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.

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.

This year’s holiday greeting art was created by Jimmie Geathers of Walker Consultants’ Atlanta office.

The post Happy Holidays! appeared first on Walker Consultants.

The Impact of an Internship in the Parking Industry

President & CEO Dave Ryan, PE shares his story of starting as a summer intern, and why internships and mentoring remain important parts of Walker’s culture.

Planning for Success

Consultant Kevin White AICP, CAPP contributes to an article about the importance of planning in the project life cycle.

Making Parking More Accessible

Project Manager Kevin Waters, AIA is part of a piece about how planning, curb management, design, and operations can contribute to making parking more accessible.

Parking Management Company Hidden Profits

Senior Consultant Will Rhodin discusses the intricacies of parking operator management fee structures, and how certain monthly add-ons can drive up the total cost of an otherwise low fee.

The post Walker Experts Discuss Accessibility, Operator Fees, and Mentorship appeared first on Walker Consultants.

The post Can Waste Latex Paint Improve the Performance of Concrete? appeared first on Walker Consultants.

Active since January 1 of 2022, the ordinance (Administrative Code Article 323, Periodic Inspection of Parking Structures) requires garage owners to have their parking garage inspected by an NYC DOB Qualified Parking Structure Inspector (QPSI), file a report based on the findings, and repair any hazardous conditions.

Owners in New York City are obligated to meet the following location-based filing schedule.

1^st Inspection Cycle

Fees & Penalties

Prevent Garage Failure & Save Money

There’s still time to submit a report! Our New York office has two QPSIs on staff, including the first ever QPSI in NYC, who are ready to help you maintain your parking structure.

With over 20 years of experience, Ibrahim possess a deep understanding of the parking structure lifecycle, the maintenance necessary for long-term durability, and what costly mistakes to avoid. He is supported by a dedicated team of restoration experts and backed by over 300 professionals across 25+ offices.

Walker’s nationwide condition assessments, asset management plans, and repair designs have been helping government, private, and institutional clients extend the lifespan of their facilities for over 55 years.

We’ll Guide You Through the Ordinance

Maintain Occupancy Permits & Expand the Lifespan of Your Property

Condition Assessment Report

Walker’s professional staff will assess the current condition of your garage, conduct appropriate testing, identify potentially hazardous conditions, and determine the extent and cause of deterioration, if any. Our team of experts then composes the condition assessment report and files it with the NYC DOB. Finally, the team assigned to each project works closely with clients to arrive at an implementable course of action.

Annual Observation Checklist

Proper and timely actions can minimize premature failure of building components. Walker will prepare an observation checklist that owners or their agents must record annually to comply with the ordinance. We have significant experience in the assessment of deterioration in new and existing parking structures, and our staff will prepare a customized observation checklists specific to your facility.

Repair Design & Construction

If unsafe conditions are discovered during an inspection, Walker can prepare repair designs for the parking structure. Our breadth and depth of knowledge results in practical solutions that are less disruptive and are a substantially smaller investment in time and money.

Asset Management Plans

Over time, parking structures show signs of need that manifest in several ways such as a weakening waterproofing membrane, cracking and spalling concrete, steel corrosion, and elemental deterioration, to name a few. Our goal is to prevent this.

Walker’s five- and ten-year asset management plans are tailored to meet the needs of facility managers, developers, and owners, including institutional clients with multiple buildings or parking structures.

Our strategies provide owners with effective planning and budget management tools to maximize available funds for maintenance and repair. The plan includes a baseline evaluation of the existing condition, subsequent periodic repair and restoration, recommendations, opinion of probable cost, and an update of maintenance components based on remaining service life.

Get in Touch Today!

Is your parking structure in need of a condition assessment? Contact Ibrahim today and discuss your options.

The post Walker Provides NYC DOB Parking Inspections appeared first on Walker Consultants.

You are more than just a project or a transaction to us: we value the relationships we’ve built over these 53 years. We look forward to continuing our service for you and improving your community. Thank you!

Because of your support, we’re adding new staff and expanding our capabilities. As part of this, we’ve outgrown our current office space and are moving to a new location in southwest Minneapolis.

On April 22, we’re moving to:

7760 France Ave. S.
Suite 820
Minneapolis, MN 55435

Did you know Walker offers a full range of services for the built environment? From studies and planning, to design and restoration, we are prepared to tackle your unique challenges. Here are a few of our experts and services.

Kevin White, AICP, CPP

Parking and Mobility Planning

Kevin specializes in parking and mobility planning, curbside management, transportation demand management, and pedestrian/bicycle planning. He prioritizes community engagement and focuses on efficiency, user behavior, and integration of all modes of transportation.

Lisa Mastel, LEED AP

ADA Parking Assessments and Parking Design

Lisa has more than 20 years of experience in parking design and restoration, and is a specialist in accessibility (ADA) and functional design. Her experience includes developing creative, efficient, and useful solutions for a wide array of clients including municipal parking, airports, universities, and healthcare.

Jay Jackson, RRO

Roof inspections and repair/replacement design

Jay has 25 years of experience in the design and construction process, including 14 years specializing in building envelope. Since joining Walker, he has worked on roof replacement projects for Southwest Transit in Eden Prairie, MN and the Dakota County Extension & Conservation Center in Farmington, MN.

What’s your challenge? Let’s talk about how Walker can help. Get in touch today.

The post Our Minneapolis Office is Growing to Serve You Better appeared first on Walker Consultants.