Equipment Condition and Due Diligence Assessments

During the assessments of the equipment, our team evaluates the efficiency and performance of existing vertical transportation systems and then provides recommendations for capital expenditures.

Tailored to each facility’s needs, our vertical transportation solutions are efficient, safe, and built for the future. Reach out to our experts for vertical transportation consulting!

The post Elevate Your Building: Benefits of Retaining a Vertical Transportation Consultant appeared first on Walker Consultants.

Sara Holcomb, PE, a QEWI, in our New York City office, has worked on numerous façade inspection and restoration projects across the five boroughs of New York City. Catering to commercial, residential, hospitality, and historic properties, she is well-equipped to offer strategic advice, detailed project management, and expert oversight. Our QEWI’s expertise can help your building’s exterior comply with DOB standards.

The Façade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) façade ordinance originated out of NYC legislation intended to protect the public health and safety from the risks of falling and deteriorated façade materials, due to aging building stock in New York City.

The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) first instituted a façade-related inspection ordinance, referred to as Local Law 10 in 1980, when a piece of masonry debris fell and killed a pedestrian on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Later amended and known as “Local Law 11”, the ordinance mandated maintenance and necessitated buildings to be classified as either “Safe”, “Safe with a Repair and Maintenance Plan (SWARMP)” or Unsafe. Over the last 44 years, well-publicized façade failures and resulting tragedies involving fatalities or injuries have expanded the complexity and strictness of these inspections and report filing requirements surrounding the NYC façade ordinance.

The post FISP Made Easy: Our QEWI-Led Team for NYC DOB FISP is Here to Guide You appeared first on Walker Consultants.

Al Bustamante, PE has been promoted to Executive Vice President. In this role, Al will guide Walker’s continued innovation and set the standard for excellence in the industry. Al has over 20 years of experience in the evaluation, testing, and design repairs of a variety of structural, architectural, and material distress related projects.

Sean Connolly, RA, RBEC, RRC, RWC, REWC, CCS has been promoted to National Director of Building Envelope where he will focus on the innovation and continued excellence of our building envelope services. Sean’s expertise is in the entire building envelope including above- and below-grade waterproofing, exterior walls (including fenestration systems) and roofing for new and existing structures.

Nicholas Frezza, RA, NCARB in our New York City office, has been promoted to Director of Consulting. In his new role, Nick will oversee projects, grow the firm’s new design consulting practices, and employ his expertise to provide a positive impact for our clients on their projects. He has over 15 years of experience in parking garage design, master planning, parking planning, feasibility studies, parking operations, and technology consulting.

Matt Hunt, PE, has been promoted to Vice President. With Walker for 28 years, he serves as Walker’s National Technical Director for Forensics, Restoration & Building Envelope, maintaining and continually improving our technical quality for forensics, restoration, and building envelope projects, including designs, drawings, specifications, and reports, with the aim of continually improving service to our clients and developing staff.

Adam Levesque, PE is now a Principal of the firm. Adam is Director of Restoration in our Boston office and has over 20 years of experience in rehabilitating, assessing, and designing building structures. Adam’s responsibilities include client interface, project management, and restoration program development.

Chrissy Mancini Nichols is now a Principal of the firm. Chrissy Mancini Nichols is Walker’s National Director for Curb Management and New Mobility. She works with local and regional governments, transit agencies, and public-private partnerships to enhance transportation systems, optimize curb space, and drive sustainable urban mobility initiatives.

Jim Pudleiner, PE has been promoted to Managing Director of the Northeast Region, overseeing our Northeast regional offices, including new design, restoration, and study services. Jim plays an integral part in providing project planning, scheduling, and quality assurance to Walker’s clients.

Sepehr Sabooree, PE has been promoted to National Director of Property Condition Assessments where he will focus on the expansion of our Property Condition Assessment services. Sepehr has helped building owners to develop budgets to address identified issues and assist with the design repairs and restoration.

Mark Santos, PE, CAPP, is now a Principal of the firm. Mark is Director of Operations for Walker’s Fort Lauderdale office and has more than 22 years of experience in parking planning, design, and restoration.

Kevin White, AICP, CAPP, in our Minneapolis office, has been promoted to Director of Planning. In this role, he will oversee projects and growth of planning services. He specializes in parking and mobility planning, curbside management, and transportation demand management, with a focus on efficiency, user behavior, and the integration of all modes of transportation.

The post Walker Consultants Announces Promotions appeared first on Walker Consultants.

The goal of TDM is to change the culture, or at least change the behaviors of a portion of your commuters, so that they consider transportation modes other than driving alone.

We’ve found that a good TDM program strikes a fine balance between the demand for adequate parking, a concern for traffic flow, commitments to sustainability, and the ability to afford the additional parking infrastructure.

In developing a TDM plan, we consider the following alternative transportation modes and demand reduction concepts:

• Biking, safe bike infrastructure, and secure bike parking
• Walking and safe sidewalks/paths
• Transit and shuttles
• Carpooling/Vanpooling (including preferential parking for carpools)
• Support services that make it easier to use TDM programs, such as:
  • Ride matching services for carpools/vanpools
  • Occasional parking privileges
  • Guaranteed ride home
• Ride-hailing apps
• Remote work policies
• Modification of parking policies, including fees and allocations
• Education programs, marketing campaigns, and supporting materials

Our process for developing TDM plans is both quantitative and qualitative, including data collection, community engagement, surveys of behaviors and preferences, field observations, and environmental scans of TDM programs and infrastructure (and/or their potential).

Here are a few examples of how we’ve put these concepts into actionable plans for our clients:

• Texas A&M University
• University of Iowa
• Cal Poly

Ready to learn more about how TDM can help you? Contact David Lieb, TDM-CP for a friendly chat about your options.

The post Why Consider Transportation Demand Management? appeared first on Walker Consultants.

The Noah Hillman Garage in downtown Annapolis, MD received an Apex Award for Architectural Design. Walker was the prime designer and structural engineer of record. We also provided a financial feasibility analysis, MEP/FP engineering, and signage/graphic design.

The Virginia Hospital Center (VHC Health) Outpatient Pavilion Garage received an Apex Award for Stand-Alone Facility Design. Walker was the engineer of record and provided functional design, structural and MEP engineering, APGS and PARCS design, and architectural detailing.

Congratulations to the Walker teams and our partners!

The post Two Walker Projects Win IPMI Awards appeared first on Walker Consultants.

Roof Maintenance is Key

Roofs are particularly susceptible to winter damage. Regardless of age, roofs in northern climates endure months under snow and ice. This exposure can compromise the integrity of vent stacks, sealant pockets, and expansion joints, often leading to seal failures and damage to flashings due to ice expansion and contraction. Moisture can infiltrate these compromised areas, potentially causing significant internal damage. It’s vital to inspect your roof as the winter ice recedes to identify and remedy any issues before the spring rains exacerbate them.

Examine Your Exterior Walls

Exterior walls endure repetitive freeze/thaw cycles that can lead to a variety of structural issues, including cracks, spalling mortar, and shifting materials. These symptoms not only signal water intrusion but may also indicate more severe structural problems like failed anchorages or corroded support steel. It’s important to have these potential risks assessed by a licensed engineer or architect to ensure the structural integrity of your building.

Don’t Overlook Parking Facilities

Parking facilities, often being more exposed, face a range of weather-related distresses. Issues such as concrete cracking, dislodged concrete, and damaged joints or sealants are common and can be exacerbated by plowing and erosion. Addressing these problems promptly can prevent further deterioration and extend the lifespan of the structure.

Maintenance Action Plan

As the weather clears, take the time to review the condition of your structures. Identifying the root causes of winter-induced damages and developing cost-effective repair strategies are essential steps in extending the longevity of your buildings.

Let Walker Consultants assist you in navigating the complexities of building maintenance this spring. Our expertise can help enhance the protection of your assets throughout the year.

The post Spring into Building Maintenance: A Proactive Guide appeared first on Walker Consultants.

A project that began as a water intrusion investigation led to the discovery of structural issues that were resolved through team work and coordination between the engineering consultant, contractor, and owner. Now, Marina Place has a properly installed, warranted waterproofing system that will protect the strengthened concrete structure and protect the building and owners’ homes from water intrusion.

To read the article, please check out the Concrete Repair Bulletin.

To hear Matt and the client talk about the project, watch Walker’s project video!

The post Condominium Rehabilitation Project Profile Feature appeared first on Walker Consultants.

Walker Consultants is providing this assistance at no cost to transit agencies thanks to funding support from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This assistance provided in partnership with Caltrans and the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency.

Email us at zeroemissions@walkerconsultants.com to discuss how Walker Consultants can provide no-cost planning and technical support as you prepare your FTA Zero-Emissions Fleet Plan.

Resources

• FTA Zero-Emission Fleet Transition Plan Guide—A guide for transit agencies to follow when preparing their FTA Zero-Emission Fleet Transition Plan
• New—ZEV Funding Source Matrix—A list of potential funding sources that transit agencies can use to fund ZEV vehicles and infrastructure
• New—Zero Emissions Bus Technology Fact Sheet—An introduction to battery electric bus (BEB) and fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) technology with best practices, considerations for implementation, and resources for transit agencies

What do transit agencies need to do?

This guide is intended for California public transit agencies that have an approved CARB ZEB Rollout Plan.

A completed CARB ZEB Rollout Plan has many of the same components required by the FTA Zero-Emission Fleet Transition Plan. California transit agencies can use their CARB ZEB Rollout Plan as a starting point to satisfy the FTA requirements, with additional information in a cover letter or addendum. This additional information includes identifying where the CARB plan answers the six FTA-required elements and/or adds any missing elements.

Agencies can use the FTA Zero-Emissions Plan Template and the FTA Zero-Emission Fleet Transition Plan Guide to produce a cover letter/addendum to their CARB ZEB Rollout Plan to fulfill FTA’s requirements.

Download the plan guide from the link at the top or bottom of this page. We’ll provide the plan template after you contact us.

Why do transit agencies need to do this?

The State of California’s Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation was enacted on October 1, 2019. It requires that all public transit agencies gradually transition their fleets to zero-emission technologies. Starting in 2029, 100 percent of all transit agencies’ new bus purchases must be Zero-Emission Buses (ZEBs), with a goal of complete transition to ZEBs by 2040. The ICT regulation requires each transit agency to prepare a ZEB Rollout Plan, which should have been submitted by July 1, 2023. The California Air Resource Board (CARB) issued the ZEB Rollout Plan Guidance for Transit Agencies (“CARB ZEB Rollout Plan Guidance”), last updated on January 9, 2020, which provided California transit agencies with a template for preparing these plans.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law amended the statutory provisions for the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program (49 U.S.C. § 5339(b)) and the Low or No Emission Program (49 U.S.C. § 5339(c)) to include a requirement that any application for projects related to zero-emission vehicles include a Zero-Emission Transition Plan.

What are the six key elements of a plan?

The Federal Transit Administration Zero-Emission Fleet Transition Plan has six required elements:

1. Demonstrate a long-term fleet management plan with a strategy for how the applicant intends to use the current application and future acquisitions.
2. Address the availability of current and future resources to meet costs for the transition and implementation.
3. Consider policy and legislation impacting relevant technologies.
4. Include an evaluation of existing and future facilities and their relationship to the technology transition.
5. Describe the partnership of the applicant with the utility or alternative fuel provider.
6. Examine the impact of the transition on the applicant’s current workforce by identifying skill gaps, training needs, and retraining needs of the existing workers of the applicant to operate and maintain zero-emission vehicles and related infrastructure and avoid displacement of the existing workforce.

What do we need to create your plan?

1. Final CARB Zero-Emission Bus Rollout Plan
2. Information about any policies that the transit agency has related to zero-emissions vehicles.
3. Information about if and how the transit agency has coordinated with the utility or alternative fuel provider, such as the following:
   1. Letter of support from the utility or alternative fuel provider for the FTA funding the transit agency is applying for.
   2. Examples of the partnership between the utility provider and transit agency, such as:
      1. Past projects where you have worked with the utility/alternative fuel provider to install infrastructure.
      2. Planning efforts where the utility/alternative fuel provider participated in your project advisory committee.
      3. Coordination with utility provider to identify electric grid capacity and to identify electrical infrastructure upgrades necessary.
      4. Resiliency planning efforts with the utility/alternative fuel provider.
      5. Coordination meetings and/or communications with the utility/alternative fuel provider.
      6. Coordination between the utility/alternative fuel provider on charge/fueling rates.
   3. Identification of any incentive programs offered by the utility or alternative fuel provider, and programs that the transit agency participates in.
4. Additional information may be required as we review your CARB plan for compliance with FTA requirements.

Ready to work on a plan? Email us at zeroemissions@walkerconsultants.com to discuss how Walker Consultants can provide no-cost planning and technical support as you prepare your FTA Zero-Emissions Fleet Plan.

Download our FTA Zero-Emission Fleet Transition Plan Guide. We’ll provide the plan template after you contact us.

The post Zero-Emissions Fleet Plans for CA Transit Agencies appeared first on Walker Consultants.

The magazine also features an article by Mark Santos about how to overcome doubts about one’s experience because of their age. And, the Ask the Experts section includes insight from Mary Smith and Erik Nelson about the ongoing evolution of mobility options in our cities.

The post Belmont Park featured in Parking & Mobility appeared first on Walker Consultants.

Embracing the future of transportation, offering electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) at your parking facility adds to its level of service and represents a forward-thinking commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction. As you consider the integration of EVCS into your facilities, Walker Consultants is ready to guide you towards a greener, more efficient tomorrow.

The post Be Ready for Today and Tomorrow with EVCS appeared first on Walker Consultants.