look forward to meeting and working with you this year as I serve as the SAME Atlanta Post President in 2024. We are coming into this year with a strong leadership team for the Post and I am excited for my opportunity to positively impact our membership, work with the A/E/C community, and continue to support our nation’s infrastructure through IndustryGovernment Engagement. This year, I will be leading the charge to further align our Post with the SAME 2025 Strategic Plan, which focuses on fostering a strong STEM pipeline, building infrastructure resiliency, supporting transitioning veterans, and promoting strong collaboration between industry and government. You can expect for the Atlanta Post to build upon the legacy and successes of the past several years. Our annual program of events already supports our local A/E/C community and aligns to the overall mission – my focus will be on working with our membership to incorporate their feedback and improve on how we do business. In January our leadership team got together for a 2024 strategy meeting to ensure our leadership is geared up and ready to tackle our mission! Additionally, we are very excited to build on the momentum of our Post’s Leadership Development Program (LDP). This is one of the greatest initiatives we can take on to support our strategic mission statement, local A/E/C community, and future leaders. Our LDP is all-inclusive to the Atlanta Post and we are planning several LDP events for 2024. We will also continue our LDP book club which meets the third Friday of each month. Our first book for this year is ‘Lead to Win’ by Carla A. Harris. Finally, our Post is prioritizing continued outreach to both students and transitioning veterans, which we believe is key to sustaining and growing our industry’s capability and capacity long-term. We will be working with local military bases to inspire, attract, and recruit the future leaders for our industry. We will also continue to support our veterans through the SHARE program. We host a dinner once a month to fellowship and have fun with veterans suffering from post-traumatic events. This is a very important program to our Post, and we have added some new leaders who are very passionate about this initiative.
Learn more about the Society, our mission, vision, and goals in the SAME’s 2025 Strategic Plan at online.fliphtml5.com/fedq/eltf/#p=1.
THANK YOU, MIKE! Mike Ramos, President at Raymond, recently wrapped up his term as President of the Atlanta Post. Mike always had plans to get involved in the SAME Atlanta Post leadership, but he didn’t expect his first role would be President of the Post. He stepped up to fill the role without hesitation and knocked it out of the park. He came up with the idea of the Atlanta Post and it’s sustaining member firms hosting a networking event at the Small Business Conference in San Antonio at the Alamo! The event was a huge success and one that we plan to do annually. Thank you for your service to the Atlanta Post!
UPCOMING EVENTS We are still finalizing our program calendar for the year but below are a few of our first quarter events. Visit our website for more information about our upcoming events and to register. February: Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) March: Virtual Event (Topic TBD)
2023 POST AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED SAME Atlanta Post takes the time to recognize its members for dedicated service to the Post during our Annual Holiday Party. This year, we’re pleased to recognize the following award winners for going above and beyond to further the goals of the Society: Regional Vice President's Medal: Frank Ward, PE, F.SAME, USA (Ret.) Member of the Year: Frank Ward Young Professional of the Year: Christian Ward Post President’s Award: Candice Scale Post President’s Award: Mady Holcombe Post President's Award: Jaylen Pope Leadership & Mentoring Award: Candice Scale Sustaining Member of the Year - Large Business: CHA Consulting Sustaining Member of the Year - Medium Business: United Consulting Sustaining Member of the Year - Small Business: Osprey Management
LEARN MORE ABOUT SAME & CONNECT WITH US! sameatlantapost.org
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linkedin.com/company/same-atlanta-post
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CHRIS LYTLE Uzun & Case Engineers, LLC SEAOG President www.seaog.org
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE (SEE) AWARDS HELD MAY 16, 2024 The Structural Engineering Excellence (SEE) Awards ceremony will be held on May 16, 2024, at The Bold Monk Brewing Company. This biannual event recognizes Georgia structural engineering projects that demonstrate exceptional innovation, creativity, and constructability. More information regarding entry dates, deadlines, categories, etc. will be provided soon.
SE3 WEBINAR OPPORTUNITY The Autodesk University webinar covers term definitions (e.g., what are microaggressions?), benefits of diverse design perspectives, and a how-to for building employee resource groups, among other topics.
SEE THE VIDEO HERE: autodesk.com/autodesk-university/class/Why-Diversity-and-Inclusion-AEC-Industry-NecessaryHow-Achieve-It-2019#vi
JOIN SE3 GA CHAPTER TODAY The collective mission of the SE3 committee is to raise awareness and promote dialogue on professional practice issues, in order to improve engagement and equity in the structural engineering profession. Our goals are wide-ranging and we encourage anyone interested to join our mission.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: NEED TUTORS FOR CLARKSTON COMMUNITY CENTER, DEKALB COUNTY Seeking tutors and STEAM Lesson Facilitators -- volunteers are welcome to pick and choose their day(s): Monday - Thursday 3:00 - 6:00 pm Grades: K-8. If interested, please email Johnathon.McFarland@gmail.com for more details.
To learn more about becoming a member of the Georgia chapter of SE3, email se3@seaog.org. We are looking for new members and a successor to the current committee chair starting in July 2024.
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MICHELE REDMOND HOLCOMBE SMPS President Michele@foundationtechnologies.com www.smpsatl.org
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RUKIYA S. THOMAS WTS Atlanta President Rukiya.Thomas@atkinsglobal.com www.wtsinternational.org/atlanta
WTS WELCOMES MEMBERS The WTS Atlanta was pleased to welcome members to a new year at our annual membership drive for 2024. Attendees learned about the benefits of becoming a member, how to get involved, and the exciting events planned for this year.
COME BE PART OF OUR AWESOME TEAM Advance your career, strengthen your leadership skills, and make an impact on the transportation industry by coming a member today! Join our vibrant team by joining one of our many committees. For more information contact us via email at membership@wtsinternational.org
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS We would love to see you at all our events this year.
TO BECOME A 2024 CORPORATE SPONSOR, CONTACT KRISTIN WINZELER AT KWINZELER@NORTHFULTONCID.COM OR (678) 397-0570. association [ news ]
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A LOOK BACK Callaway Memorial Tower, also known as the Callaway Monument as pictured in 1947. The tower was built in 1929 as a tribute to textile magnate Fuller E. Callaway. It is located in the historic mill village of LaGrange, Ga. and is surrounded by a gorgeous green lawn. The tower is patterned after the Campanile of St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy, and is a perfect place for photographs, picnics, and exploring with the family. PHOTO CREDIT: LBGPOA3-079n, Lane Brothers Commercial Photographers Photographic Collection, 1920-1976. Photographic Collection, Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library. 66 Engineering Georgia