Experts Talk Transportation

An Interview Series Exploring New Trends and Approaches

Experts Talk is an interview series with technical leaders from across our transportation practice, focusing on some of the most pressing concerns and disruptive trends affecting the industry today. Each interview illuminates a different aspect of transportation infrastructure planning, design and delivery, including:

Check back regularly to gain insights from specialized experts and thought leaders behind our award-winning, full-service consulting practice. Contact HDRTransportation [at] hdrinc.com for more information.

Technology Planning & Integration

BIM and 3D Design in the Field

3D design is fundamentally changing the way that transportation projects are delivered. Nationally recognized BIM expert Alexa Mitchell explains how the technology will affect those using new applications in the field, what designers and owners need to know and the benefits of these new models.

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Staying Up to Date on ITS

Modern technology keeps us safer, gets us to destinations more efficiently and causes less harm to the environment. Joey Yang, director of HDR's transportation technology practice, shares the background of intelligent transportation, its trends and where it's going from here.

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Transportation Systems Management and Operations

Systemically using creative TSMO strategies can improve transportation infrastructure, and planners and engineers can find ways to do more with less — and do it smarter. Senior transportation project manager Matthew Volz talks about how to find efficient ways to handle transportation problems and inefficiencies.

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All-Electronic Tolling for Managed Lanes and Toll Roads

As electronic tolling technologies have developed over the last decade, transportation professionals are seeing a switch from manual toll collection to all-electronic tolling collections. Engineer Phil Riggio answers four questions about the advancements taking place in AET for managed lanes and toll roads.

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Integrated Bridge Systems

Engineers developing intelligent transportation systems or structural health monitoring for bridges today need to constantly leverage emerging technologies to enhance public safety. We asked engineer Michael Whalen how the advanced technologies used in today’s integrated bridge systems benefit both the public and owner-operators.

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Structural Health Monitoring

Structural health monitoring technology is more user-friendly than ever, making it possible to design and manage infrastructure assets to maximize value and make efficient use of maintenance resources. Engineer Duncan Paterson shares how structural health monitoring has changed in recent years and how that has influenced bridge design.

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Emerging Mobility

Wireless Power Transfer and Electric Vehicle Applications

Wireless power transfer offers the possibility of sending power to electric vehicles through the air, with no cord, no cable, no plugs. Electronics systems expert Thomas Stout explains how some transportation agencies are already using this technology and why all planners should be paying attention.

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Preparing Communities for Electric Vehicles

Communities are embracing the potential of electric vehicles to help meet air quality and emissions goals. Zero emissions mobility expert Rob Mowat discusses the need for community preparedness plans and explains why smart community leaders should begin working on this now.

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Funding Strategies for Zero Emissions Fleet Conversions

Fleet owners across the U.S. have embraced the possibilities of converting their vehicles to zero emission fuels and now are exploring how to pay for it. Financial expert Eric Rouse discusses the role of financial planning in fleet conversions, funding options and why it makes sense to start the process now.

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Connected and Automated Vehicle Microsimulation

What impact will connected and automated vehicles have on transportation agencies' infrastructure? Senior traffic engineer Mike Forsberg shares how microsimulation holds almost limitless potential to help agency leaders make better-informed decisions.

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Electric Fleet Charging Infrastructure Design

Converting a fleet to all-electric involves a lot more than buying new vehicles and accepting the charge they provide. Engineer and project manager Sean Everett explores how to design infrastructure and operating protocols that match the right charging strategy to manage electric demand and ensure a smooth transition.

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Impact of Autonomous Vehicles on Urban Transit

Autonomous vehicles expected to play an ever greater role in public transit options, improving access and boosting services for citizens. What are the impacts for government agencies, and what about others who share the roads? Josh Sikich, a transportation technology program manager explores that and more.

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Implications of AV/CVs on City Development

Emerging technologies, such as automated and connected vehicle adoption, can maximize land use and minimize long-term maintenance costs due to high-density development. Transportation planner Justin Robbins discusses how these disruptive technologies could reshape the way that cities are planned.

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Alternative Project Delivery

Mega Project Management for Signature Bridge Delivery

Designers of important, signature bridges also must be able to develop innovative solutions, coordinate multi-national design teams and execute comprehensive quality plans throughout the entire delivery process. Project manager and engineer Jeff Han talks about using highly technical teams to manage quality and risk on large-scale projects.

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Accelerated Bridge Construction

Applying the techniques used in accelerated bridge construction to some or all structural members can expand design possibilities while safely accelerating delivery. If speed is the highest priority, senior bridge engineer Nick Burdette explains how we can replace bridges very quickly, sometimes in as little as a weekend.

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Sustainability & Resiliency

The Economics of Sustainability and Resiliency

Resiliency and sustainability planning makes good financial sense — just ask an economist. Pamela Yonkin, ENV SP, has decades of experience performing economic analyses of transportation projects and shares what projects benefit from resiliency planning, the benefits provided and how economics is intertwined.

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Seismic Resiliency in Bridge Design

Using seismic analysis in bridge design and retrofits can create safer, more sustainable structures at similar construction costs. Bridge engineer Kuang Lim, who's worked on some of the most recognizable bridges in the nation, explains why seismic considerations are important, even outside of earthquake-prone areas.

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Durable Airfield Pavement Solutions

With increasingly tight budgets for airfield pavement construction, renovations and repairs, it’s vital to ensure that new pavement is durable. Senior airfield paving engineer BJ Skar discusses how to tailor projects to each unique airfield and create pavement projects that will serve airport facilities for decades.

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Project Planning & Design

Form Finding for Signature Bridges

Signature bridge projects can be opportunities to reconnect neighborhoods and create a unique sense of place, but the challenges can seem intimidating. Bridge architect Michael Fitzpatrick explains how he finds consensus, shapes solutions and weaves aesthetics with community features to design structures that evoke the character of an area.

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Planning and Environmental Linkages

Planning and environment linkage studies are becoming increasingly popular with state and local transportation agencies, but are still fairly new. Many agencies are wondering when it makes the most sense to use this tool. PEL experts Gina McAfee and Jason Longsdorf explain the basics of PEL studies, when to consider using them and how the approach can benefit project schedules and funding.

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Transit Capital Investment Grant Funding

Competition is high to secure discretionary grants from the FTA, with more eligible projects than available funding. Experienced transit project manager Mark Fuhrmann explains the Capital Investment Grants program, shares insights on creating successful applications and describes the biggest hurdles for agencies pursuing these grants.

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Performance-Based Practical Design

Each transportation project has a unique purpose and needs, and performance-based practical design helps agencies find the most cost-effective solution to the specific challenges of a project. Transportation planner Jon Markt shares how agencies can seamlessly incorporate this efficient approach and get the most out of it.

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Building Community Support for Complete Streets

Developing a Complete Street corridor often involves evaluating trade-offs and making compromises to reach an acceptable final preferred design with broad community support. Transportation planner Drew Parker offers concrete strategies for partnering with the public for better project support.

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Pilot Projects in Complete Streets Designs

As communities look for more opportunities to use their public spaces in different ways, pilot projects can help to quickly test ideas, engage stakeholders and transform spaces to meet their needs. Complete Streets expert Gregory Adelberg shows how pilot projects can help communities achieve their goals and enhance overall livability, offering insights on how to implement a successful project and where potential pitfalls lie.

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Environmental Justice in Transportation

Public transportation projects play a critical role in providing equity and can determine whether an entire area is accessible to everyone or not. Environmental justice principles provide a way for minority and low-income persons to be an integral part of the planning process. Cathy LaFata explains the environmental justice process and shows why it's important to project success.

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3D Design and Deliverables

As 3D design tools have become more commonplace in the transportation industry, some organizations and agencies are exploring and adopting the use of 3D models as the binding legal deliverable for projects as well. Highways Director Will Sharp discusses this sea change in project design and delivery and its implications for stakeholders.

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Optimizing Airport Construction Safety and Phasing Plans

Engaging stakeholders early and encouraging flexibility can head off problems on airport projects, says aviation expert Joe Grubbs. He describes strategies for getting stakeholders involved in the development of construction safety and phasing plans, and he explains how doing so can help mitigate any potential disruptions.

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Holistic Airport Design

Every airport project, no matter the size or complexity, should take into account how it will affect and be affected by all other aspects of the airport, says veteran aviation architect Kevin Ashton. He explains why collaboration and a big-picture approach are needed to achieve the best, most cohesive design in airports.

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Movable Bridge Solutions

Expert Rob Moses' innovations have influenced the design, inspection and rehabilitation of more than 200 bascule, swing and vertical-lift bridges, and other movable structures, including retractable stadium roofs. He talks about the emerging technologies that will impact movable bridges and the operations and maintenance schedules that make them unique.

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Bridge Innovation through Collaboration

The most successful innovations are born through smart collaboration, when unique perspectives join together toward a common goal that benefits all team members. Learn from Tammy Heffron, one of our regional bridge leaders, about the keys to a successful collaborative process and how to grow ideas into solutions.

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Bridge Design Innovation

“Because we’ve always done it this way,” is not part of bridge engineer Manuel Carballo’s vocabulary. We talked with him about how bridge design is evolving and how innovative design is dependent on the people who drive it.

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