Articles
13-Jun-2013
Olsson Uses Transit Tools to Help Determine Cities’ Developments
By Suzanne Small
By investigating their transit options, several Kansas City communities are determining their cities’ future developments. Olsson was instrumental in this effort by undertaking a transportation and land use feasibility study for Kansas City’s major Burlington-North Oak Trafficway corridor. Through this study, Olsson helped the cities define what types of development they want that would support future transit goals.
13-Jun-2013
Resolving Water Quality Violations Simply
Sometimes, it’s good for engineers to be reminded that the simplest solution can also be the best solution. At the June 2013 American Water Works Association (AWWA) Annual Conference and Exposition held in Denver, Mary presented her simplified solutions for one community’s water quality violation.
13-Jun-2013
Olsson Announces New Professional Engineers
Olsson Associates is pleased to announce that five staff members from Olsson’s Public Infrastructure, Land Development, Structural, Airport, and Water Resources teams recently passed the Professional Engineering (PE) exam. The requirements to become a professional engineer include four years of professional experience under a licensed professional engineer and passing the PE exam.
13-Jun-2013
FEMA Volunteer Shane Hennessey: Helping Others When They Need It Most
In times of weather disasters, as seen recently in Moore, Oklahoma, or acts of terrorism, Olsson structural engineer Shane Hennessey is ready to help. Since 2001, Shane has volunteered his time and structural engineering expertise to assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with urban search and rescue efforts.
11-Jun-2013
Kansas City Region's Project Wins: May 2013
A summary of project wins in May 2013 for Olsson’s Kansas City region.
11-Jun-2013
Greater Nebraska Recent Project Wins: May 2013
A summary of project wins in May 2013 for Olsson’s Greater Nebraska region.
13-May-2013
Olsson Wins CREW's "Redevelopment of the Year" Award
For its work on the Lincoln Public Schools' (LPS) new district headquarters and adjacent development, Olsson won the Commercial Real Estate Workshop's (CREW) Midwest chapter's Redevelopment of the Year award.
13-May-2013
Norfolk’s 25th Street Opening Soon
Norfolk’s 25th Street improvement project is fast coming to a close and will soon provide Norfolk residents with a safer, more pedestrian-friendly area. Olsson provided design and construction phase services on the project.
13-May-2013
Olsson Helps City Address Wastewater Challenges with Bypass Elimination Plan
By Nancy Wichmer
The City of Republic, Missouri, is an expanding community whose growth has brought wastewater capacity challenges at its wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Olsson is helping the city address these challenges.
10-May-2013
Klinkenberg to Speak at New Urbanism Conference
Kevin Klinkenberg, AIA, a senior planner on Olsson’s Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning team, will present at three sessions at this year's Congress for New Urbanism conference.
10-May-2013
Olsson Associates: Encouraging Women in Engineering
Andrea Bollinger, EI, shares her thoughts on women in the engineering industry as she participates as a panelist at a recent "Women in STEM" program.
10-May-2013
Colorado School of Mines Approves New Engineering Degree; Olsson Contributes to Recommendation
By Mike Yost, PE, LEED AP
The Colorado School of Mines recently approved a new bachelor's degree program in civil engineering, which will expand the curriculum to provide the best education for CSM’s engineering students. Olsson helped bring the new degree to fruition.
10-May-2013
Olsson Helps Bowersock Mills and Power Company Achieve Accelerated Opening
This month, Bowersock Mills and Power Company (BMPC) opened its North Generating Station in Lawrence, Kansas. The $25 million structure sits immediately adjacent to a new Obermeyer gate at the north end of Bowersock Dam and is rated at 4.99 megawatts with a reinforced concrete structure surrounding four Kaplan low-head generating units. The plant will produce enough clean energy to power about 3,300 homes each day. Olsson Associates played a major role in designing the plant and performed at an accelerated schedule to meet the June 2011 construction start.
08-May-2013
Kansas City Region's Project Wins: April 2013
A summary of project wins in April 2013 for Olsson’s Kansas City region.
08-May-2013
Greater Nebraska Recent Project Wins: April 2013
Below is a summary of project wins in April 2013 for Olsson’s Greater Nebraska region:
14-Apr-2013
Olsson Team Selected for Signature Lincoln Bikeway
In its efforts to make Lincoln’s downtown more bicycle-friendly, the City of Lincoln recently selected the team of Alta Planning & Design and Olsson Associates to develop concepts, a master plan, and design and construction documents for the “N” Street protected bikeway.
14-Apr-2013
Olsson Wins Planning Award for Village of Elwood
For its work creating the Village of Elwood’s Downtown Revitalization Plan, Olsson Associates received the American Planning Association-Nebraska Chapter’s 2013 Best Practices Award. The award was presented to representatives from the Village of Elwood and Olsson Associates at the 2013 Nebraska Planning and Zoning Association conference held in Kearney on March 28.
14-Apr-2013
Navigating the Clean Water Act; Olsson Can Help
By Chris Thomas
The Clean Water Act has had a profound effect on the quality of our nation’s water since it was enacted in 1972. Section 404 of the Clean Water Act has been a particular game-changer in the act’s success. Chris Thomas, a project scientist with Olsson’s Kansas City Southland Environmental Assessment team, has begun a series of presentations on Section 404 that can help clients better understand this important regulation and save them time and money in the process.
14-Apr-2013
Olsson Contributes to Award-Winning Projects
By Angie Przybylo
The Kansas City Business Journal recently announced the winners for its eighth annual Capstone Awards. Olsson was pleased to be involved with four of the award-winning projects.
14-Apr-2013
Fiber Optic Team Provides Fast and Efficient Telecom Services
By Andrew Meyerkord, PE
Providers of fiber optic networks are in a constant race to set up instant voice and data services to homes, local government offices, and commercial buildings.The Technology Services team at Olsson has staff members based in its Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska offices. As a full-service design firm, Olsson can provide any specialized discipline required during design.
13-Apr-2013
Olsson Undertakes South Platte River Hydraulic Modeling Project
By Deb Ohlinger, PE, CFM
Along portions of the South Platte River, several projects are under development that will increase habitat, stabilize river banks, and improve recreational opportunities. Olsson is helping with the development efforts for these projects by providing hydraulic modeling expertise.
11-Apr-2013
Kansas City Region's Project Wins: March 2013
A summary of project wins in March 2013 for Olsson’s Kansas City region.
09-Apr-2013
Meet Drainage Funding Challenges by Preparing a Water Quality Plan
By Carter Hubbard, PE, CFM
Many communities currently face drainage and flood control problems. However, acquiring funding to address these challenges can be difficult and confusing. Because of these challenges, a new means of funding that addresses drainage and flood control problems has been developed. The approach involves focusing on water quality planning and leveraging multiple funding sources to implement the proposed measures.
04-Apr-2013
Greater Nebraska Recent Project Wins: March 2013
A summary of project wins in March 2013 for Olsson’s Greater Nebraska region.
13-Mar-2013
Greater Nebraska Recent Project Wins: February 2013
A summary of project wins in February 2013 for Olsson’s Greater Nebraska region.
13-Mar-2013
Kansas City Region's Project Wins: February 2013
A summary of project wins in February 2013 for Olsson’s Kansas City region.
13-Mar-2013
Olsson Wins APWA Chapter Award for Sar-Ko-Par Project
By Suzanne Small
The Sar-Ko-Par Park Lake Restoration project in Lenexa, Kansas, was selected as the Kansas City chapter of the American Public Works Association’s (APWA) 2013 Public Works Project of the Year in the “Environmental Less Than $5 Million” category.
13-Mar-2013
Colorado Implements Mandatory Baseline Water Quality Sampling
By Dana Mack, PMP, Senior Project Scientist
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) recently approved groundbreaking new groundwater protection rules that are considered the most robust in the nation. Starting May 1, 2013, Colorado will become the first state in the nation to implement a statewide, mandatory baseline water sampling program for oil and gas companies. Olsson can help navigate these new rules.
11-Mar-2013
Olsson Employees Recognized for Swift Action
By Nancy Wichmer
Olsson field inspectors Steve Bolin and Cheryl Carter were recently recognized by the City of Springfield for their swift action that potentially saved the lives of a family.
11-Mar-2013
Olsson Growing Transportation, Infrastructure Services in Colorado with New Employees
By Sarah Barrett
Olsson announces that three new staff members have joined its Golden office to help grow Colorado’s Transportation and Public Infrastructure services.
08-Mar-2013
Site Preparedness: Creating Relevance
By Courtney Dunbar, CEcD, EDFP
Economic developers spend significant time creating a story that will sell their communities and sites, but few have robust, site-specific infrastructure information available for these seekers. Considering that company profits hinge on site-specific attributes, such as input availability, time-to-production, and exchange and proximity to markets, ready access to this information should be a top priority for economic developers.
14-Feb-2013
Grand Junction Office Moves to New Location
With its continued growth in project work and added staff members, Olsson Associates has moved to a larger location in Grand Junction. The move was complete February 15.
14-Feb-2013
Design-Build Method for Municipal Infrastructure? Olsson Can Help
By Suzanne Small
Municipalities are often looking for ways to further stretch their dollars on infrastructure projects. Design-build projects are not new, but this method of delivery has been traditionally considered for large projects and not for municipal transportation infrastructure work. In this article are descriptions of four recent design-build projects performed by Olsson, some of which include the work of Andrew Meyerkord, PE. Andrew is a transportation engineer who has been with Olsson for seven years and has recently transferred to Colorado.
13-Feb-2013
Chapman Joins Olsson’s Growing Des Moines Office
To better accommodate Olsson’s expanding client base in the Des Moines, Iowa, region, Olsson welcomes Andrew Chapman, PE, as a senior project engineer.
13-Feb-2013
Olsson Selected for Tecumseh Historic Infrastructure Upgrades
Olsson was recently selected by the City of Tecumseh to provide services for buried infrastructure upgrades in conjunction with a “face lift” of the brick streets surrounding the historic square.
13-Feb-2013
Grand Island Wastewater Project Continues to Grow
Grand Island’s wastewater treatment plant and collection system improvements project, which was awarded to the Black & Veatch and Olsson team in 2011, continues to expand. Several miles of large, new trunk collector main are currently being improved, and numerous in-situ upgrades are being made to existing mains.
13-Feb-2013
By Angie Przybylo
For his significant contributions to the region’s environmental industry, Ted Hartsig, senior scientist with Olsson’s Environmental Assessment team, was presented the Society of American Military Engineers’ (SAME) Missouri River Region’s Vice President’s Medal.
13-Feb-2013
Kansas City Region's Project Wins: January 2013
A summary of project wins in January 2013 for Olsson’s Kansas City region.
13-Feb-2013
Transportation Engineer Andrew Meyerkord: A Twenty-Five-Year Journey to Colorado
Olsson's Golden, Colorado, office welcomes Andrew Meyerkord, PE. Andrew comes from Olsson's Kansas City office and brings with him a wealth of experience in transportation design.
13-Feb-2013
Family Dollar Provides a Good Value for Olsson Associates
Olsson’s work with national clients continues to expand with work on Family Dollar stores across the Midwest. Olsson's Land Development and Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, and Planning teams have been working with pb2 architecture + engineering of Rogers, Arkansas, to provide civil engineering services.
13-Feb-2013
Selecting Olsson for Design-Build: Thinking Differently About Rehabilitating Roadways
By Suzanne Small
Design-build projects are not new, but this method of delivery has been traditionally considered for large projects and not for municipal transportation infrastructure work, such as roadway repaving, reconstruction, and other upgrades. Depending on the project goal, reconfiguring your design-bid-build project to a design-build project can provide real advantages. In the Kansas City region, Olsson has been involved in four very different design-build projects, all using this method of delivery.
08-Jan-2013
Olsson Selected for Lincoln’s Northwest 48th Street Improvements
Olsson Associates was recently selected to provide the preliminary and final engineering design for Lincoln's Northwest 48th Street, West O to West Adams Roadway Improvement Project. As part of the project, Olsson will work closely with the city, area businesses and stakeholders, and the public to develop the design for a new, four-lane divided road that serves this high-profile and highly important corridor.
08-Jan-2013
Stanton Presenting at Upcoming Park Association Conference
Tony Stanton, PE, will be a presenter at the annual Kansas Recreation and Park Association (KRPA) conference in Manhattan, Kansas, January 28-31. Tony’s presentation is titled “Lake Management and Restoration for Public Parks” and is based on Olsson’s various project experiences restoring park lakes in the Midwest.
08-Jan-2013
Tank Integrity Testing, Other Specialty Services For Colorado Oil & Gas Pipeline Clients
By Stuart Francone, Senior Project Manager, Oil and Gas; and Rick Hanny, Practice Group Leader, Field Services
Tank integrity provisions, as defined by the federal Spill Containment, Control, and Countermeasures (SPCC) rules, can be tricky when it comes to inspections. Olsson has inspectors trained for fiberglass tanks and is currently providing these services, as well as many other specialty services, to help oil and natural gas pipeline clients reach and maintain compliance.
08-Jan-2013
Olsson Opens New Field Offices to Accommodate Oil and Gas Clients
To better serve its Rocky Mountain oil and gas clients, Olsson Associates has opened two new field offices. The offices are located in Meeker, Colorado, and Vernal, Utah.
08-Jan-2013
Kum & Go, “Convenience Stores with a Heart,” Expands in Nine States, Including Colorado
By Josh Erramouspe, PE, Senior Project Engineer
Kum & Go, a private company with over 400 stores in 11 states, is working closely with Olsson Associates as the company adds over 100 new stores in nine states, which includes Colorado, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Missouri.
05-Jan-2013
Olsson Announces New Professional Engineers
Olsson Associates is pleased to announce that four staff members from Olsson’s Geotechnical, Public Infrastructure, and Mechanical/Electrical teams recently passed the professional engineering (PE) exam. The requirements to become a professional engineer include four years of professional experience under a licensed professional engineer and passing the PE exam.
04-Jan-2013
Olsson Adds Freight Program, Welcomes Program Leader to Firm
To address the nation’s growing need for freight planning and intermodal coordination, Olsson Associates has initiated a new freight transportation program to its practice. Leading this group is Program Leader Mark Berndt. Mark is one of the foremost freight planning experts in the nation.
04-Jan-2013
Kansas City Region's Project Wins: November and December 2012
A summary of project wins in November and December 2012 for Olsson’s Kansas City region.
04-Jan-2013
Greater Nebraska Recent Project Wins: November and December 2012
A summary of project wins in November and December 2012 for Olsson’s Greater Nebraska region.
18-Dec-2012
Olsson Offices Closing at Noon on December 24
To give our employees more time with their families, all Olsson offices will close at noon on December 24. We’ll re-open at 7:30 a.m. on December 26. Happy Holidays!
26-Nov-2012
Olsson "Connects" Clients With Fiber Optic Design Services
From your desktop computer to your smartphone, our connected lives revolve more and more around speedy Internet access, and the speediest access of all is offered by fiber optic connections. Olsson’s staff members offer fiber optic cable design services that help your organization tap into such high-capacity networks.
26-Nov-2012
Olsson Teams Help Renovate Wayne State’s U.S. Conn Library
The U.S. Conn Library at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, is undergoing a complete renovation to update and modernize the 1950s-era structure to meet the needs of students and faculty members. The Olsson Associates and Jackson-Jackson & Associates team was selected in early 2012 to provide engineering and architectural services for the project.
20-Nov-2012
Olsson Adds Bridge/Structural and Mechanical/Electrical Expertise
Olsson has brought on Adam Christensen, PE, to its Bridge/Structural team and Jared Franzluebbers to its Mechanical/Electrical team. Adam is a senior project engineer and Jared is a technical manager.
20-Nov-2012
Greater Nebraska Recent Project Wins: October 2012
A summary of project wins in September 2012 for Olsson’s Greater Nebraska region.
20-Nov-2012
Kansas City Region's Project Wins: October 2012
A summary of project wins in October 2012 for Olsson’s Kansas City region.
19-Nov-2012
New Central Nebraska Leadership Roles Announced
In its continuing efforts to recognize individuals who excel in both technical and project management capacities, Olsson Associates has announced two leadership promotions in Olsson’s Central Nebraska region.
19-Nov-2012
Nebraska’s Top 5 "Facts to Know” About Wind Energy
On October 22 and 23, Olsson’s Ryan Beckman and Tim Andersen attended the Nebraska Wind Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska. At the conference, several wind-power-related initiatives were highlighted to show the increased interest across the state. Below are the top five things you should know about wind power in Nebraska.
19-Nov-2012
Curt Mader, Olathe Construction Services team leader, provides insight on his involvement with Agua Viva International (AVI), an organization created to support and encourage the world’s underdeveloped nations by installing water purification systems. Curt has been involved with AVI since 2008, and he reported that his experiences have allowed him to help better others’ lives and health and also afforded him the ability to become more adept at finding creative solutions when challenges arise in foreign lands.
19-Nov-2012
Olsson Completes Missouri’s First USDA-RD Approved Stormwater PER
By Nancy Wichmer
Led by Water Resources Team Leader Eric Dove, Olsson Associates recently received approval of Missouri’s first U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development (USDA-RD) Stormwater Preliminary Engineering Report (PER). As a result of the Water Resources team’s effort, the City of Oronogo, Missouri, will receive $500,000 from the USDA as a low-interest loan (federal subsidized loan).
23-Oct-2012
Olsson Expands Telecommunications Service with Addition of John Lillich
John Lillich has joined Olsson Associates as business development leader for Olsson’s Telecommunications service.
19-Oct-2012
Olsson Helps Lincoln Public Schools Development See Progress
Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, the Lincoln Public Schools’ (LPS) District Office’s new administration building is beginning to take shape at 59th and O Street. Olsson Associates has played a significant role in developing the site, which also will include a Whole Foods grocery store and smaller retail shops.
16-Oct-2012
Olsson’s Fredericksen Highlights Transit Challenges at 2012 MOVITE Conference
By Angie Przybylo
Todd Fredericksen, Olsson Associates’ Kansas City Traffic team leader, was a featured speaker at the 2012 Missouri Valley Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (MOVITE) conference in September. Todd’s presentation exemplified how Olsson can assist its clients with transit-related questions and provide transit planning and design services.
12-Oct-2012
Colorado Adopts EPA Air Quality Regulations; Olsson Can Help
By Tony Barlage, Air Quality Consulting Services Team Leader
During its October 18, 2012, rule-making hearings, the Air Quality Control Commission accepted the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) recommendation and voted to partially adopt the EPA’s air quality regulations, called New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) OOOO, for the oil and gas industry. Olsson has a team familiar with the state and federal regulations for natural gas exploration and production and can be valuable resource for clients.
11-Oct-2012
Municipal Water Systems: Let Us Help You Bridge the Funding Chasm
By Brad Simons, PE, Public Infrastructure Team Leader
Funding capital projects is a matter of thinking creatively, exploring funding options, and sometimes using a combination of resources for the project. Olsson understands the constraints of both the funding agencies and the municipalities. We can bridge the gap between them and identify funding options as well as develop a funding package that suits specific community needs.
08-Oct-2012
Olsson Keeping Busy in West Haymarket
After many years of planning, Lincoln’s West Haymarket development is finally taking shape. The new Pinnacle Bank Arena’s steel skeleton is fast nearing enclosure, the dust is beginning to settle on reconstructed roadways, and numerous new residential and retail developments are rising from the ground. Several of Olsson Associates’ teams have had significant roles in bringing these developments to fruition. Below, we discuss some of the major development projects Olsson has assisted with and their schedules for completion.
05-Oct-2012
Accelerated Design Leads to On-Time Construction on 114th Street
To accommodate a new, $200 million data center being developed in Sarpy County, construction on 114th Street between Giles Road and Highway 370 began in the fall of 2012. Designing for a project of this type typically takes up to a year to complete. However, in just four months, Olsson was able to complete the design and utility coordination for improving this mile-and-a-half stretch of road and kept its costs for services under budget.
03-Oct-2012
Kansas City Region's Project Wins: September 2012
A summary of project wins in September 2012 for Olsson’s Kansas City region.
03-Oct-2012
Greater Nebraska Recent Project Wins: September 2012
A summary of project wins in September 2012 for Olsson’s Greater Nebraska region.
01-Oct-2012
Merlin Davis Joins Olsson Associates as Team Leader
Merlin Davis has joined Olsson Associates as a team leader for the Des Moines, Iowa, Survey team.
27-Sep-2012
Broken Bow Wind Farm Nearing Completion
In Custer County, Nebraska, Olsson’s Survey, Environmental, and Public Infrastructure teams are in the final stages of completing development and construction for the Broken Bow Wind Farm. This site includes 50 wind turbines that will generate 80 megawatts of power.
26-Sep-2012
Olsson Helps Omaha Reduce Sewage Overflow
Under the mandates of the EPA’s Clean Water Act, the City of Omaha is required to reduce its combined sewer system overflows by October of 2027 from about 52 events per year to only four per year to improve the water quality of receiving streams, such as the Missouri River and Papillion Creek. To accomplish this, the city turned to Olsson Associates’ Public Infrastructure team to help produce a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) plan. Because of its expertise in water and wastewater systems, Olsson has been successful in providing conclusive designs to help the city meet its goals.
26-Sep-2012
Olsson Adds Dedicated GIS Professional to Staff
To meet a growing need to integrate expanding Geographic Information System (GIS) tasks for clients' projects, Olsson Associates recently hired Avery Oltmans as a full-time, dedicated GIS professional. Here, Avery provides insight on what his position entails and how he can benefit Olsson's clients.
26-Sep-2012
Greater Nebraska Recent Project Wins: August 2012
A summary of project wins in August 2012 for Olsson’s Greater Nebraska region.
26-Sep-2012
Olsson Helps Springfield Overcome Sanitary Sewer Challenges
By Rachel Wiester, Marketing
For all of its life-sustaining benefits, water can also be a catastrophic force—especially when too much of it exists in an old sanitary sewer infrastructure system. Olsson Associates was part of a team to help the City of Springfield address its aging sanitary sewer system and the wastewater that flows through it.
26-Sep-2012
Kansas City Region's Project Wins: August 2012
A summary of project wins in August 2012 for Olsson’s Kansas City region.
26-Sep-2012
Providing a “Tune Up" To Better Serve Our Clients
Olsson recently brought on board a new office leader, John Bolders. John's arrival at Olsson brings new energy and a fresh perspective to the Colorado region and has freed up capabilities among Olsson's staff members to better fit our client needs.
26-Sep-2012
Olsson Handles a Full Range of Oil and Gas Needs in the Piceance Basin
By Wyatt Popp, PE, Grand Junction Public Infrastructure Team
Olsson has a rich history of providing environmental services to oil and gas companies on Colorado’s western slope. More recently, Olsson has invested in staff and service expansion over the past few years to integrate key services from the Golden, Colorado, office and other Olsson offices to efficiently provide a larger variety of services to our oil and gas clients. Olsson’s combination of environmental compliance experience paired with traditional engineering services has allowed Olsson to complete a range of projects in the Piceance Basin area.
11-Sep-2012
Olsson's Lincoln Office's Voicemail Disabled
We apologize for the inconvenience but Olsson's Lincoln office experienced a voicemail malfunction on September 10, 2012 that permanently disabled the system. If you left a phone message for a Lincoln staff member, please call the staff member again so we can assist you.
17-Aug-2012
The start of the school year is upon us, and Olsson Associates has been busy completing numerous projects for schools across the area. Despite the short construction season, as construction typically occurs during the summer when school is not in session, Olsson has completed numerous, significant new projects with multiple schools, as well as rehabilitating, expanding, and maintaining existing facilities.
17-Aug-2012
Olsson Helping Communities Grow Through Development Initiatives
By Mekita Rivas
Olsson’s Industrial Site Consulting team has been engaged to provide a comprehensive set of assessments to maximize development potential of the Webster County Ag Center tract. The firm is involved in the areas of due diligence analysis, site master planning, rail and transportation planning and conceptualization, economic development targeting and funding identification, and park governance analysis. With projects such as this, Olsson continues to build upon its ability to guide its Midwestern clients through the economic development process and beyond.
17-Aug-2012
Olsson Structural Team Expands, Offers Clients Full-Service Expertise
By Mekita Rivas
Olsson Associates recently expanded and restructured its Structural team to allow team members to provide highly specialized service to each and every client with structural needs. And, like many other teams within the firm, Structural team members work on projects that are as diverse as the clients they serve.
17-Aug-2012
Olsson Oversees Construction of New Sky Tram at Nebraska State Fair
Nebraska State Fair attendees will have a new, more tranquil option to get from one end of the fairgrounds to the other this year: a new Sky Tram is up and running as the fair gates open, and Olsson had a significant role in providing a solid foundation for this new fair feature. Steve Hancock provided field services for this project and completed materials testing for the underlying soils, along with sampling concrete for compressive strength for foundation placements.
17-Aug-2012
Greater Nebraska Recent Project Wins: July 2012
A summary of project wins in July 2012 for Olsson’s Greater Nebraska region.
17-Aug-2012
Kansas City Region's Project Wins: June and July 2012
A summary of project wins in June and July 2012 for Olsson’s Kansas City region.
17-Aug-2012
Cultivating Client Relationships Key to Kansas City Region’s Success
As a result of steadily focusing on cultivating client relationships, the Kansas City region has seen phenomenal growth across all its offices and teams. So far this year, the region’s client work has generated 27 percent of Olsson’s gross billings, and the Kansas City offices are producing approximately 28 percent more revenue than this time in 2011. Further, the region has added 43 staff members this year alone—33 of which are full-time positions.
17-Aug-2012
Olsson Mentoring the Next Generation of Engineers
You can look out the front door of Olsson’s Golden office and see the large, white “M” on the hillside of the Colorado School of Mines campus. That “M” is a daily reminder to our staff members that the work we do in the future as engineers depends on the education and practical experiences of engineering students today.
17-Aug-2012
John Bolders Joins Olsson Associates as Colorado Region Office Leader
John Bolders has joined Olsson Associates as the Colorado regional office leader. He is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the firm’s offices in Golden and Grand Junction, Colorado; Scottsbluff, Nebraska; and Bismarck, North Dakota.
16-Aug-2012
Tricky Creek Project in Thornton Topic of September Stormwater Conference
By Deb Ohlinger, PE, CFM, and Chance Uhrich, EI
The City of Thornton needed help. The Grange Hall Creek thalweg had lowered in the reach between 108th Avenue and Riverdale Road in Thornton, exposing five sanitary sewer crossings and leaving high vertical banks. One sanitary sewer crossing was precariously suspended above the creek bottom, and bank erosion threatened an adjacent pedestrian trail. The channel needed to be stabilized to protect the sanitary sewer lines and the trail. Olsson's creative and resouceful staff members were able to help.
14-Aug-2012
Olsson Helps Clients Connect to New Google Fiber Connections
By Angie Przybylo
Last month, Google began releasing final details on its fiber services to the Kansas City region. This service includes a 1,000 Mb Internet connection for $70 per month—a rate that is unprecedented in today’s fiber market. Along with Internet access, Google will also provide the option to add IP-based TV and a terabyte of cloud storage to homes. This option will eventually be available in public buildings and businesses. It is expected to bring new commerce to the metro and positively affect our communities in aspects that include education, government, health care, and public safety. Google’s exciting news is also good news for Olsson Associates’ clients, as Olsson’s staff members offer fiber optic cable design services that can tap into such high-capacity connections.
27-Jun-2012
Greater Nebraska Recent Project Wins: May 2012
A summary of project wins in May 2012 for Olsson's Greater Nebraska Region.
22-Jun-2012
Kansas City Region Project Wins: May 2012
A summary of project wins for Olsson's Kansas City Region in May.
21-Jun-2012
Olsson’s Graham Now a Professional Engineer
Olsson Associates’ Kyle Graham has passed his professional engineering (PE) exam and has been promoted to associate engineer.
20-Jun-2012
Project Update: 84th and West Center Road
As many Omaha commuters know, the 84th & West Center Road intersection is one of the city’s most congested crossings. City officials knew improvements needed to be made, so, earlier this year, the city selected Olsson Associates to provide construction services for the project.
19-Jun-2012
Olsson Water Demonstrations Educate Students at 2012 Groundwater Festival
First-time Groundwater Festival participants Carl Harms and Angie Newcomer, from Olsson’s Lincoln Geology/Hydrogeology team, faced a tough crowd at this year’s event in Grand Island, Nebraska. But the memorable experience was a positive one.
19-Jun-2012
Grand Island Approves Dewatering Project
Creating dry basements is the goal of a recently approved groundwater dewatering project in the City of Grand Island. Because of high groundwater tables in selected areas of the city, city officials selected Olsson Associates to conduct a groundwater study to update the 10-year-old model.
16-Jun-2012
Olsson Helps Rehab Grand Island’s Treatment Plant and Collection System
Grand Island’s wastewater treatment plant and collection system improvements project that was recently awarded means Olsson’s Grand Island staff members will join other residents in benefitting from improved residential wastewater service in this growing city.
15-Jun-2012
Olsson Teams Assist Mercy Healthcare With Numerous Services
It all started in 1871 with a 25-bed infirmary for women and children in St. Louis, Missouri. More than 140 years later Mercy's expansive system of healthcare facilities stretches across 14 cities in seven states that includes Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Olsson Associates has provided numerous services to meet project deliverables in most of these locations.
15-Jun-2012
Serving Colorado-Based Clients Leads to North Dakota Growth
By John Lohner, Energy Practice Group Leader
Olsson has a long history of providing environmental compliance and permitting services for oil and gas companies in Colorado. As oil and gas activity began to boom in the Bakken oil fields of North Dakota, these same Colorado companies looked to Olsson to provide compliance and permitting services for their new or expanding North Dakota operations.
14-Jun-2012
From Indiana to Denver via Libya
Early in Andrea Bollinger’s engineering career, she did a lot of traveling. Her first engineering job moved her to three different offices in Indiana and sent her overseas to Libya for six months. After a short break, Andrea was about to go back to Libya when the 2011 Spring Uprising interrupted her plans. The very place where Andrea had sipped tea and coffee only months before became the famous Martyrs Square. That interruption of plans was enough for Andrea to consider a move to Colorado to be a water/wastewater engineer for Olsson Associates in its Golden office.
12-Jun-2012
An Olsson Vice President Seeks Public Office
It’s a big year for elections, and Mike Lally, a vice president at Olsson Associates, is finding himself in the middle of his own campaign. Mike is embarking on a campaign to run for an open position on the Johnson County, Kansas, Board of Commissioners.
23-May-2012
Office Update: Des Moines Proves to Be a Good Fit
By Cherie Ayite
Almost four years ago, Olsson opened its doors in the Des Moines market with our Urbandale, Iowa, office. We’ve grown steadily since that time and now have more than a dozen employees who provide some of Olsson’s key services.
18-May-2012
Kansas City Region Project Wins: April 2012
A summary of project wins for Olsson's Kansas City Region in April.
18-May-2012
Greater Nebraska Recent Project Wins: April 2012
A summary of project wins in April 2012 for Olsson's Greater Nebraska Region.
14-May-2012
Keith Leonard: Oil and Gas Permitting With Some Skiing on the Side
If you can love skiing when you live in Michigan and are relegated to skiing on small, ice-covered hills, imagine how wonderful it would be to move to Grand Junction, Colorado, and have tall mountains covered in snow right outside your door. It’s pretty awesome, according to Keith Leonard, an associate scientist who joined Olsson Associates’ Grand Junction office in March 2012 to assist oil and gas companies with permitting at the state and local levels.
12-May-2012
Tim Robins, EIT, in Olsson's Springfield office, has passed his Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) exam. Since joining Olsson in March 2011, he has passed his Fundamentals of Engineering exam and earned his American Concrete Institute (ACI) Field Tester and Strength Testing, International Code Council (ICC) Soils, and ICC Bolting certifications.
11-May-2012
Sampson Keeps MSU’s Projects Running Smoothly
By Suzanne Small
As director of planning for Missouri State University (MSU), Doug Sampson is one busy man. To accommodate the school’s burgeoning enrollment, MSU has 25 building projects that will go out for construction bids within the next two months.
10-May-2012
New Federal Air-Quality Rules for Oil and Gas Companies
By Bill Obermann, AICP, and Tony Barlage
On April 17, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued air-quality regulations for the oil and gas industry. These rules incorporate some of the first federal requirements for exploration and production processes. While for years Colorado companies have been regulated at the state level through the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC), these new EPA regulations are the first federal-level, air-quality rules that apply to small oil and natural gas exploration and production facilities. The rules also affect compressor stations and gas processing plants. It is important for Colorado oil and gas companies to know about these federal regulations, analyze the impacts on their companies, and develop a plan for compliance.
08-May-2012
Antelope Creek Flood Reduction Improvements
Olsson Associates completed design work on a flood reduction project along Lincoln’s Antelope Creek, and its construction is nearly complete. The section was a perennially flood-prone area along a popular bike and pedestrian trail near the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.
01-May-2012
Olsson Helps Make-A-Wish Dream Come True
By Sara Sawatzki
On April 25, Olsson Associates’ Lincoln office was asked to participate in a very special event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Nebraska. Make-A-Wish grants wishes to children who are facing life-threatening illnesses. One of those “Wish Kids” was Cayden Hubbard, son of Olsson Water Resources Engineer Carter Hubbard.
17-Apr-2012
Changes to Section 404 Nationwide Permits Announced
COLORADO -- In addition to Greater Sage Grouse news, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has reissued the Section 404 Nationwide Permit (NWP). One significant change is that oil and gas pads now qualify for a NWP #39 (Industrial Development). Previously, operators needing to affect jurisdictional streams or wetlands from pad construction would typically apply for a NWP #18 (minor dredge and fill) or complete an Individual Permit.
17-Apr-2012
Changes to Section 404 Nationwide Permits Announced
KANSAS --You may be aware that new Section 404 Nationwide Permits (NWPs) for impacts to wetlands and other waters of the U.S. took effect in March. The new NWPs will be in effect for the next five years, and, as they help streamline the process for getting permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to affect streams, wetlands, or other bodies of water, it’s important to know what criteria may have changed from the previous NWPs.
17-Apr-2012
Changes to Section 404 Nationwide Permits Announced
NEBRASKA -- You may be aware that new Section 404 Nationwide Permits (NWPs) for impacts to wetlands and other waters of the U.S. took effect in March. The new NWPs will be in effect for the next five years, and, as they help streamline the process for getting permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to affect streams, wetlands, or other bodies of water, it’s important to know what criteria may have changed from the previous NWPs.
14-Apr-2012
Marston Lake Drainageway: Moving from the 1970s into the Future
By Deb Ohlinger, Project Manager, and Amy Gabor, Project Engineer
The year 1979 was the last time a Major Drainageway Plan (MDP) was done for the Marston Lake North Drainageway, which is located in Jefferson County, Colorado. Gas was 86 cents a gallon; the Sony Walkman was being introduced; and “Three’s Company,” “Happy Days,” and “Mork and Mindy” filled television screens. To update the MDP to 21st century standards, Olsson is working with the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, the City and County of Denver, Denver Water, Jefferson County, and the City of Lakewood to complete a new MDP.
13-Apr-2012
Olsson Helps Industry Co-Exist with Greater Sage Grouse Near Oil and Gas Sites
By Scott Dicke, Senior Project Scientist, Environmental Resources and Compliance Group
To many in the oil and gas industry, it may seem as though those mottled, brown, five-pound birds called Greater Sage Grouse purposely pick the very place where an operator seeks a permit for oil and gas activity. What those birds are really seeking is a spot consisting of sagebrush, which is ideal for the birds’ cover, food source, and mating and nesting habitat. Of course, it’s only coincidental that areas rich in oil and gas also are often covered with sagebrush. What isn’t coincidental is federal legislation indicating this species could become endangered and its critical habitat could become protected land. As this decision greatly affects many in the oil and gas industry, Olsson Associates’ offers its experienced staff members to help its oil and gas clients navigate and comply with the anticipated regulations.
12-Apr-2012
Olsson Wins Kansas City APWA Award for Stream Restoration Project
For its work to repair damage to a tributary caused by over 50 years of limestone mining operations, Olsson Associates won the 2012 American Public Works Association’s (APWA) Public Works Project of the Year chapter-level award from the APWA Kansas City Metro chapter in the environmental category, less than $5 million division. This project has been submitted to APWA National for consideration of a national-level award.
03-Apr-2012
Greater Nebraska Region Project Wins: March 2012
A summary of project wins for Olsson's Greater Nebraska Region.
03-Apr-2012
Kansas City Region Project Wins: March 2012
A summary of project wins for Olsson's Kansas City Region in March.
30-Mar-2012
Olsson's Environmental Services
By Ted Hartsig, SPSS, Senior Scientist
When Olsson's Environmental Resources teams (Environmental Assessment and Geology/Hydrogeology) are brought into a project, in many cases it is in response to regulatory requirements, often for permits. Olsson's Environmental Assessment teams help clients navigate the permit-seeking process.
30-Mar-2012
Olsson's Women Engineers Shatter National Statistics
Engineering is commonly seen as the profession with the greatest underrepresentation of women, and statistics seem to bear this out. However, at Olsson, we are happily out of sync with these statistics.
30-Mar-2012
Kansas City Region's Public Project Wins: February 2012
This page includes a list of wins in Olsson's Kansas City region.
28-Mar-2012
Lots of LEED Projects at Olsson
Olsson employs 24 LEED Accredited Professionals, with a dozen more preparing for the exam. Our Olsson Sustainability Program has witnessed great success since its inception in the 2000s.
27-Mar-2012
Jim Condon Certified in Environmental Sustainability
Jim Condon, PE, BCEE, of the Lincoln Public Infrastructure team recently earned the American Academy of Environmental Engineers' (AAEE) highly esteemed certification in Environmental Sustainability.
15-Mar-2012
Nebraska Region's Public Project Wins: February 2012
This page includes a list of wins in Olsson's Nebraska region, covering Lincoln and all communities in Greater Nebraska.
09-Mar-2012
Olsson Ridin' the Rails on a 13-State Survey Project in the Sunshine
In July 2010, Olsson became part of an ambitious, important project to provide engineering services to meet ADA compliance requirements at 21 Amtrak stations in four states.
20-Feb-2012
You'll Find Us Everywhere, Sometimes Even with Robots
By Dana Sperling, PLS
The great thing about being a team leader for a survey crew is that you never know where you'll end up next. A shopping mall, a rural train station, a riverbank, an oil and gas field--you name it, and, if you are on a survey crew, you may be there at some point.
16-Feb-2012
Nebraska Region's Public Project Wins: November 2011 - January 2012
This page includes a list of wins in Olsson's Nebraska region, covering Lincoln and all communities in Greater Nebraska.
16-Feb-2012
Kansas City Region's Public Project Wins: December 2011 - January 2012
This page includes a list of wins in Olsson's Kansas City region.
14-Nov-2011
Water Sampling Program for Oil and Gas Companies Effective January 1, 2012
By Kevin Taylor, PG, Senior Project Scientist
Starting January 1, 2012, Colorado will become the first state to implement a statewide, voluntary water sampling program for oil and gas companies.
14-Nov-2011
Subconsultant Work Provides Team with Unique Experience, Insight into Military World
Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Rexroad APG is a military planning agency for whom Olsson has served as a subconsultant on a variety of military installation projects.
14-Nov-2011
Federal Initiative Group Sees Results with Diverse Set of Projects
By Rachel Wiester, Marketing
After a few years of pursuing federal work on a more focused basis, Olsson Associates' federal government initiative group is seeing exciting results.
14-Nov-2011
Steady Pace of Military Projects Keeps Olsson at Arms
By Todd Skoog
As the nation's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan draw to an end, the United States military continues to invest in its infrastructure and facilities, both at home and abroad. Olsson Associates, through its Federal Government Initiative, has been pursuing engineering work at the U.S. Army, Air Force, and National Guard installations that are located within Olsson's operational footprint.
14-Oct-2011
City/District Engineering (Missouri and Kansas)
Olsson Associates provides complete city and district engineering services to clients in Kansas and Missouri. We focus our attention on developing our staff members to become an extension of our client's staff to properly provide the needed services in a timely manner. We bill no retainer fee charges for our services.
14-Oct-2011
Cities and Special Districts: Olsson Can Help (Colorado)
Suppose you are the city manager of a small town in Colorado. Your water storage system is having problems. Do you want to put on a harness and lower yourself into the water tank with an oxygen sensor to see what the problem is? Olsson does.
16-Sep-2011
A Creative Approach to a Neighborhood Park in Greeley, Colorado
By Ernest Rodriguez, RLA, ASLA, LEED AP
Playgrounds and playground design have definitely seen some changes over the years. From rubberized safety surfacing to brightly colored themed play equipment, such as barns, boats, and castles, to interactive pieces with lights and music, it makes you wonder how kids 20, 30, and 40 years ago ever had any fun.
25-Aug-2011
Olsson Helps Oil and Gas Companies Cross the Finish Line for November 10 Deadline
By Stuart Francone, Vice President and Senior Project Manager
Olsson is busy evaluating more than 500 oil and gas tank battery sites in the Denver-Julesberg Basin in northern Colorado as a big deadline approaches for many oil and gas companies. The Spill, Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving forward with many oil and gas firms facing a November 10, 2011, deadline to prepare, amend, and implement SPCC plans.
17-Aug-2011
A Walmart store expansion project in Hermantown, Minnesota, is addressing and overcoming several environmental concerns by completely redesigning the store's stormwater treatment facilities and its surrounding landscape.
16-Aug-2011
Economic Opportunity and the Importance of Community Relevance
By Courtney Dunbar
Few will argue that the United States was founded on the principals of entrepreneurialism -- the idea that, if you could dream it, you could create it. If you could commercialize it, you could sustain it.
19-Jul-2011
Western Interceptor Relief Sewer | Manhattan, Kansas
The City of Manhattan, Kansas, selected Olsson Associates as consultant for the Western Interceptor Relief Sewer project, which will increase the capacity of an existing sanitary sewer main.
14-Jul-2011
Booming Plans for Bismarck, North Dakota
A little over a year ago, Olsson Associates opened an office in Bismarck, North Dakota, to support Olsson oil and gas clients working in the area. Environmental Scientist Jim Dawson was hired and moved from Montana to North Dakota to staff the office.
14-Jul-2011
Energy Audits Make It Easy To Be Green
Olsson has provided clients numerous types of energy audits throughout the course of the firm's history. These audits can be conducted on entire buildings or on specific equipment and systems.
14-Jul-2011
I’ve been working on the railroad… Can’t you hear the whistle blowing?
Maybe not, since quiet zones are making some real noise lately. Does your city have trains traveling through town with their on-board locomotive horns blasting as they get close to nearby street crossings?
14-Jul-2011
NDEQ Issues New Industrial Storm Water Permit
By Jeff McPeak, PE
The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) has issued a revised Industrial Storm Water Permit effective July 1, 2011. This permit is applicable to "stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity," including industrial facilities, landfills, recycling/scrap yards, steam electrical generating facilities, transportation facilities, and treatment works.
21-Jun-2011
Paying it Forward: Engineering Services for Our Oil and Gas Clients
By Mike Yost, PE, LEED AP
Over many years, our clients have become familiar with Olsson's environmental compliance services regarding air modeling, soil sampling, permitting, and stormwater inspections. However, in recent years, Olsson has brought its 55-year history of engineering to the oil and gas industry.
17-Jun-2011
Cleaning Up a Site for a New Use
Members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition recognized the beauty of the project site in 1804 when they passed through the area. Unfortunately, the 950-acre property described by the explorers as "high handsome prairies" is currently stigmatized as a Brownfield site. Olsson's involvement at the site began in 2007, when a couple of employees met with Mark Wayne, Sarpy County administrator, and heard his ideas on how the site should be investigated and redeveloped.
13-Jun-2011
Thoughtful Public Involvement Keeps Projects on Track
By Angie Przybylo, KC Region Marketing
Americans have a long history of being closely involved in shaping municipal enhancements that affect them and their communities. Whether it is drainage improvements that pass through a resident's property or roadway construction requiring detours, progress touches citizens.
17-May-2011
Two Recreational Dam Projects Combat Erosion and Control Flooding in Nebraska
Starting in 2001 and after more than seven years of workable hours in design, the Maple Creek Recreation Area near Leigh, Nebraska, is ready for business. Built to combat erosion and flooding problems in the Maple Creek watershed, the dam has overcome multiple hurdles on its path to completion.
17-May-2011
Bowersock Mills and Power Company Power Facility Groundbreaking Held Recently
The Bowersock Dam was built more than a century ago, serving numerous functions for the Lawrence community. Construction of a new power facility located on the Kansas River in Lawrence, Kansas, is slated to kick off later this month, following the groundbreaking ceremony that took place May 16.
16-May-2011
Bat Acoustical Monitoring for Wind Energy Projects
Olsson's environmental team has recently begun providing bat acoustical monitoring, or bat surveys, for wind energy projects. Throughout the nation, wind energy projects are subjected to pre-construction bat surveys and post-construction mortality studies since wind turbines have been proven to cause some mortality either through collisions or through barotrauma (mortality induced by rapid changes in pressure that collapses bats' tubular-shaped lungs).
18-Apr-2011
Graphic Design: The Art of Visualizing Ideas
By Kelly Petersen
Our creative and talented Olsson Associates graphic design team can take your scribbled ideas, technical drawings and charts, illustrations, and photos from the job site and create memorable marketing pieces that communicate complicated ideas in a visually appealing and understandable way.
13-Apr-2011
Something's in the Air… Let Olsson Help You
By Adam Berig, PE, and Tim Plander, MBA, Environmental Scientist
People are worried most about what they can't see. Bad smells, rumors of dangerous emissions--these things cause panic and anger and can shut down or postpone a project, regardless of whether fears are justified.
15-Mar-2011
Regional Conditions to the Proposed Nationwide Permits for Nebraska
By Keith Tillotson
A proposed major change is in Regional Condition 11-channelization. Currently, any channelization is restricted according to purpose.
11-Mar-2011
Proposed Changes in Nationwide Permits Announced
By Keith Tillotson
The proposal to reissue and modify nationwide permits was published in the Federal Register on February 16, 2011.
16-Feb-2011
Understanding RICE NESHAP and Creating a Plan for Compliance
By Ken Fairchild, PE
If your municipality has reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE) in a power plant, you need to begin working now to ensure that you are able to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) final rule concerning NESHAP emissions. The rule is fairly complex, but I'll walk you through the basics and help you create a plan.
16-Feb-2011
Diving in Head First to Meet Greenhouse Gas Reporting Deadlines
By Nathan Knell
When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated 40 CFR Part 98, Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting in October 2009, implementing Subpart W, Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems was postponed. With the recent passing of Subpart W on November 8, 2010, and an effective date of January 1, 2011, oil and gas companies are facing a daunting workload with complex monitoring, recordkeeping requirements, and tight compliance deadlines. Olsson Associates can help navigate a quick turnaround to effectively meet these deadlines.
14-Feb-2011
Growing the Business: Fairchild Fills Niche Role with RICE NESHAP Compliance
As air quality issues come to the forefront nationwide for power plants using diesel engines, many plants have begun seeking qualified consultation to estimate the costs needed to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency's new regulations regarding air emissions.
11-Feb-2011
Olsson Joins Effort to Support Industrial Development Opportunity in Nebraska
By Courtney Dunbar
Todd Lorenz, PE, Land Development, recently represented Olsson's Industrial Site Consulting team at the request of the Nebraska economic development community and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce to provide testimony in favor of LB 388 to members of the Nebraska Legislature's Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee.
17-Jan-2011
Don't Get Caught Off Guard: New Floodplain Regulations Effective January 14, 2011
By Amy M. Gabor, PE, LEED AP, Water Resources
The State of Colorado's Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Water Conservation Board has developed new floodplain regulations effective January 14, 2011. Key changes affect the construction of new critical facilities, the construction of residential and non-residential structures, and the determination of new floodways.
14-Jan-2011
Runway Re-Opens After $40 Million Upgrade
By Deb Ohlinger, PE
The old Garfield County Regional Airport (GCRA) runway in Rifle, Colorado, built in 1980, was designed for small, single and twin engine aircraft weighing less than 12,500 pounds. The Federal Aviation Administration wanted the airport to be upgraded to meet standards for the larger business jets that had been using the airport more frequently.
16-Nov-2010
Olsson on a Fast Track with Railroad Project in Four States
By Mike Yost, PE, LEED AP
Olsson Associates will hit the ground running in Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri to work with Amtrak on safety and ADA compliance for 21 Amtrak stations. Federal funding dictates a very tight timeline for this complex project, and Olsson will be coordinating teams from Denver, Kansas, and Nebraska to get the work done.
11-Nov-2010
An Introduction to Olsson's Natural Gas Capabilities
By James Hoff
Over the past two years, Olsson has been steadily acquiring the skill sets needed to provide top quality services to the natural gas industry. While this capability is relatively new to Olsson, the individuals who provide the services are hardly newcomers to the natural gas block.
19-Oct-2010
Olsson Can Help with State Chemical Inventory Requirements for Oil and Gas Companies
By Stuart Francone
The Chemical Inventory Rule was enacted as part of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) Final Rule Amendments dated December 17, 2008. Olsson is well-versed in these chemical inventory requirements and can do chemical inventory audits and evaluations that will help ensure that an oil and gas company is ready in the event of a COGCC inspection.
24-Aug-2010
New, Simplified NEPA Process for Some Nebraska Federal-Aid Transportation Projects
By Joan Darling, Ph.D.
Projects that have federal funding must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires documentation of the social, economic, and natural environmental impacts of the project. For six types of federal-aid transportation projects, the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have just developed a new, simplified process intended to facilitate NEPA compliance and, thus, approval of the project.
20-Aug-2010
Planned Development: The New Model for Federal Funding of Community Projects
By Courtney Dunbar
If we don't care where we go or how we grow, it doesn't matter the method. Over the last century, the U.S. has seen it all when it comes to community growth. We've watched the rise of industrialism capture full labor forces in cities, only to close and destroy the economic base of entire regions, such as what occurred in Flint, Michigan.
17-Aug-2010
Water Storage in Alamosa: Full-Service Approach and Interagency Expertise is Key
By Brad Simons, PE
Water is a basic need, and water storage provides the assurance that communities will have access to clean water when residents turn on the faucet. The City of Alamosa knew that it needed more water storage for its 10,000 residents. Deciding how much water to store, where it should be located, and how to maneuver all of the interagency approvals for creating that storage were issues that needed to be addressed.
20-Jul-2010
By Joan Darling, Ph.D.
The peregrine falcon is one of the wonders of the biological world. It is an almost exclusively aerial predator, catching birds on the fly. It does so by going into an astounding hunting swoop, during which it can reach speeds of over 200 miles per hour.
20-Jul-2010
Creative Solutions Help Jefferson County with Flooding Problems
By David Krickbaum, PE, CFM
The Fairmount area in unincorporated Jefferson County suffered from an inadequate storm drainage system composed of poorly defined channels that are blocked by irrigation canals, roads, and railroads. The informal pond in the area, called Swamp Angel, only provided 29 acre-feet of storage at its maximum elevation and functioned, in part, as a retention pond.
16-Jun-2010
Great Outdoors Colorado a Great Funding Opportunity for Local Communities
By Mike Yost
The Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Trust Fund was created through a constitutional vote by Coloradans in 1992. It is dedicated to preserving and protecting Colorado's parks, rivers, trails, open spaces, and wildlife. Fifty percent of the proceeds from the Colorado Lottery is the sole funding source for GOCO. GOCO awards grants of about $40 to $55 million each year to local governments, land trusts, Colorado State Parks, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
16-Jun-2010
A New System for Powering Fiber to the Home
By Steve Ingracia, Technology Leader
Olsson Associates has filed for U.S. patent protection for a new Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) central power solution that we are calling "CPR Central Power." This system allows the entire FTTH system to be powered from a central location and eliminates the need for batteries and the long-term maintenance hassles that battery replacement poses to telecom companies.
15-Jun-2010
Spill Response and Water and Soil Testing in Olsson's Grand Junction Office
By Lorne Prescott, Grand Junction Office Leader
Our country relies on natural gas to supply us with many of our energy needs. But, when a problem arises with natural gas wells, the Olsson office in Grand Junction is ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide spill response services.
15-Jun-2010
63-20 Hike! A Proven Play from the Public/Private Development Partnership Finance Playbook
By Courtney Dunbar
For even the most visionary communities, project financing can be difficult to obtain. Add to this the fact that many projects are speculative, such as industrial parks, or have little equity to cost of development, like conference centers, public parking structures, or mixed-use developments, and the process can leave the community feeling "sacked" in its efforts.
17-May-2010
By Courtney Dunbar
While Olsson Associates offers comprehensive design solutions for public and private infrastructure projects, we are ultimately interested in partnering with our clients to provide them with the biggest "bang for their buck" for their project investments.
10-May-2010
Grand Junction Office Expands to Offer More Services to Local Community and Beyond
By Lorne Prescott, Grand Junction Office Leader
Olsson's Grand Junction office has its roots in providing environmental compliance services to the oil and gas industry. Out of those roots, Olsson has developed strong services in environmental compliance and permitting, soils and water sampling, stormwater management, and reclamation.
16-Apr-2010
MUTCD Retroreflectivity Compliance
By Justin Petersen, PE, PTOE
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has recently changed the minimum sign retroreflectivity requirements for signs along public roads and private roads open to public travel.
15-Apr-2010
BEST Helps Colorado Communities with School Building Funds
By Mike Yost, PE, LEED AP
Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) was created in 2008 to direct income from Colorado's School Trust Lands to school renovation. Ultimately, more than $500 million in state funds is expected to be matched with local funds for K-12 capital construction.
17-Mar-2010
Olsson Helps Win Federal Grant to Develop Rapid Transit in Kansas City Region
By Clyde Prem, AICP, PTP
Olsson Associates recently learned that our two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects in the Kansas City area would receive a $22 million grant, the culmination of our two years of serving as the prime consultant and being instrumental in writing the grant application.
18-Feb-2010
Olsson Associates Adds Radiographic Testing to its Non-Destructive Testing Services
Olsson Associates has provided several methods of non-destructive testing, including visual testing, ultrasound testing, phased-array testing, magnetic particle testing, and liquid dye testing, for nearly three years. Adding radiographic testing, also known as x-ray testing, not only provides another option, but has numerous advantages and allows Olsson to offer full service non-destructive testing services.
11-Feb-2010
Lessons from the 2009 Brownfields Conference
In November, the 2009 National Brownfields Conference was held in New Orleans. Olsson's Bill Imig attended and agreed to share what he learned. A "brownfield" is an area of land that contains or potentially contains environmental contaminants.
12-Jan-2010
NDOR Selects Olsson as an Approved Consultant for Construction Engineering Services
By Ryan Beckman, PE
Olsson Associates is among the firms that have been approved by the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) to provide construction engineering services to local public agencies (LPAs) statewide for any and all classes of work (i.e., urban, rural, overlay, or reconstruction) that involve FHWA funding.
16-Nov-2009
Changes to the LEED AP Program
By Katie Underwood, PE
By now, I'm sure the majority of you who are interested in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program have at least heard about the new versions of the LEED exams that started rolling out earlier this year. Although the new LEED AP testing process is a little lengthier than the previous version, there are now more options for specialization.
21-Oct-2009
By Ken Fairchild, PE
This summer the U.S. House of Representatives passed a broad climate change and energy bill (HR2454) by a 219-212 vote. The ball is now in the Senate's court, and the political pressure for action remains high.
15-Sep-2009
New Survey Standards for Airports
By Diane Hofer, PE
In May 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published new survey standards that have had a significant impact on master planning, as well as runway construction projects that are funded with FAA grants. The standards are contained in the new 492-page Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5300-18B (aka "18B").
11-Aug-2009
LEEDing the Way into Sustainable Neighborhood Development
By Jered Morris, PE
If you run out of milk, do you have to grab your keys and drive to the store, or is walking a few blocks an option? How many gallons of gas do you consume on a weekly basis as you drive kids to school or to the park? And, how much of your time, money, and energy is lost in the process?
08-Jul-2009
What Makes a Garden, a Rain Garden?
By Paul Woodward, PE, CFM
What is something that almost all projects -- roads, buildings, parks, dams, etc. -- have in common?
Give up? It's stormwater.
08-May-2009
Quality Assurance: A Spotlight on Special Inspections
By Rick Hanny
We often hear, "Why are special inspections important?" The answer is simple: Special inspections monitor materials and workmanship critical to the integrity of a building structure to provide quality assurance for a project.
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