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Recognizing Women Engineers of HR Green

Posted on June 23, 2022August 10, 2022 by Lynn Yeldell

Despite making up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, women are still vastly underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce. According to census data from 2021, women engineers account for only 15% of all U.S. engineers. The Women’s Engineering Society created international Women in Engineering Day to support and inspire more young women to become engineers, scientists, and business leaders.

HR Green is proud to recognize International Women in Engineering Day. To celebrate, we spoke with several women engineers from our teams.

Cami Liu, PE – Transportation Project Engineer

My interest in engineering started from the very beginning in high school. I have always had an interest in doing design, either for clothing design or infrastructure. Back then, I was a foreign exchange, and it was my host mom that told me about being an engineer. She’s a computer engineer. She told me maybe engineering would be great for me because of my love of math and design.

I’ve been with HR Green since August 2018. I have been working on many different projects as I’m always trying to learn new things. I want to improve my skill and not only focus on one area. I would say I’ve learned more in my experience with working with HR Green than back in school.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Everybody makes mistakes, so don’t be afraid. You just need to be ready to correct yourself. In a good team environment, other people shouldn’t judge you just because you ask questions. If you don’t understand, just ask.

Stacy Woodson, PE – Environmental Services Technical Director

My passion for engineering began back in elementary school. The space shuttle program was a big deal. We were always watching the shuttle lift off on television during school. And naturally, I wanted to be an astronaut. When I shared that with teachers, they suggested that I consider engineering. During my studies, I discovered a real passion for trying to keep the environment healthy, clean, and safe so we can enjoy it for many generations to come.

While HR Green is a consulting firm and is trying to help our clients obtain their goals and achieve their objectives, we can do it in a sustainable way that helps preserve the environment or helps mitigate the impacts of what we’re doing. That’s where I find my passion and interest in trying to find a win-win situation to help the environment but also help our clients and communities build the projects they need to build.

As engineers, we can be a little more introverted and shy. My advice to everybody is just to come out of your shell a little bit, introduce yourselves, take opportunities, and look for opportunities when your team is looking for volunteers or needs help with something. Raise your hand and volunteer. Even though it might be out of your comfort zone, those opportunities to learn something new and grow will benefit you in your career.

Kyla Jacobsen – Water Business Development Leader

Finding my passion for engineering was an accident, actually. My goal was to go to medical school, and when I didn’t get into a medical program, I began working in pharmaceutical laboratories. That’s when I saw an ad for a municipality looking for a chemist. My brain immediately thought the position would be working with the police department to do drug testing. It turns out it was for the water department. I dove in and quickly discovered and later accomplished my goal to be the water utility director.

There are many opportunities, whether chemical, mechanical, electrical, or computer science in engineering. I think that not exploring them is a disservice when exploring your passions. If you are a good problem solver with a technical or mechanical mind. When exploring careers, there are ‘shiny’ things, but that’s not necessarily going to be a sustainable path. If you want to make a difference in the world, engineering jobs will certainly do that.

HR Green does it right. They value diversity in the workplace and women in engineering. The company does a fantastic job of promoting women and making them viable partners in the workforce.

Bridget Osborn, PE, CFM – Water Resources Project Manager

In a sense, I grew up with a family of engineers. My dad was always trying to make things work with the things he had. Then my siblings and I always tried to build tree houses, go-karts, and swimming pools all summer long. We constantly got creative as kids constructing things. Going on to study science was a natural fit.

However, it was when I was working road construction to pay for college, I got a glimpse of the importance of water utility. After a big rain event, the city streets were still flooded. The storm drains weren’t clearing the water fast enough. I thought to myself, “someone needs to fix that.” Turns out it was a very large rain event, and the system was not designed for that unusual amount of water.

Regardless, my interest in geological engineering grew, eventually transitioning to my path in water resources. This department allows me to collaborate with the other sectors of engineering. Basically, anywhere there is water or it rains (so, everywhere), I help on projects with transportation or treatment plants.

When exploring engineering, it’s important to have confidence. When starting out, you don’t really know what you’re doing. It can be a struggle, but that’s where your confidence comes in. Trust your work and invest in communicating with others you’re working with. Have the confidence to ask questions.

Most importantly, don’t give up. It is a tough industry and can be a demanding job. Remember this is something you’re really passionate about. No matter the struggles, tomorrow is another day and it changes every day. You’re never going to be stuck in a rut for too long. Just keep on going and be positive.

Megan Anderson, PE – Lead Transportation Engineer

When I was young, I wanted to be an architect or a planner. I realized you needed a portfolio and to take lots of art classes. While I think outside the box and come up with creative solutions, I am not a creative person by nature. That’s when I knew architecture would not go well for me. After several discussions with guidance counselors, I landed on civil engineering.

It’s interesting as engineers; we all graduated with the same degree. We all went through the same type of schooling and took the same test to get our licenses. But I wouldn’t even know how to open a file that the water division was working on, for example. It really shows the paths to go down are endless in engineering.

However, engineering can be seen as an overwhelming industry to get into. Maybe it’s not as family-friendly, engineers work a ton of hours, but that’s a misconception. You make your career what you want. There will be times when hours get heavy during projects, but it’s not constant. For women engineers, if you’re feeling like you can’t do it all because this is an aggressive field, remember that it’s your choice. It can be aggressive if you want it to be, but it doesn’t have to be.

At HR Green, we are passionate about building communities and improving lives. As one of the nation’s longest-operating engineering firms, we’ve not only seen the changes in our world but been a part of them. Our teams collaborate across geographies and markets to provide engineering, technical, and management solutions in both the private and public sectors across a number of industries.

HR Green invests in career opportunities from all management levels to internships and scholarships for the next generation of engineers. We invite you to learn more about the career opportunities at HR Green today!

The Urban Loop Awarded #5 of Top 10 Roads and Bridges

Posted on December 14, 2021May 4, 2022 by Heidi Whitver

This month, the Roads and Bridges publication released its Top 10 Roads and Bridges Awards issue. We’re proud to share the Urban Loop I-80, I-35, IA 141, and Adjacent Interchanges project landed the number five spot in the Top 10 list across North America. Each year, nominations are submitted to the R&B editorial staff, who determine the Top 10 list based on project challenges, impact to the region, and scope of work.

Top Road #5 – The Right Size: Only One Philosophy Would Do for the Urban Loop

The Highway 141 flyover bridge was the cornerstone to resolving congestion. Located at the convergence of I-80 and I-35 in the northwest quadrant of Des Moines, Iowa, not only was the flyover a critical element for the overall interchange design, but also for the planning and design of adjacent interchanges.

Read the full article>>

Posted with permission from Roads and Bridges November/December 2021 edition.

Engineering Coloring Pages

Posted on November 1, 2021March 13, 2025 by Heidi Whitver

Download individual engineering coloring pages for your next STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) lesson. Students of all ages are invited to explore a career in engineering.

You can download individual engineering coloring pages by selecting the images below or download all the HR Green Engineering pages at once!

About HR Green

Employee-owned and founded in 1913, the HR Green Family of Companies includes HR Green, Inc.; HR Green Pacific, Inc.; HR Green Development, LLC; and HR Green Fiber and Broadband, LLC. HR Green has offices throughout the nation providing engineering, technical, and management solutions that build communities and improve lives in: Transportation, Water, Governmental Services, Land Development, Environmental, Construction, and Fiber and Broadband markets. For more information, visit www.hrgreen.com.

Steps to Take Today to Secure Infrastructure Bill Funding Tomorrow

Posted on October 26, 2021May 5, 2022 by Heidi Whitver

Congress is on the brink of approving the largest federal investment in infrastructure in decades, making now the time for government agencies and municipalities to begin planning how best to apply this infrastructure bill funding in their communities. Once the legislation is passed, billions of dollars in federally derived funds will be made available for local governments. No doubt, competition for these funds will be strong and the needs many throughout the country. Getting an early start on the process will give agencies a critical edge toward securing needed funding and aligning resources to support approved infrastructure projects.

Although we can’t say for certain what the final legislation will look like, it’s a good bet that many of the policies and procedures associated with prior federal programs will apply to the infrastructure bill funding as well. As such, the preparation work that goes into accessing these new funds should be consistent with prior federal assistance programs. By following the steps outlined below, you can begin to strategically prepare your application and boost its likelihood of funding approval.

Identify Community Infrastructure Needs

The first step all agencies should take today to secure infrastructure bill funding is to create new or review existing capital improvement plans and long-standing needs lists. Although some infrastructure needs may be clear, you should develop a complete and detailed list. You may find that the needs you prioritized in the past may not match new program requirements, so it is best to have a project pool to choose from.

As this internal work is completed, good governance policy dictates that a deliberate, open, and transparent process of gathering input from citizens and other stakeholders in identifying and prioritizing infrastructure projects should be used. Seeking input from the community through public engagement, as well as sharing funding needs with your congressional representatives, all help build community support while improving your chances for project funding. Civic engagement has been a key part of the recent American Rescue Plan Act funding and following that pattern may help secure your application’s success.

Prioritizing infrastructure projects that could be pursued jointly with other jurisdictions may also increase the appeal of a project and improve your odds of funding success. Joint projects tend to score better because agencies that review grant applications often see multi-jurisdictional projects as a more impactful return on funding. Now is an opportune time to identify and connect with other agencies that might benefit from working collaboratively to do the most good for the larger population.

Align Priorities with Potential Infrastructure Bill Funding

Once your priorities have been developed, you should be able to align your list of infrastructure project candidates with grants and programs identified in the legislation. For example, published information about recent drafts of the legislation report robust transportation funding in the bill. It is also believed that many of that traditional federal grant funding programs will be used for the distribution of funds. Should you have a transportation project priority, now is a good time to start thinking about matching and preparing your project for application through federal and state-administered programs.

In addition to traditional projects such as roadways, water, and sewer work, give consideration to infrastructure needs that have evolved out of the pandemic. This includes work in support of digital and disaster-resilient infrastructure, as well as broadband accessibility. The federal government has prioritized the need for high-speed broadband access as a strategic national initiative. Now is the time to consider your local needs for this important infrastructure as well.

Understanding the specific program’s financial requirements—such as local funding matches, for example—will help you to better position your request. Although it may not be clear how federal government infrastructure funding will be distributed, all communities face the same challenge. Those that prepare a strong case for funding today will be in a better position to pursue funding as details are confirmed.

Consider Your Available Resources

Once you’ve identified the most impactful projects to pursue, you can begin the bureaucratic work of applying for grants through various agencies. For example, in advance of the infrastructure funding bill’s approval, you may be able to refine the project scope, develop supporting details, and further refine the cost of your prioritized projects.

Having these details in place increases the likelihood of securing infrastructure bill funding for your projects. It’s also important to understand that many of these grant programs will require detailed application submittals as well as thorough regulatory compliance and reporting, subject to federal government oversight and auditing. To avoid potential problems and bottlenecks later, take time now to review your organization’s internal controls and processes. Given the volume and complexity of the work to come, it’s best to assess now whether your current staff has the capacity to adequately apply for, manage, and administer the work needed to see a project through from start to finish. An honest assessment will give your organization time to either increase staffing or identify a consulting partner that can provide the critical support needed to successfully drive an infrastructure project through from application to completion.

Secure Support Your Constituents Can Count On

Taking the time now to secure critical funding for your community’s needs is the very definition of serving your constituents. Regardless of how that funding ultimately is established, whether through this pending infrastructure funding bill or more traditional funding mechanisms, planning today to address long-standing infrastructure needs is a step closer to improving the quality of life for citizens in your community.

Working to improve the quality of life for individuals is at the heart of everything we do at HR Green. We’re committed to supporting local governments at every phase of their infrastructure projects. Through our Governmental Services, we provide staff augmentation and consulting services that allow you to meet project needs as they arise.

Contact HR Green as you prepare for your next big project.

5 Ways Virtual Counter Services Strengthen Project Delivery

Posted on September 10, 2021May 5, 2022 by Heidi Whitver

Cities and county agencies with shrinking budgets and staff sizes have been in search of new solutions to manage workflow and increase productivity when overseeing capital projects and development review services. This ongoing challenge was only exacerbated by COVID-19-driven lockdowns in 2020. In order to avoid shutting down critical services, many agencies discovered the necessity of contactless counter and project delivery services.

Contactless counters can implement a range of digital solutions to manage project workflows. These solutions range from around-the-clock self-service permit and plan check capabilities to virtual inspections and online payment collection, and can provide municipalities with a host of benefits—if deployed appropriately.

Agencies were pushed to deploy a wide range of technology solutions to cope with closed public counters and off-site project development oversight during COVID-19. Many applied a cobbled-together approach, accepting permits via email, using drones and smartphones to gather inspection data, and taking payments over the phone.

However, this approach limits agencies in their ability to scale up digital benefits over time. With these lessons in hand and new expectations in mind from customers accustomed to convenient remote services, now is the time to take a more strategic approach to this virtual city hall model. By deploying integrated solutions, agencies can better collaborate with partners, more efficiently move accurate documents forward, and develop more resilient project delivery services for their clients. This resiliency will be critical in protecting revenue streams and economic development in the event of future disruptions.

Benefits of an Integrated Contactless counter

A successful contactless counter will ultimately provide integrated digital solutions for any service that can be done at the public counter. These include permitting, plan checking, inspection, and services necessary for the agency’s economic survival, such as collecting fees and taxes. While shifting these to online services can offer tremendous efficiencies, agencies can maximize benefits by applying an integrated IT approach that uses customized web-based portals to support a range of connected activities. Below are just a few examples of the benefits this approach can provide.

Reduced risk of error. Applications or payments made directly into a web-based portal are less prone to errors. Yet more than 40% of surveyed agencies admit to taking applications via mail, and approximately 35% to taking payments via mail and/or phone. Even simple keystroke errors waste time for staff who must work to track down discrepancies. These delays and lost payments all translate to added costs for customers. When payment software interfaces directly with your agency’s finance software, agencies save even more by eliminating daily or weekly reconciliations.
Faster processes. Customer portals that allow customers to submit applications, plans, and documents and make payments when it’s convenient to them can actually encourage the submission of more complete applications. Without the need for follow-up questions, processes become more streamlined. What’s more, review processes can begin right away.

Applications and payments made directly into the software also require much less staff time than applications submitted via email or regular mail. Over the course of hundreds of permit applications, this can greatly reduce permit and accounting staff hours required to input application information. Portals that allow customers to check their own permit and plan check status, look up reference documents and plans, etc., also consume less staff time.

More collaborative projects. The use of digital tools greatly enhances collaboration between agencies and developers and among different reviewing departments. When information is integrated online, development managers can more easily track critical projects and respond with real-time knowledge of project status.
Higher staff engagement. Digitizing these processes helps shift staff away from monotonous key-entering and paper shuffling to more value-added tasks. This not only lowers the risk of errors but has the added benefit of boosting employee engagement.
Meeting customer expectations. Consumers have come to expect the convenience of around-the-clock access to a wide range of services, from booking flights to shopping for groceries. Government has not kept pace. With more customer-centric access portals, agencies can build stronger relationships with partners and customers and expedite payment processes.

Hurdles to a Successful Contactless Counter

Implementing these virtual services carry many benefits, but it’s not always easily achieved. One challenge that many agencies may have to overcome is shifting away from a reactive solution to a more strategic, big-picture approach to creating contactless services. Becoming more strategic in this endeavor means moving away from pieced-together solutions that address a range of needs without interacting with one another. This approach is not typically scalable over time and can in fact lead to communication challenges across departments and with customers.

By implementing integrated software solutions, agencies gain the benefits of automation that supports well thought-out workflows, efficient service delivery, and a strong experience for all platform users.

Another challenge can arise in the form of staff resistance to change. Resistance can stem from a fear of job loss to technology or an unwillingness to try new ways of doing things. Either way, a strategic approach to digital solutions must take into account staff buy-in. By addressing concerns upfront, explaining how automated solutions can support staff in their shift from the monotonous to more value-oriented tasks, and encouraging project champions to celebrate implementation progress, then these projects have a stronger chance of success.

While COVID-19 shutdowns may be less of a threat, municipal agencies well know that disruptions to seamless service are always possible. Fortunately, the growth in digital experiences has taught us all that we can remain connected to one another and to critical projects with the right tools in place.

For more information, read the full whitepaper The Virtual City Hall: Contactless Counter and Project Delivery Services.

If you’re ready to take a more strategic approach to your virtual operations, HR Green can help. Our municipal operations experience, combined with systems knowledge, have supported operational reviews and software integration for client agencies and streamlined the approval of public and private development projects. For more information, contact us today.

Smart Design Drives More Resilient, Sustainable, and Affordable Water Resource Recovery Facility

Posted on August 30, 2021July 13, 2022 by Heidi Whitver

Wastewater treatment facilities are critical parts of any community, but that doesn’t mean residents are eager to have these plants visible in the community—or to pay for them. This was the reasoning that guided the smart design decisions behind the city of Indianola’s updated water resource recovery facility (WRRF).

The under-construction facility not only exceeds all separation distances to any neighbors but the smart design is reducing the cost of the facility by $12 million over a traditional approach. More importantly for the municipality, the innovative features keeping this cost low make for an altogether more resilient and sustainable WRRF.

As the City of Indianola discovered, smart design doesn’t have to be costly. Other municipalities may find the strategies applied here can help them design and build a resilient, sustainable, and more operationally effective WRRF at an easily attainable cost.

Out of Sight Locale

Keeping its new WRRF out of sight and out of mind for the local community was at the forefront of the city of Indianola’s decision to purchase a 360-acre site for the future facility 20 years ago. Near the center of the site is a large hill that slopes to the north and east, where floodplains create a natural buffer. The new WRRF sits on approximately 30 acres down the slope of the hill, a location that lets gravity do some of the heavy lifting of facilitating the hydraulic flow of wastewater to the treatment units.

Of course, this hillside location offers another advantage as well. Construction into the slope, behind the barrier of the existing tree lines and landscape berms, helps hide the WRRF from public view. Beyond this protective landscaping, the city continues its longstanding lease of portions of the site to local farmers, allowing a rural feel to envelope the critical utility.

Climate Resiliency

The new WRRF also rethinks the way it manages peak flows, known as one-percent flows due to the statistically rare instances in which they occur. The city’s outdated facility followed a traditional format, using large equalization basins to handle peak flows. As these events occurred, clear water would enter a leaky sanitary sewer system as inflow. The equalization basins would fill with diluted wastewater to be treated later through the wastewater treatment plant. Unfortunately, this lagoon system proved it was not resilient enough to sustain the higher wet weather events that had become more frequent as a result of climate change. The city wanted to avoid expanding the equalization basins in order to reduce odors and maintain a positive public perception.

The new WRRF design features a real-time peak flow treatment system that better manages these peak flows. The design team set a goal of treating these extreme wet weather flows in real-time. By more proactively managing these events, the WRRF can avoid hampering operations for a month after extreme weather events, as the outdated facility had previously done.

The new system is designed to divert this infrequent high-dilute flow to a small equalization tank. From there, the flow moves through a more cost-effective tertiary cloth media filtration process, followed by UV disinfection, effluent sampling, and discharge to the outfall sewer. Because these one-percent peak flows do not go through the normal secondary treatment system, the developer could more appropriately size the biological secondary treatment system and avoid a large equalization altogether, driving down the overall cost of the project.

Sustainable Reuse

Saving money isn’t the only priority that utilities and municipalities find themselves juggling, even if it is front of mind for most rate payers. More WRRF owners are seeking solutions that allow for more sustainable use of their resources. Strategies that support greater reuse of water and treated biosolids fit this bill.

Because the disinfected effluent that flows out of the Indianola WRRF is actually of a better quality than the Middle River into which it discharges, the new WRRF will make more efficient use of this fresh water source. The facility will divert as much as 25% of the effluent flow to use for flush down, washing or process service water in the facility, as well as for irrigation at the nearby Indianola Country Club golf course.

The sludge generated by the aerobic digesters following treatment and stabilization, known as biosolids, also has tremendous value. Biosolids can be applied to farmland as fertilizer, in accordance with EPA guidelines. The new Indianola WRRF features tremendous flexibility in the type of biosolids product it generates and stores. Biosolids can be generated from the aerobic digesters and stored at 2% solids or can be thickened in the solids processing building as 5% solids for longer storage.

Application of these biosolids has also become more sustainable. In the past, the WRRF would load up to 400 semi-trucks with biosolids to transport across gravel roads to a nearby farm site where this fertilizer could be applied each spring and fall. The new facility eliminates that transportation need by connecting a pipeline to the biosolids storage tank and using an umbilical system to pump the biosolids directly to the land application equipment. This approach eliminates the fuel consumption, dust, traffic and nuisance of the previous process.

Strike the Right Balance

Water resource recovery facilities are critical parts of any municipality, but they can face challenges in securing the public support needed to raise funds. WRRF projects must make every effort to reduce costs while maximizing value, and many municipalities find that a modernized design can often improve operational efficiency and drive rates down.

Smart design is critical in achieving this balance, and this is an area where HR Green can help. To learn more about innovative solutions to modernize your water resource recovery facility, contact us today.

4 Common Construction Efficiency Failures and How to Avoid Them

Posted on August 10, 2021May 5, 2022 by Heidi Whitver

After months or even years of careful design work, the construction phase of an infrastructure project can feel like one long struggle to mitigate potential schedule delays. With construction being the most visible phase of an infrastructure project, any delays in the schedule can place tremendous stress on those officials responsible for delivering the project. Avoiding inefficiencies is key to keeping projects on schedule and keeping the public traveling smoothly.

While there’s no accounting for the unexpected, there are a number of common sources of construction delays that, with appropriate upfront planning, can be easily avoided. By involving construction professionals early in the design phase, project teams can better identify areas for implementing greater levels of construction efficiency.

Consider these top four sources of construction inefficiency that a knowledgeable construction partner can help you navigate.

1. Utility Relocation

Utility coordination, if not implemented early enough, can lead to months of delays and surely derail a construction project schedule. Circumventing a six-month or more delay may mean facing costly redesigns to eliminate the utility conflict. What’s more, this unappealing solution is only possible if the utility infrastructure is moving only a few inches away. Major moves can lead to new problems with other portions of the project.

Yet, utility coordination is a necessary part of virtually every construction job. So, how do you avoid this construction efficiency buster?

Beginning utility coordination during the design phase is the best way to identify utilities for relocation before they become an issue during construction. The sooner these conflicts are found, the less impact they will have on the project schedule. By moving utility coordination to the design phase, utilities gain time to put this coordination on their schedule. Agencies can wait to solicit contractor bids on the project until it’s confirmed that the utilities are out of the way.

This efficiency challenge can also be addressed by having a subsurface utility exploration (SUE) process in place early in the design phase. Being able to do subsurface exploration can help verify that no new utilities have gone in even after design phase utility coordination. It’s a useful tool for determining the exact location of the utility.

Finally, contractors may also have the option of resequencing the project phases if utility issues are identified early enough in the construction phase. By building other portions of the project first, contractors can buy utilities time to relocate infrastructure and keep progress going on the project.

2. Permit Applications

From Section 404, DNR permits, railroad right of entry or Army Corps permits, permitting is a part of every construction process. However, some permits can be more challenging to obtain than others. For example, an Army Corps or railroad right of entry permits can take six months to a year to process. If your design team is not considering the permit needed to, say, build a bridge across a small stream several months into construction, then you might as well brace yourself for big delays.

Fortunately, the solution here is simple, even if it’s too often overlooked. To maximize construction efficiency, contractors must prioritize obtaining permits as early as possible. In most instances, it is possible to identify which permits will be required as early as the design phase. In other cases, it’s not so easy. The Army Corps permits mentioned above will likely require plans on how the work will be done. It’s best to confirm that these documents are as complete as possible so that what may be a six-month process is not inadvertently doubled when the permit office reports that information is missing, and the process must begin again.

Working with an experienced construction engineering and inspection (CEI) firm well versed in permitting requirements can give public agencies and municipalities an edge in construction efficiency. While rephasing projects can sometimes help avoid delays due to permitting, the best policy is to have your contractor file permits as soon as they get the job and coordinate with the permitting agency to verify that they have everything they need to move the process forward.

3. Constructability Reviews

A constructability review performed during the design phase by a construction professional can be a valuable asset in making sure that the infrastructure design is buildable. This is the ideal time to check quantities, search the schedule to identify potential impacts to the schedule, or opportunities to optimize phasing and confirm that there’s adequate space to develop a work zone.

Yet, constructability reviews are one of those details that are forgotten, rushed, or omitted to save time. As the project team hurries from design to construction, the constructability review is one of the first pieces to get thrown off schedule. However, in saving time upfront, project teams miss out on an early opportunity to identify time and cost savings opportunities.

A construction engineer is apt to view the plans in a different way than a design professional. While the design team must take a broad view of the project and focus on the overall function when the infrastructure is complete, the construction engineer is considering the nuts and bolts of how to build the project. The constructability review is an opportunity to identify areas where planning wasn’t fully fleshed out or quantity errors were made. By identifying those potential impacts and costs early on, it becomes easier to develop solutions to mitigate them. Having a construction engineer’s perspective before the project progresses to construction provides tremendous value in boosting construction efficiency.

4. Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) Staging

There’s tremendous potential to improve construction efficiency simply by reorganizing a project’s phasing. Working on multiple stages at the same time, combining several smaller stages into one, or working in a different sequence that makes more sense can be the difference between finishing a project on schedule versus experiencing delays. While these options are typically considered early in the design phase, significant benefits can be realized by involving a construction engineer who can leverage their construction perspective for MOT. The type of equipment to use and available manpower will have an impact on the efficiency of the ultimate MOT staging sequence.

The owner’s priorities will also impact staging. For example, in the proposed construction staging of the Harris County Toll Road Authority’s (HCTRA) four direct connectors at the SH 249/SH 99 interchange, HR Green identified 15 separate substages. Initially, the stages were laid out linearly, with each stage completed before the next stage begins. For this project, HCTRA had prioritized time savings, so the construction team identified stages that could be resequenced and constructed at the same time with minimal conflict.

Working on much of the entire job concurrently also affords the contractor flexibility to schedule their crews to perform required tasks more efficiently throughout the project limits while meeting the need for time savings.

On the other hand, if the client had wanted to prioritize cost reductions, the construction team could identify ways to perform work in fewer stages that would reduce the cost of, for example, bringing in more barriers to establish separate work zones.

Save More Time With the Right Partner

Construction efficiency is key in keeping projects on schedule, which in turn can reduce the likelihood of cost overruns. While an experienced contractor can pivot in the face of the unexpected, a truly savvy construction engineering partner will plan upfront to reduce the odds of impacts that derail the schedule.

If you’re looking for a partner to drive your next project to greater levels of construction efficiency, contact HR Green today.

Redefining “Complete Streets”

Posted on July 7, 2021May 5, 2022 by Heidi Whitver

Let’s Redefine “Complete Streets”

Lookup any definition of “Complete Streets” and you’ll find discussion about how complete streets are designed in response to any setting’s unique context. A small community in a rural setting will have a different complete street than the urban core of a large metropolitan area.

That said, the definition provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation is representative of the standard: “Complete Streets are streets designed and operated to enable safe use and support mobility for all users. Those include people of all ages and abilities, regardless of whether they are traveling as drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, or public transportation riders.” In this view of complete streets, clearly, the focus is on maximizing modes of transportation that are carried through a corridor’s constrained environment.

However, this somewhat narrow view of a street’s functionality is in need of a broader perspective. Current trends in transportation and community planning are expanding the discussion beyond safety and level of service into areas such as equity and environmental justice, climate change, sustainability, and optimizing the street’s footprint for multi-modal and non-transportation functions.

Here are three key considerations that are leading to an evolving definition of Complete Streets:

1. Street Right-of-Way as an Asset

The City of Minneapolis recently updated its Transportation Action Plan. Recognizing that a full 22% of the City’s landmass is dedicated to street rights of way, Minneapolis is committed to unlocking the potential of its streets as an asset for broader purposes. The new plan addresses a variety of inequities in how streets are used across the city – for example, a renewed emphasis on green space is identified as a measure to provide better stormwater management measures and to reduce the heating effects of pavement. Areas of low vegetative cover (often associated with areas of concentrated poverty) tend to be warmer during hot summer months.

FHWA is also supporting possibilities for “leveraging alternative uses” of right-of-way. An April 2021 memorandum from FHWA provides guidance to State DOTs on potential uses of highway right-of-way. As driving reasons for this guidance, FHWA has identified “pressing public needs relating to climate change, equitable communications access, and energy reliability” that will benefit from consistently applied, programmatic guidance to enable solutions to these needs. FHWA’s initial guidance relates to possibilities around the development of renewable energy projects and the goal of better-utilizing highway right-of-way for the “full value and productivity” of the asset.

2. Multiple Functions, Limited Space

As referenced, the effects of our changing climate have impacted our daily lives and the infrastructure needed to function as a community. One of the areas this has become most noticeable is in precipitation patterns, where rainfall events are frequently more intense than ever before. Traditional street design is often overwhelmed by rainfall and the result is more flooding. Greater emphasis is now placed on incorporating green features such as permeable pavement, rain gardens, vegetated curb areas, and sidewalk trees. These green streetscape design elements help to efficiently capture and manage rainwater where it falls instead of relying upon a limited storm sewer system to convey water elsewhere.

As we try to extract more functions from our streets, technology solutions offer new opportunities to not only maintain but to improve the operational aspects of streets. With relatively minor space requirements, the incorporation of broadband, fiber, and “Internet of Things” tools into a corridor can open new doors for congestion management, parking systems, lighting, and asset management among other benefits, while also providing a critical piece of infrastructure for the entire community.

In addition to providing benefits today, other emerging areas are expected as we see advancements in autonomous vehicles and transits systems. Technology infrastructure needs to be embraced in today’s construction so that the future “smart street” can be implemented with minimal investment. The City of Boulder, Colorado has captured the vision of a smart street in the following depiction.

3. Never forget safety!

Any vision for a Complete Street must continue to embrace the “vision zero” approach for safety. Pedestrian safety concerns have only risen over the last decade, with a 46% increase in the number of fatalities from 2010 to 2019. Preliminary results from 2020 suggest pedestrian fatalities increased nearly 5% this past year despite an overall decrease in vehicle miles traveled (ghsa.org).

Smart Growth for America captures this intent in Complete Streets well with the following proclamation: “By adopting a Complete Streets policy, communities direct their transportation planners and engineers to routinely design and operate the entire right of way to prioritize safer slower speeds for all people who use the road, over high speeds for motor vehicles. This means that every transportation project will make the street network better and safer for people walking, biking, driving, riding transit, and moving actively with assistive devices—making your town a better place to live.”

In Oakland, CA, the city took advantage of an opportunity from the COVID-19 pandemic to create a “Slow Streets” program. The hallmark of this program was to quickly implement street and intersection improvements with signing and low-cost barriers to create pedestrian-friendly zones. While creating space for social distancing measures was a key objective, multiple other benefits were quickly realized across the community.

The safe spaces created by reducing congestion in parks and trails appear to have been popular among residents of Oakland in initial surveys. The city is continuing to evaluate the Slow Streets program and is exploring more permanent improvements after seeing some of the early successes diminished by removed or knocked-down temporary barricades.

The movement toward slower speeds has come to fruition in places like Minneapolis-Saint Paul, where both cities recently reduced the speed limit on all unmarked residential city streets to 20 miles per hour.

Similar to what Oakland has done, the City of Saint Paul has taken lessons learned from 2020 lane closures and continued the measure at some of its most popular recreational areas in 2021. As shown in these pictures, Saint Paul has closed one lane of its popular Mississippi River Boulevard to provide more space for recreational activities. The closure is part of an ongoing community discussion about how to balance the recreational, access, and transportation functions that residents and commuters depend upon for this valued corridor.

How will you redefine your Complete Street?

As you prepare for street corridor improvements in your community, think about these three criteria: 1) how is your street right of way being used as an asset? 2) What functions can you incorporate beyond traditional modes of transportation?, and 3) How will your Complete Street improve safety for all users? As shown in the examples, sometimes temporary measures are appropriate, so that surveys can evaluate public receptivity to changes. At other times, you may need to work with local leaders to understand resource gaps, community needs, or long-term plans to identify creative solutions that optimize your use of the public right-of-way.

So whether it’s a Smart Street, a Green Street, or a Slow Street, the collective momentum for a redefinition of Complete Street is clear. Technology, environment, and social attitudes are changing what it means to “use” a street. As transportation planners and engineers, our opportunity is clear: now is the time to make a long-term positive impact on our communities by creating streets that truly meet the needs of all users.

The Race to Broadband Infrastructure: America’s Next Challenge

Posted on June 10, 2021March 18, 2025 by Heidi Whitver

It is estimated that as many as 42 million Americans lack high-speed internet service or reliable broadband infrastructure. While millions more have it, because of heavy usage or poor network design, it is far from “high speed.” One major impact of the pandemic is that it has shown there is a clear need for strong and resilient infrastructure. This is true for buildings, roads, bridges, utilities, and particularly broadband networks.

While a few years ago broadband was considered important for consumers who used it mainly to stream entertainment, the shutdown of 2020 made reliable high-speed internet critical to people working from home, attending school through remote learning, and conducting telemedicine appointments with their doctors.

Government has tried to address this with funding for broadband expansion in 2020’s CARES Act, the Covid-19 Relief Act, and even with the American Rescue Plan Act, which allows local governments to utilize funds to study and implement broadband improvements. The infrastructure bill being developed for 2021 goes even farther, promising to bring broadband access to the entire nation.

What’s clear today is that broadband is another utility, just as vital as power and water.

And besides its use for homes and businesses, there is a demand for broadband to build the smart infrastructure that improves emergency services, traffic control, and other systems. The challenge for municipal executives is taking an active role in meeting their community’s communications infrastructure needs are met, all while developing the plan to actually make it happen.

Consider developing a Master Plan to study the alternatives to improve connectivity in your community with a phased approach to fiber assets. This study and resulting Master Plan will facilitate the goals of the community, enable connectivity for community partners, and evaluate technological and financial approaches that allow your community to enable improved services for both residents and businesses. A Master Plan should include specific deliverables and tasks, defined in a cross-functional arrangement with your community’s various departments, residents, businesses, and other institutions and area governmental agencies to create your best path forward. Importantly, having a Master Plan gets your projects “shovel ready” to pursue funding as it becomes available.
An important first task is performing an evaluation of your existing system. This task may uncover potential assets that the community already has in place that can be utilized in a community-wide connectivity program. Or, this step may highlight where the deployment of a fiber network can improve traffic networks, emergency response connectivity, or streetlight assets that can be connected to enhance resident and visitor experiences.
Public outreach is another important component to developing your strategy and phased approach. Surveys that invite residents’ and businesses’ participation give you keen insight into current service and satisfaction levels, while marrying these aspects up to the level of importance that the public places on their connectivity. What you may find during this step is that the public is willing to support potential municipal involvement in the provision of services, and this may help you define your financial strategies as well.
Perform a review of funding alternatives during your approach. Your engineering partner should conduct a review of federal grant programs that may be available to support your community’s deployment of fiber optic connectivity. Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grants are an example of a source to pursue, as projects that focus on traffic, signal, and corridor improvements can also support a fiber optic interconnect that can serve as a backbone to further deployment.

To truly understand whether a system can be built and operated in a way that meets your community’s goals for connectivity while providing support for overall improvement in broadband service to homes and networks, study the financial feasibility of the project. Several models could be pursued, including:

Core Connectivity which connects city-owned assets exclusively;
Core and Anchor, which extends the city network to connect schools, libraries, and anchor institutions, and;
Community Broadband which extends the network with the city either directly owning and operating a broadband enterprise – or creating public-private partnerships – to provide service to residents and businesses.

With all models, your engineering partner should design and analyze the financial viability of deployment, outline the system requirements, and have the capability to complete detailed financial analysis to determine the long-term viability of the system and mitigate risks to the community.

Let’s have a conversation to help quantify your community’s needs, establish a vision to guide a path forward, and create a Master Plan that achieves your future needs. Communities that not only adopt but deploy broadband infrastructure resources to solve connectivity challenges are at a significant advantage to those who merely hope the private sector will work towards the same goals.

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Solving Repetitive Flooding in a Historic, Re-Developing Area Next Door to Downtown Houston

Posted on June 4, 2021May 4, 2022 by Heidi Whitver

The Build Houston Forward Initiative (formerly ReBuild Houston) is the City of Houston’s voter approved pay-as-you-go plan to rebuild drainage and street infrastructure.

Its goal is to improve the quality of life and mobility for residents through the reconstruction and proper maintenance of drainage and street improvements. From daily repairs like fixing potholes, to major reconstruction, the program makes sure the infrastructure is serving the community now and in the future.

The Montrose and Midtown Area Drainage and Paving Project is an active example of collaborative project success.

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Solving Repetitive Flooding in a Historic, Re-Developing Area Next Door to Downtown Houston by HR Green’s Steve Sparks. Posted with copyright permission from Texas ASCE.