2nd Edition - BRAKING NEWS (Trilon Transportation Newsletter)

Platform President’s Message

by Larry Smith, Jr., PE, LEED Green Associate

If I had to pick the highlight of 2023 for our platform, it would be the Trilon Transportation Summit.

More than 70 of us within the transportation platform and in the Trilon Family of Companies gathered in Denver in October to exchange ideas and resources to bolster our position as a Top 10 surface transportation firm. What happened exceeded our expectations.

In the months since the Summit, those exchanges have evolved into exciting project collaborations among our firms. Alta and Horrocks are working together in pursuit of Planning and Transit projects in Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. By combining teams, DRMP and HMB

have won an FDOT District 3 I-10 Resurfacing Project in the Florida Panhandle. Those are just a couple of the pursuits and projects our partner firms are collaborating on. While our staff on the front lines of business are working together, we’re holding weekly collaboration meetings at the President’s level to track the platform’s progress and ways our unique services complement each other.

While this issue is mainly focused on transportation-related work, this issue of Braking News takes a closer look at our firms’ services outside of transportation engineering. The services that are

Trilon Transportation Platform Newsletter

Suncoast Parkway 2, a new alignment project in Florida designed for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise by DRMP

being highlighted have made each of our firms successful and it is my hope they will make us successful, together through collaboration.

As we take the momentum from the Summit into 2024, it’s an exciting time to welcome our newest platform partner, Rinker Design Associates (RDA), a civil engineering and surveying firm with more than 170 employees located in six offices throughout the Commonwealth. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to

know RDA’s leaders who are aligned with the Trilon Family of Companies’ peoplefirst approach to broaden opportunities for their staff and strategically grow their firm.

It’s hard to believe the amount of success we’ve achieved in the nearly two years we’ve been in operation. With a remarkable first quarter of 2024 coming to a close, I’m looking forward to continuing our collaboration and our continued success.

Trilon Transportation Summit Builds Relationships and Sparks Collaboration Among Platform Firms

Leaders and project managers from Trilon’s Transportation Platform in October came together in Denver, Colo., for our first inperson Trilon Transportation Summit. The summit was a chance for the platform firms to network, learn about each other’s service line capabilities, and explore collaboration opportunities.

For many of the attendees, the summit has resulted in increased

engagement among the partner firms, project collaboration, and ideas for new approaches with the shared goal of making the communities we serve a better place to live, work, and play.

“I was blown away by the energy in the room,” said Alia Awwad, PE, Principal at Alta Planning + Design in Boca Raton, Fla. “Partners were genuinely eager to get to know each other and what their firms offer.”

Since the summit, attendees said there have been more thorough discussions with partner firms involving collaboration on future Requests for

Proposals (RFPs), expansions in active on-call arrangements and task orders, identifying of opportunities to leverage each other’s strengths, and increased outreach beyond Florida and the Southeast region.

Brad Gregory, PE, PLS, Principalin-Charge at HMB, said the firm established several relationships at the summit that have already produced collaboration.

“Through our relationships gained at the summit, we are now using staff from DRMP to provide some additional capacity in our Kentucky highway design and water resources divisions,” Gregory said. “We were also able to coordinate/ facilitate a pursuit by ALTA for the Louisville Metro government and discuss several other future pursuits. Another connection we made was with Mannik Smith Group. We have since met with them for a two-day “mini” summit to discuss where we share clients/ areas/pursuits and where there are gaps between us.”

Several attendees also highlighted the enlightening experience of engaging with other platform firms as they discovered new capabilities they can integrate into their daily operations.

Horrocks Senior Project Manager Claire Woodman, AICP, said since Horrocks is one of the few

transportation platform firms that provides nearly full-service transit capabilities from planning through design and into construction, it was beneficial to share the strategies the firm used for breaking into the transit market that could be applicable to other platform firms.

“It was great to identify other firms who offer similar services to Horrocks and talk about ways for them to expand into the transit market as well,” Woodman said. “We also hope that by increasing the awareness of the awesome transit capabilities that Horrocks has, we can provide value to our sister firms.”

With a shared understanding of each firm’s strengths and limitations, as well as a commitment to collaboration, DRMP Roadway Division Leader Todd White, PE, highlighted the diverse skill sets and potential of the partnership, suggesting that its true potential has yet to be fully realized.

“While there is certainly some overlap amongst all the platform firms, there is also a unique set of skills that each firm brings to the table of varying depths and complexities,” White said. “We have a talented pool of resources at our fingertips. I think

we are only scratching the surface of how we can turn this partnership into something special.”

HMB Vice President Wes Mattingly, PE, said the summit made him feel like everyone was a part of a much larger team that is willing and prepared to help each other grow and deliver for our clients.

“Everyone welcomed each group to the team, and this summit truly kick-started the flow of ideas for collaboration,” he said.

The Trilon Connect technology, Mattingly said, will greatly simplify the process of determining which Trilon member will offer the best experience for each of the firms’ clients.

One idea he said that resonated with him at the summit was a suggestion to have an ice cream truck on-site during public meetings to enhance public input.

“I found this idea to be very creative and potentially valuable for our clients,” Mattingly said.

DRMP Vice President/Drainage Division Leader Don Brown, PE, described the summit as instrumental in exchanging ideas with professionals from other firms and opening avenues for collaboration.

“We are pursuing a collaborative approach to serving our North Florida/Panhandle clients with HMB,” Brown said. “We also spent some time with CPH staff at the summit and have been working on a number of projects with them.

...I believe this consolidated effort to provide our clients with a full-service approach to meeting their project needs gives us more control over all aspects of the final product.

Don Brown, PE

Highlighting the invaluable experience of networking in person, Natalie Lozano, Alta’s Chief Marketing Officer in Portland, Ore., emphasized the significance of facilitating collaborative problem-solving and the generation of fresh perspectives.

“I really enjoyed meeting partners from other firms face-to-face and learning about each other’s capabilities in a deeper way,” Lozano said. “Nothing beats meeting in person. In particular, the breakout session enabled my group to problem solve about pursuing Department of Transportation work, which will make seeking new work together easier. I’ve since had several follow-ups and feel inspired by the influx of new ideas and approaches.”

Gregory said a key takeaway from the summit to better serve clients was identifying all the subject matter specialists that the platform has under the Trilon umbrella.

“It was great to see that we have every mode of transportation and sub-specialty covered ‘in-house,’” he said. “It has been great communicating this to our clients and how easily we can provide access to these specialized services.”

Trilon Transportation Platform Launches Employee Referral Bonus Program to Attract Top Talent in Competitive Market

by Megan Weston VP of Talent Acquisition (Trilon Group)

In the face of a challenging and competitive hiring market, companies are turning to new strategies to attract and retain top talent.

One such approach is the implementation of companywide employee referral programs with monetary bonuses. The Trilon Transportation Platform recognizes the significant benefits these programs offer and has implemented a platformwide program.

The purpose of the Transportation Platform’s Employee Referral Bonus Program is to encourage employees to assist in the hiring of qualified applicants across all the Transportation Platform’s partner companies: Alta Planning + Design; DRMP, Inc.; HMB Professional Engineers; and Horrocks Engineers.

The Transportation Platform Employee Referral Program is an additional program and is separate from the internal Employee Referral Program within each partner firm. This is a top-down initiative collectively endorsed

by the platform’s executive leadership. They understand how tough the market is and fully support a bonus program that will benefit the entire Trilon Transportation Platform.

Referral Programs have traditionally worked well at the partner companies. For example, DRMP paid out more than $80,000 in referral bonuses in 2023 alone. Horrocks distributed $99,500 in referral bonus money last year.

Referrals made by employees often yield superior candidates compared to those sourced from job boards or job sites. Some studies show that 45 percent of referred employees stay for more than four years at a job versus 25 percent sourced from job boards. Additionally, an overwhelming 88 percent of employers rate employee referral programs as the best source of applicants, underlining their effectiveness in addressing recruitment and retention.

Leadership holds employee referrals in high regard. Employees who refer job candidates are naturally inclined to uphold their reputation by recommending individuals who will excel in their roles. When an employee refers a candidate, they are vouching for someone to deliver high-quality performance.

How it Works

A Transportation Platform partner will pay a bonus to an employee from another firm who refers an individual for an advertised and approved position. This bonus will be subject to applicable payroll taxes and is payable upon

TRANSPORTATION PLATFORM

EMPLOYEE REFERRAL BONUS PROGRAM

completion of 90 days of employment by the referred employee. All bonuses will be processed once each month. If two current employees refer the same individual, the referral bonus will be split between both employees.

The employee referral bonus amounts are as follows (for qualified positions identified in advance):

*

How it Works

The definition of each tier will vary slightly per partner firm, but the amounts will stay the same. Employees should check with the appropriate partner firm for full details.

*Tier

with the Talent Acquisition Team, Human Resources, or your manager for additional information on submitting a referral before soliciting a new hire.

The referring employee is required to be actively employed by a partner firm at

Eligibility

the time when the bonus payment is being processed. This is defined as the period when their referral commences employment with the corresponding company and after their referred employee successfully completes the 90-day “introductory” period with the company.

Recommend a Colleague for a full-time open position. Don’t forget to remind them to designate you as a reference on their application.

To qualify for the bonus, the following criteria must be met:

Coordinate Recommend Notify

Advertised positions eligible for the Employee Referral Program must be identified and approved by the President/Executive Leadership Team, Market Sector Director, or Division Leader.

the Talent Acquisition Team and the Division Leader of your referral for a streamlined evaluation and consideration. 1 2 3 4

Receive a monetary bonus

These leadership groups have the flexibility to use the Referral Program for non-advertised positions if needed.

The referral must be hired into a full-time position.

The candidate must not have been hired through a job fair.

All full-time and part-time regular employees are eligible to participate except for C-Suite executives, market sector directors, and talent acquisition team members and recruiters. Employees should contact the Talent Acquisition Team, Human Resources, or their manager for additional information on submitting a referral prior to soliciting a potential new hire.

Amidst a competitive hiring market, the Trilon Employee Referral Program is an exciting program that will drive the ongoing success and expansion of the Trilon Transportation Platform by attracting top-tier talent within the A/E/C industry. We encourage all eligible employees to seize this opportunity for mutual benefit.

A Collaborative Partnership:

Designing the Unique Wedge Preserve Park

DRMP and our Trilon partner firm, CPH, are collaborating on designing a 36-acre park in Parkland, Fla., which will contain a wide variety of amenities and include elements unique to a public park. As the Project Manager, it’s been an honor to work alongside my DRMP and CPH colleagues on this exciting opportunity that will benefit the Parkland community.

The proposed Wedge Preserve Park includes a wide variety of amenities typical to a modern park, such as baseball fields, basketball courts, a clubhouse, tennis courts, and splash pads; however, the park will also include unusual elements, such as an obstacle “ninja course” and active fishing

from within generously sized wet ponds connected by architectural bridges.

DRMP is designing the paving, grading, and drainage elements of the entire site, including the ninja course. The ninja course is a unique feature of the park that will provide active adults with an obstacle course that culminates in a dynamic experience at the top of a raised area of land about 10 feet to 12 feet above the ground. The feature will provide aesthetic value, as well as promote fitness and wellness for residents and visitors alike. DRMP is also designing the underground utilities for the site, including the wastewater and potable water infrastructure. [READ MORE]

dfox@drmp.com Employee

Deshon Fox, PE

Central Florida Department Manager/ General Civil Municipal Market Sector

As Central Florida Department Manager for the General Civil Municipal Market Sector, he leads::

Mobile LiDAR Systems

General Land Development

Civil Infrastructure Design for Rectangular Projects

Roadway Improvement Projects

Park & Trail Design

Stormwater Management & Modeling

DRMP SUE Team Overcomes Project

Challenges with Persistence and Precision

Navigating the intricacies of mapping underground utility lines on the surface for engineering projects can pose significant challenges. Such was the case when DRMP’s Jacksonville Team of Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) experts were subcontracted to support the extension of the Jacksonville Electric Authority’s (JEA) downtown chilled water facilities.

SUE services provide an accurate map of existing underground utilities, playing a crucial role in project planning and design. Applying SUE reduces unnecessary utility relocations, identifies unexpected conflicts with

design elements, enhances construction phase safety, and reduces professional liability risk for the design engineer.

The purpose of this project was to extend water chiller services for a multi-story building just a block away from JEA’s District Energy System (DES). The DES provides chilled water for various customers, including the City of Jacksonville. JEA is a community-owned utility that provides electric, water, and sewer services in Jacksonville and is the eighth-largest community-owned electric utility in the United States and the largest one in Florida. [READ MORE]

Employee Spotlight:

SUE Division Manager

Licensed in Florida, Texas, and North Carolina

tyocom@drmp.com

As Subsurface Utility Engineering Division Manager, he leads:

Subsurface Utility Engineering

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems

Electromagnetic Location Systems

Vacuum Excavation Systems

Tom Yocom, PSM, RPIS, PLS

DRMP’s Award-Winning Transportation Project Takes Home ACEC-FL Honor Award

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC-FL) recognized DRMP’s Suncoast Parkway 2 Project – from US 98 to south of West Grover Cleveland Boulevard – with a 2024 Engineering Excellence Honor Award.

The ACEC-FL Engineering Excellence Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the consulting engineering profession. This is the fourth award for the project, which also received

the Florida Transportation Builders’ Association’s 2022 Rural Project of the Year, the 2022 Yearbook of Engineering Achievement Award from Zweig Group’s Civil & Structural Engineering Media, and the American Public Works Association (APWA) Florida Transportation Project of the Year.

The overall $135 million Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise project included the design of 13 miles of a 4-lane Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) facility that increased capacity to ease traffic congestion, improved safety, added interchanges for access, and included several wildlife crossings for safe passage of migratory animals and a multi-use trail for public recreation in Hernando and Citrus counties. [READ MORE]

DRMP Enhances Team with RKA Merger and Gains Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) Experts

New development projects, such as shopping centers and large residential neighborhoods, have the potential to impact the public, leading to modified traffic patterns and increased demands on existing transportation infrastructure.

Since its recent merger with Ramey Kemp Associates (RKA), DRMP now offers Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) services and has a team of qualified professionals ready to conduct TIAs for projects throughout the United

States. RKA has been specializing in awardwinning TIAs since its founding in 1992.

A Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) or a Traffic Impact Study (TIS), plays a pivotal role in planning and designing new developments and aims to mitigate effects on existing road networks, while ensuring safe and reasonable traffic operations.

To comprehensively assess a development’s impact, qualified traffic engineers or planners conduct TIAs. Based on the outcomes of the analysis, mitigation measures, such as roadway and infrastructure improvements, may be recommended to offset traffic impacts. [READ MORE]

CEO’s Message

by Brett Hondorp, AICP

This year is off to a great start as Alta officially welcomed our first add-on, UrbanTrans North America.

UrbanTrans brings 30 professionals specializing in Transportation Demand Management (TDM), delivering mode shift programs, behavior change campaigns, and community outreach projects that promote alternatives to driving alone including transit, ridesharing, and active modes. UrbanTrans joins Alta’s existing programs group in an expanded TDM Practice Area with staff coverage across the United States and in Canada. We’ll do a full profile of UrbanTrans in the next issue.

As I write this, another Safe Streets for All (SS4A) funding opportunity has dropped, with three separate application deadlines between April and August. As we continue to face a serious pedestrian safety crisis in the United States, this funding represents one of the most impactful ways for our clients to obtain substantial funding not just for planning and outreach but for implementation of safety improvements in their communities. As in past SS4A rounds of funding, Alta’s Safety team will be working to support our Trilon partners with information on the program criteria, deadlines, and other strategic guidance so that we can help our clients across Trilon benefit from this funding.

We continue to add collaborative pursuits and wins with our Trilon partners, are excited to have recently started co-locating

with Horrocks in both Phoenix and Reno, and are coordinating with HMB and Mannik Smith Group on a new shared office space in Hunstville, Ala. This month’s feature on Lexi Petrella showcases our success in the Midwest region where support from Trilon and a strong partnership with MSG led to accelerated growth in the Michigan and Ohio markets. Whether connecting in a physical office or through virtual teams, we look forward to more collaboration with our partners. We are always keen to discuss how we can support clients and projects across Trilon with sustainable transportation expertise.

Recent News from Alta

The USDOT has released the 2024 Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Notice of Funding Opportunity. (LinkedIn)

Throughout Black History Month, Alta has been exploring the future of sustainable mobility for communities of color. Check out what our incredible Black team members have to say. (LinkedIn)

Alta’s LAX office has joined over 1,400 businesses as a newly recognized Platinum Status Bicycle Friendly Business! (LinkedIn)

Alta’s new TDM Programs leader, Aaron Gaul, visited with our SoCal team! (LinkedIn)

In the February edition of #OnTheMove, explore how Alta engineers are shaping the future of connected communities as we celebrate Engineers Week 2024 (National Engineers Week 2024: Welcome to the Future)

Employee Spotlight:

Lexi Petrella

Ohio-Michigan Market Lead/Planning Associate

LexiPetrella@altago.com

This quarter we feature Lexi Petrella, who is working toward growing Alta’s practice in Ohio and Michigan. She’s in Columbus, Ohio now but will be moving to Detroit in May!

Lexi is driven by a mission to encourage and implement innovative and sustainable mobility strategies that harmonize societal needs, economic growth, and environmental preservation. Guided by an unwavering belief in the power of sustainable transportation to stimulate the economic and environmental vitality of communities, she leverages her background in cross-county transit, active transportation, highway safety, emerging mobility, and transportation demand management planning to create a greener and more inclusive North Central region at Alta Planning + Design.

Before joining Alta she served Clean Fuels Ohio as the Director of Development, where she worked to support and grow CFO’s valuable network of members and champion the organization’s mission through grant research and partnership building. Lexi joined CFO after working for SHARE Mobility, where she supported shared mobility advocacy, community outreach, and public sector program development. Her background includes diverse planning initiatives seeking the success of sustainable mobility use, access, and connectivity at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.

Lexi is about to begin work on several exciting projects including, the Louisville Bicycle Implementation Plan and the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission (OVRDC) Safety Action Plan. The OVRDC project is with Trilon partner Mannik & Smith Group (their Ohio office). Alta also got onto the City of Detroit Complete Streets Program Management on-call contract with Mannik & Smith Group in partnership with their Michigan Office. Both offices have been a huge supporter of our growth in the region.

Project Spotlight from Alta’s North Central Region:

Olson Memorial Highway (Hwy 55) Interim Pedestrian Safety Improvements, Minneapolis, Minn.

Alta assisted the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to develop a mile long interim pedestrian safety project with the goal of reducing vehicle speeding and improving pedestrian crossings. This project uses a quick-build approach with lower-cost materials to pilot solutions that improve safety and mobility prior to constructing permanent, longterm improvements along the highway. The project is anticipated to remain in place for up to four years and

included narrowing travel lanes from 12 to 10 feet, and reducing the number to two in each direction. Pavement markings (symbols, linear yellow and white lines, and high-visibility crosswalks) were used to update the traffic pattern. Pedestrian crossing distances were also narrowed by adding painted curb extensions and medians, flexible delineator posts, plastic curb separators, crosshatch markings, and signs.

Bus, truck, and winter maintenance vehicle turning movements were taken into consideration to see that the improvements maintain highway functionality and operations. The project concept layout was developed with input from the City of Minneapolis, Metro

Transit, and MnDOT staff. This included maintenance staff for assistance to see that the project accommodates the needs of snow removal and

winter maintenance vehicles. As a next step, MnDOT will be developing a preferred alternative and preliminary design for a permanent roadway project with associated multimodal improvements.

Progressive Design-Build

By Shane Marshall, PE

While Traditional Design-Build (TDB) and Construction Manager At-Risk (CMAR) delivery methods are commonly used for large infrastructure projects, the process is often lengthy and offers limited collaboration. For any infrastructure project, it is important to select the best delivery method to address the project’s unique challenges and to engage the owner, designer, builder, and stakeholders.

Progressive Design-Build (PDB) has emerged as an innovative, two-phase approach that blends TDB and CMAR delivery methods to manage risk and deliver high-quality projects in a shorter amount of time. This increasingly popular delivery method promotes collaboration by uniting and engaging project teams throughout the project’s lifecycle.

About the Author:

Shane Marshall

Chief Revenue Officer

A key benefit of PDB is the ability to manage risk. Involving all stakeholders in the beginning of a project allows potential issues to be identified and resolved early, thus reducing project costs. The design-builder has sole accountability for the project, so risks associated with change orders or construction delays are eliminated.

In addition to reducing the risk of design errors, construction delays, and budget overruns, this proactive approach provides greater predictability and control over the project’s outcome while still providing flexibility in project scope and delivery.

Horrocks has extensive experience in using alternative delivery methods to help owners manage a project’s risk, schedule, and budget. We partner with owners,

Before joining Horrocks, Shane worked with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) for 25 years. As the UDOT Deputy Director and Region 3 Director, he led more than 1600 employees while they worked to provide safe and efficient transportation systems in Utah.

Now, as the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at Horrocks and with over 30 years in the transportation industry, Shane uses his experience managing projects and leading teams to expand Horrocks’ target growth markets.

contractors, and stakeholders to achieve successful project outcomes through Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC), CMAR, TDB, and PDB delivery. To

Project Spotlight:

learn more about Progressive DesignBuild and other delivery methods, visit www.horrocks.net/alternativedelivery.

Big & Little Cottonwood Canyon Fiber Optics

In collaboration with Crown Castle International, Horrocks completed two transformative fiber optic projects in the picturesque canyons of Utah. The Big Cottonwood Canyon Fiber Optics initiative, a $3.5 million endeavor, spanned a 13-mile stretch along Highway 190 in Salt Lake County with rocky terrain and tight topography. This project included 21 cellular Distributed Antenna System (DAS) poles, 13 miles of fiber optic cable, and a communications hub building. A partnership with UDOT resulted in enhanced traffic monitoring, weather stations, and improved cellular communication of the three major cellular

carriers, benefiting nearby ski resorts and public safety.

Simultaneously, the Little Cottonwood Canyon Fiber Optics project involved utility poles, traffic cameras, and an 8.5-mile underground fiber optic line addressing power limitations in the canyon. The DAS network improved cellular reception, traffic management, and emergency response in challenging mountainous terrain. Both projects required Horrocks’ expertise in delivering innovative solutions for communication infrastructure in environmentally sensitive and geographically demanding landscapes.

PDB Project Spotlight:

US-89, Farmington to I-84

The US-89, Farmington to I-84 project is a $360 million Progressive Design-Build (PDB) initiative that has successfully transformed a 12-mile stretch of US-89 into a six-lane, grade-separated expressway. This award-winning project, completed in June 2023, aimed at improving safety and mobility in the US-89 corridor, which spans several municipalities north of Salt Lake City, Utah. The core elements involved converting a four-lane highway into a six-lane freeway, with six signalized intersections transformed into gradeseparated interchanges.

Led by Oak Hills Constructors’ DesignBuild team, with Horrocks and Michael Baker International as lead designers, the project used PDB delivery to facilitate early collaboration. Several challenges

on the project required unique solutions, and this early dialogue provided valuable insights. The team remained adaptable as conditions changed between environmental study and design phases.

In addition to improving transportation infrastructure, the project emphasized environmental and aesthetic considerations. Stakeholder outreach and analyses mitigated impacts on cultural resources, noise, and water resources, setting a precedent for future infrastructure initiatives.

The US-89 project’s successful completion demonstrated the value of PDB in addressing complex transportation challenges within a constrained budget and timeline.

Employee Spotlight:

Katie Kourianos

Utah Public Engagement Manager

katiek@horrocks.com

Katie Kourianos is a skilled communications professional with 15 years of experience, specializing in the management and support of outreach campaigns. Currently, she leads Horrocks’ Utah public engagement practice. Katie has successfully orchestrated hundreds of infrastructure public engagement projects, ranging from the expansive UDOT I-15 Technology Corridor reconstruction to a system of new drinking water wells and pipelines in Utah County and numerous local transportation endeavors across Utah.

Experience delivering strategic stakeholder and public communications has given Katie a deep understanding of the challenges and local concerns associated with public projects. One noteworthy aspect of her management portfolio is the unique twist she brings with the oversight of Horrocks’ Mobile Public Engagement Ice Cream Truck. This vehicle serves as a fun and unconventional method of connecting with the community while adding a touch of fun to the management of public outreach efforts by asking for valuable public input in exchange for a sweet treat.

Katie excels in organizing multifaceted communication strategies – including grassroots initiatives, local government coordination, mass media, and digital outreach. Her collaborative spirit and skill at engaging citizens in local issues distinguish her as a leader who can align various stakeholders to achieve project goals and address challenges together.

Transportation Experts Gather to Discuss Future Trends at Summit:

HMB’s Lindsay Walker Highlights Key Topics

HMB’s Planning Division Manager Lindsay Walker, PE, PTOE, AICP, had the privilege of contributing to a panel discussion on the future of transportation engineering at the Joint Tennessee Section Institute of Transportation Engineers (TSITE) winter meeting / Southern District ITE Student Leadership Summit (SLS).

Hosted at the University of Memphis in February 2024, the event drew approximately 130 participants, including students and professionals from both public and private sectors, as well as academia. Walker is the President of the Southern District Institute of Transportation Engineers (SDITE), which is one of the largest Districts in ITE with approximately 2,500 members spread over eight Sections (nine states).

The gathering showcased a variety of perspectives and expertise in addition to student traffic bowl competitions. A group of experts, including Walker, participated in a panel discussion about new trends in transportation and how the industry is moving toward more responsible and creative solutions over the next decade and beyond.

Panelists discussed upcoming developments that will transform transportation engineering, prompting thoughtful discussions on opportunities and ethical obligations in shaping the field’s future.

“Everyone is realizing the necessity of working collaboratively and not in silos,” Walker said. “Planners, traffic engineers, other civil disciplines, private and professional, need to work together to solve future transportation issues.”

An emerging problem is that young drivers are not acquiring adequate experience and information upon obtaining their driver’s license.

“The discussion from the students was on new driver licensing and education,” Walker said. “The thought was that if we do a better job up front with more stringent licensing requirements and education, we would overall be improving safety and

investing in better drivers for the future.”

In Tennessee, teenagers can get a learner’s permit at age 15 and then be able to drive if they pass a road test at 16 and have 50 hours of driving experience signed off by a guardian.

“So at 16.5 you could be turned out on your own with a few restrictions,” Walker said.

Walker’s home state, Kentucky, has stricter regulations, allowing a learner’s permit at 16 and an intermediate license at 16.5 after passing a road test and completing 60 hours of driving. However, the accuracy of the recorded driving experience may vary, and young drivers often struggle with decision-making in complex situations like roundabouts, where they must assess whether they have sufficient space to maneuver, Walker noted.

“So ultimately, the question is do we require enough experience before turning these drivers out? Do we need more required course work or regulated experience?” Walker asked.

The event also included TSITE’s traffic bowl – a scholarship opportunity for students to compete in a Jeopardy-style format in teams. The questions were transportation-focused with the Section winner advancing to the District. The District winner then advances to the International competition.

The winning team during this year’s competition was the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. A fun spinoff as a second round during the meeting was the winning student chapter pitted against two professional teams (ITE officers and Tennessee professionals).

Lindsay

As the Planning Division Manager, she leads:

Transportation Planning Studies

Traffic Forecasting

Traffic Operations and Timing

Multimodal Studies

Safety Analysis

Traffic Simulation Modeling and Analysis

Walker was part of the winning ITE officer team. She and other participants also attended a social event at the Memphis Grizzlies basketball game.

“Being part of this joint TSITE / SLS meeting was such a great opportunity to explore how other sections work and see a very

enthusiastic University of Memphis ITE chapter at work planning the leadership summit,” Walker said. “Collaborating with such a diverse group of individuals highlighted the importance of working together for the future of transportation. We need to continue to invest in safer transportation and better drivers.”

Corn Island Archaeology Acquisition

In December of 2023, HMB welcomed the add-on acquisition of Corn Island Archaeology, LLC (CIA) to the HMB and Trilon families. This acquisition brings cultural historic and archaeological services to HMB, creating a “unique and dynamic suite of environmental services to better serve our clients”, according to HMB President Rob Dowler.

Corn Island Archaeology is a Kentucky-based premier provider of archaeological and cultural historic services. CIA partners with their clients, attending to their needs to develop the appropriate strategies and solutions for each unique project. CIA provides a full range of surveys, research, and documentation to satisfy all the Cultural Resources Management (CRM) requirements for their varied clientele.

“I am so very pleased to join the HMB/Trilon organization”, said Anne Bader, Principal of Corn

Island Archaeology. “I have worked with HMB for years, and in the last year I have gotten to know their leadership on a more personal level. I am completely satisfied and comfortable in the knowledge that my employees will find themselves in a work environment that is so similar to our own. Further, I am convinced that my practice will continue seamlessly and that the interest of my valued and longstanding clients will be met with the same level of care as before. Looking forward to exploring expanded opportunities to better serve our state and local governments, private developers, and communities.”

“After years of partnering with Anne and her staff at Corn Island, we are thrilled to bring them into the HMB family,” said Michael Leathers, Principal-inCharge of Environmental at HMB. “Together we can offer tremendous value to our clients by covering all aspects of the environmental process. We are excited about the opportunities ahead!”

Established in 2005, Corn Island Archaeology, LLC (CIA) is a woman-owned small business providing CRM services. Based in Louisville, Ky., CIA’s staff is qualified in all phases of Native American and historic archaeology of the eastern and midwestern United States in accordance with professional standards and guidelines of the Secretary of the Interior. CIA serves a region defined by the drainage basin

of the Ohio River. Primarily focused on Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee, CIA readily supports clients and communities within the adjacent states of Ohio, Illinois, and West Virginia. CIA’s archaeological professionals are registered with the Register of Professional Archaeology

(RPA) and adhere to their professional and ethical standards.

This exciting new partnership has already hit the ground running, as staff have already submitted updated qualifications to multiple clients and were selected for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Contract for Statewide Environmental Cultural Historic & Archaeological Studies.

1

HMB’s Lora Boller Takes Part in Panel Discussion at 13th Annual Kentucky Bridge Day Highlighting the Enhanced Statewide Structures Contract

Kentucky Bridge Day, held on Jan. 31, brought together more than 300 professionals from various sectors of the bridge industry. The event, held at the Central Bank Center in Lexington, Ky., serves as an opportunity for structural engineers, geotechnical engineers, fabricators, materials suppliers, bridge contractors, and related professionals to come together to earn professional development hours and engage in networking opportunities.

Along with a variety of informational presentations, the event boasts an annual update from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Division of Structural Design, Division of Bridge Maintenance, Division of Construction, and Geotechnical Branch. The day is usually capped off with a Construction roundtable discussion that includes local bridge contractors, designers, state representatives, and consultants together to have an open discussion on many aspects of bridge replacement from design to construction.

Among the attendees was HMB Structural Engineer Lora Boller, PE, who was honored with an invitation to serve as a guest

speaker for a panel discussion focused on the KYTC Structural Design Enhanced Statewide Contracts.

“Apart from the Eastern Kentucky flood emergency bridge replacements, a lot of our Statewide assignments were maintenance focused – whether full replacements, repairs, or superstructure replacements,” Boller said. “My topic for the roundtable was discussing how these assignments differed from the strictly structural statewide assignments in the past and how the enhanced contract helped us to complete these assignments.”

The Structural Design contract, a longstanding statewide contract used by the KYTC Division of Structural Design, provides on-call consultant services for structural design projects, including bridges and culverts. Over time, the contract has evolved to address the changing needs of the transportation industry.

Historically, the contract focused primarily on Structure Design and Roadway Design. However, staffing issues at the state level and an increasing workload prompted the expansion of the contract to include 32 additional prequalification requirements, such as various Environmental Services, Right of Way Services, and Utility Design.

For instance, if a Highway District had a bridge replacement project but did not have structural design staff, roadway design staff, or a utility coordinator, the District could use the enhanced Statewide contract to bring in consultant help for those areas while still handling right of way and survey in-house.

“The expansion of the contract transformed it into an ‘a la carte menu’ of professional services, allowing consultants to fill in where needed for various highway districts,” Boller said.

During the Kentucky Bridge Day roundtable, Michael Carpenter, Director of KYTC Division of Structures, emphasized the importance of the added prequalifications and how they were being used. The five consultants who were on the statewide contract, including HMB, were asked to discuss specific topics related to their work, including coordination of disciplines, public safety, maintenance of traffic, and utility coordination.

Boller shared insights from her experiences and discussed how

her team worked closely with the KYTC Central Office and District personnel to complete projects efficiently.

One notable project Boller highlighted during the discussion involved innovative pier widening methods that minimized environmental impacts and construction access challenges. The success of such projects were the result of multi-disciplinary, multi-agency collaboration, and efficient project management.

“By leveraging the strengths of each agency, we were able to streamline processes and expedite project timelines,” she said.

Boller expressed her gratitude for the chance to contribute to Kentucky Bridge Day.

“I am so appreciative of the opportunity to partake in Kentucky Bridge Day and share my perspective on how the enhancements of the KYTC Statewide Structural contract has greatly benefited HMB, our clients, and the traveling public,” Boller said. “Looking ahead, I remain optimistic for the health of our bridges utilizing these innovative work strategies.”

Licensed in Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Utah

lboller@hmbpe.com

As Project Manager, she leads:

Transportation structural design

NBIS bridge inspection

A company overview

Rinker Design Associates (RDA) is a professional civil engineering and surveying services firm established in 1982. Since then, they have grown from a staff of two to more than 170 employees with a solid reputation for providing conscientious and reliable service to municipalities, governmental agencies, and private industries throughout Virginia. They take pride in offering high-quality deliverables and support services that meet project, budget, and schedule requirements, exceeding their clients’ expectations.

RDA, strategically located in six offices throughout the Commonwealth, is staffed with highly experienced professional engineers, licensed land surveyors, and right of way agents supported by environmental scientists, planners, technicians, construction inspectors, field survey crews, and office personnel.

RDA staff focuses on practicality, costeffectiveness, simplicity of operation, and future maintenance, to produce accurate designs that best fit their clients’ and the community’s needs while meeting

all

Leadership Message from President

President’s Message

by Mo Kim, PE, DBIA

To better execute RDA’s growth strategy, we evaluated various acquisition strategies and searched for a partner with the ability to provide additional resources to better serve our clients, investment resources to help us add staff and make acquisitions, as well as support us with possible operational expertise that we can lean into to become more effective. Based on lessons from our history, we knew we needed to search for a partner we could trust and who shares the core beliefs on which RDA was built. In selecting the right partner, we carefully considered several factors that would provide the best for the future of our firm and people. These factors included:

Strong cultural alignment with RDA

A Complementary set of core values

Technical capacity

Expert understanding of our industry

Access to additional growth capital and strategic resources

A partner that will support RDA’s continued strategic growth

After evaluating more than a dozen strategic opportunities, we are excited to join/partner with the Trilon Group and their family of companies. Trilon’s vision to build the next Top 10 Design Firm in North

America by bringing together some of the nation’s best medium-sized infrastructure consulting firms excites and energizes us as we venture into this new chapter for RDA. We believe that this partnership positions us well to expand in our core markets, as well as complementary markets and geographies. Our goal is not only to broaden the array of services RDA can provide our clients, but also to unlock significant opportunities for our staff to grow their careers. We are proud of our legacy and the company we created. This next chapter will enable us to become an even better company for our employees and clients, fund growth and ownership transition, and compete in the consolidating architecture, engineering, and construction industry.

• Structures/Bridges

• Site, Civil, and Infrastructure

• Construction and Environmental Services

• Utility Design, Relocation, and Coordination

• Geotechnical

• Right of Way

• Design-Build

• Surveying

• Transportation

• Traffic Services

Leadership Bio

Mo Kim, PE, DBIA, RDA’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), has been an integral member of Virginia’s transportation industry for 29 years. He is experienced in the design and management of transportation projects and has guided RDA to become a leader in the Virginia market. As President and CEO of RDA, Mo oversees and manages all elements of work and services provided by RDA. One of RDA’s most paramount distinctions is the award-winning I-66 / Route 15 Interchange Reconstruction Design-Build project led by Mo. This project included the first Diverging Diamond Interchange in the region and won the 2018 DBIA National Design-Build Project of the Year. Mo has been a leader within numerous industry organizations that have partnered with Virginia transportation clientele, sharing his ideas in shaping and restructuring this industry.

As Chief Business Officer (CBO) for RDA, Darell Fischer, PE, DBIA is responsible for procuring work for the company; opening new offices, expanding existing offices, and negotiating office leases; reviewing contracts; overseeing RDA’s Information Technology; and ensuring company success. Darell also leads RDA’s Design-Build practice and using his more than 37 years of experience in design and management of all technical and disciplinary aspects of transportation design. His ability to successfully resolve complex design challenges with innovative, context-sensitive solutions for projects large and small validates his in-depth knowledge of state and local design criteria. Darell’s experience includes serving as Design Manager on 12 designbuild projects, eight with VDOT, three with local jurisdictions, and one with an international concessionaire. Additionally, Darell serves as the Chairperson for the Alternative Project Delivery Committee with the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance, as well as President of the Central Virginia Chapter of DBIA.

Mo Kim, PE, DBIA

Darell Fischer, PE, DBIA

Mark Gunn, PE serves as RDA’s Director of Engineering and Chief Operating Officer (COO) and has 25 years of experience in transportation, utilities, and site infrastructure design in Virginia. In this role, he oversees and manages RDA’s engineering, utility, survey, and ROW departments and allocates company resources to ensure efficient and effective delivery of RDA’s services to meet project schedule and budget. He is responsible for monitoring project performance for schedule, budget, and contract requirement compliance, and implementation of RDA’s corporate QA/QC Plan. Mark routinely serves as Project Manager for major design-bid-build and design-build projects in the Northern Virginia region, managing multi-disciplinary design teams and subconsultants for the delivery of transportation and infrastructure related projects for various clients.

Mark Gunn, PE

mgunn@rdacivil.com

Project Updates:

495 NEXT, Fairfax County, VA

RDA is the Lead Designer for Lane Construction on the $439 million I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project. This P3 partnership between the Commonwealth of Virginia and Transurban (TU) widens 2.5 miles from the Dulles Toll Road to the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) interchange and improves the 495 Express Lanes within the same limits. Improvements include mainline widening (four additional lanes) and reconstruction of the existing eight lanes for NB and SB I-495; interchange ramp improvements at the Dulles Toll Road, Georgetown Pike, and GWMP interchanges; and widening or replacing 13 bridge structures, including one over the environmentally sensitive Scott’s Run.

Design services include environmental permitting; roadway design while maintaining existing cross slopes and profile grades; retaining and noise walls; drainage/stormwater management; Design Exceptions; developing 3D OpenRoads models for roadway, bridges, and drainage features; maintenance of traffic/transportation management plan design; water/sewer relocations; and ITS for tolling and traffic monitoring.

Otterdale Road Drainage Improvements, Chesterfield County, VA

RDA, with general contractor Kokosing Construction Company, completed the design and construction of the Otterdale Road Drainage Improvements Project five months ahead of schedule. The project consisted of existing stream crossing replacements at three locations along Otterdale Road at Horsepen Creek, Blackman Creek, and Otterdale Branch. Improvements included the replacement of existing undersized drainage culverts and bridges with new larger structures, which provide sufficient hydraulic opening for the ultimate future build-out of the watershed, improvement of horizontal curves, raising the roadway profile, improvement of

West Glebe Road over Four Mile Run Bridge Replacement, Arlington County, VA

As the Lead Designer, RDA completed the design for this $9.89 million Progressive Design-Build project to replace the West Glebe Road Bridge over Four Mile Run while improving bicycle and pedestrian access through wider sidewalks and separated bike lanes on both sides of the bridge. The project included an extensive stakeholder involvement component including development and implementation of public art as part of the improvements for the community (visible in the railing of the new bridge). RDA’s scope of work included multidisciplinary transportation services, including permitting approvals from the

roadway shoulders and ditches at each crossing, stormwater management/best management practices facilities, and utility design and coordination. As the lead designer, RDA was responsible for the bridge design, roadway design, drainage design, traffic analysis, utility design, survey, environmental compliance, and construction inspection while closely managing the geotechnical services on the project.

Virginia Marine Resource Commission for work being done within Four Mile Run. Scope elements included structural design, survey, roadway design, drainage/ stormwater management/hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, maintenance of traffic/transportation management plan, stakeholder coordination, utility coordination, bridge and street lighting, and pedestrian facilities.

About Braking News

Braking News is published quarterly as an internal communication to the employees of the Trilon Transportation Platform Partner Firms. Each partner firm contributes editorial content for the newsletter centered upon sharing project updates, services, leadership messages and industry news.

The newsletter cover photo in each issue will be provided by the partner firms in alphabetical order giving each firm an opportunity to showcase a service or project.

Newsletter Staff

Managing Editor

Julia Lindstedt (DRMP)

Contributing Writers

Natalie Lozano and Mackenzie Field (Alta Planning + Design)

Gabrielle Davis and Alexi Wyatt (DRMP)

Ariel Peterson (Horrocks)

Hollis Sullivan (RDA)

Graphic Design/Layout

Edmundo Rubio (DRMP)

Transportation End Market Segmentation