Blog 1 of 4 about the Empire State Trail The Empire State Trail will be the longest multi-use trail in the US. In her own words, hear from Lindsay Zefting, the project manager and one of Alta’s senior engineers working on this groundbreaking project. Q: The Empire State Trail is one of the biggest projects […]
To celebrate National Engineers Week, we’re highlighting a different project each day, showing the innovative ways our engineers create active, healthy communities. See which projects have already been shared below, and check back each day for updates throughout the week! 1. Coachella Valley Link The Coachella Valley Link is an innovative, multimodal facility of national […]
By: Marisa DeMull, EIT, Engineer, Alta Planning + Design Revelations are rare in our industry. Transportation engineers are not known for being swift and bold; instead we focus on precision and consistency. As designers, we design our projects using various guidelines such as the AASHTO Green Book and Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. We […]
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), speeding is one of the most common factors in motor vehicle crashes in the US. The NTSB reported that more than 112,500 people died in speeding-related US highway crashes from 2005–2014. Speeding is the cause of 10,000 deaths on US roadways each year. High speeds have especially […]
Improving our communities for active transportation requires change. This change must occur at a political level, continue to be supported at the staff level, and be accepted by the public in order to achieve success. This change is frightening for many as it represents extra effort, unknown consequences, and fears of liability, and it requires […]
Photo credit: City of Fort Collins By Joe Gilpin and Tom Natwick, Alta Planning + Design How do cities better serve residents in providing bikeways that will appeal to a wider spectrum of their residents, be safer and induce more use? The vast majority of bicycle involved crashes occur at intersections along collector and arterial streets; […]
If you visit downtown Durham, you will hear the sounds of a booming place, with high-rises under construction and the occasional train that continues through to Raleigh or Charlotte. In the summer, you will hear the cheer of the Durham Bulls crowd. Walk into the 110-year old building at E. Chapel Hill Street and you […]
By John Catoe, PE, LEED AP, Engineer, Alta Planning + Design What’s the best way to stress the importance of what you do to your elected officials? I was presented with a unique opportunity to travel to Washington, DC, and discuss infrastructure with our federal elected leaders and representatives via the American Society of Civil […]
#WalkBikeForward: Join us on our journey honoring key moments and people that have shaped our field as we celebrate 20 years of creating active, healthy communities. Christopher B. Douwes is a Community Planner for the Federal Highway Administration, focusing on the Recreational Trails Program and Transportation Alternatives. Safe, Comfortable, Accessible and Connected for Everyone The biggest […]
By Bryan Jones, PE, AICP, Principal, Alta Planning + Design As a young engineer and planner, I was trained to think these were the top transportation issues: level of service (LOS) C or D, on-going maintenance of roads, funding for expansion of freeways and roads to relieve congestion, perfecting the travel demand model forecasts for […]
