Nathan Kautz, P.E.

Did you know that the largest public works project in history is the American Interstate Highway System? 🛣 In 1956, President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act, facilitating the construction of over 46,000 miles of highways across the nation. The role of public works departments is crucial to everyday life. Millions of Americans rely on highways for their daily commutes. Public works professionals help maintain essential roads and infrastructure like the Interstate Highway System. Track and manage the condition of your city's roads with iWorQ's pavement management software. Click the link in the comments to learn more! #publicworks #interstate #npww #pavement #infrastructure

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Not surprisingly, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is facing a significant infrastructure challenge. The structural damage to the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the March 26 collision will require an estimated $1.9 billion to rebuild, with reconstruction expected to take up to four years. The disruption will mean ongoing delays that could potentially impact supply chains. The Port of Baltimore is the 11th largest port in the country and moves the most imported cars and light trucks. Delays specific to the port could have a ripple effect on supply chains and carriers on a broader scale. https://buff.ly/3XimeSm #factors #transportationfactors #freightfactoring #truckload #freight #peruse

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“The Federal Flood Standard Support Tool helps federal agencies and their non-federal partners and grantees identify if a federally funded project will be located within a [Federal Flood Risk Management Standard] floodplain.” Federal Flood Risk Standard beta tool: https://lnkd.in/e7T5aWYv "The [Federal Flood Risk Management Standard] gives flexibility and requires agencies to select one of the three approaches for establishing the flood elevation (“how high”) and corresponding flood hazard area (“how wide”) used for project siting, design and construction: Climate Informed Science Approach (CISA): The elevation and flood hazard area that result from using the best-available, actionable hydrologic and hydraulic data and methods that integrate current and future changes in flooding based on climate science; Freeboard Value Approach (FVA): The elevation and flood hazard area that result from adding an additional 2 feet to the base flood elevation for non-critical actions and by adding an additional 3 feet to the base flood elevation for critical actions (see sketch below); or 500-year floodplain: The area subject to flooding by the 0.2% -annual-chance flood." #disasterriskreduction Image from ChatJVK

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 Citing four years of delays, poor workmanship and quality controls and zero deliveries, SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) has terminated a $185 million contract with Chinese SOE (state-owned enterprise) CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Corp.) for 45 bilevel railcars for the agency’s Regional Rail lines. SEPTA so far had paid $50 million to CRRC CRRC bid $34 million below second-place Bombardier Transportation (now Alstom) and $47 million below Hyundai Rotem. ---"QA/QC is perhaps one of the strongest reasons to implement a "Buy America" provision." #infrastructure #rail #rollingstock #buyamerica

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EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT - Serious transportation incidents in your jurisdiction, to include hazmat, could result in the NTSB conducting an investigation. One example to review is the work done around the East Palestine OH derailment. Follow the link and you will find access to all the records that have been made available to the public. https://lnkd.in/efGEN3n2

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Note: The comment period has ended for the draft connects2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the draft 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and the Air Quality Conformity Analysis (AQCA) Report. We will not be recording any further replies. Thanks to all who participated! When it comes to highway and road safety, we are not working alone! In our upcoming connects2050 transportation plan, we outline how we will work with PennDOT to use their existing safety tools. The Highway Network Screening Tool tells us what intersections and stretches of road have the most crashes. It also provides recommended changes for these areas. We can use this information when making decisions about where to direct our transportation funds. During the implementation of the plan, we will continue to work closely with PennDOT to make the best use of our shared resources.     Give us your thoughts about working with PennDOT in the comments below - we will record it as part of the official review. You can also Read the full plan and comment here: https://lnkd.in/eZcnY6qz  

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It's a good thing that Gov. DeSantis has abolished the climate crisis. #SeaLevelRise #Florida #BrianMcNoldy #UniversityOfMiami #NationalOceanicAndAtmosphericAdministration #NOAA #RandallParkinson #FloridaInternationalUniversity "Sea levels are rising, swamping roads and homes in South Florida. And it’s picked up the pace in recent years. In the last 80 years, sea level rise has risen about a foot, with 8 inches of that total in the last 30 years, said Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s best estimates, that pace is expected to speed up — dramatically. It took about 80 years for the first foot. The second one will only take 30 years. The next, 20 years. And Florida could see the next foot in merely a decade after that. “Sea level rise is beginning to speed up a bit,” McNoldy said. “If you draw a straight line it starts to not look so straight in recent decades.” That’s according to NOAA’s “intermediate-high” projection of sea level rise. The agency created a range of predictions — low, intermediate-low, intermediate, intermediate-high and high — to estimate what sea level rise could look like in places like Florida. So far, scientists have found that we’re trending toward the high end of those predictions. “Presently, sea level is tracking in the intermediate-high to high, the two fastest,” said Randall Parkinson, a coastal geologist with Florida International University. “The other three scenarios, you might not even think about because we’re already rising faster than that.” Those are the same predictions used by South Florida governments when deciding how high to build new developments. But after a new bill signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis this year, local governments hoping for state money for sea rise projects have to only consider the intermediate-low and intermediate scenarios, a downgrade from previous legislation that asked them to consider intermediate-low and intermediate-high scenarios. Two feet of sea rise by 2060, compared to present-day levels, would be a shock to the system for Miami, where the average elevation is three feet. That’s why local governments — and the state — are spending billions to keep streets dry. However, pinning down exactly how much sea rise South Florida could experience is a tough task. Researchers know the two main factors in sea level rise are the temperature of the ocean and how much the ice sheets melt. As burned fossil fuels trap more heat in the atmosphere, that heat is largely being absorbed by the ocean. Hotter water physically takes up more space than cold water, so a hotter ocean means higher sea levels. A hotter atmosphere also means gigantic ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are melting, pouring tremendous amounts of now-liquid water into the sea. ... "

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As we take part in #NWZAW and Go Orange Day, remember the annual 891 work zone fatalities and help spread awareness of #workzone safety. See the most recent report from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System for 2022 at NWZAW.org/Participate. #Orange4Safety

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Welcoming Jason Frericks, PE, PTOE, our newest Senior Project Manager in the Highway Design department! He brings 22 years of transportation engineering experience, working on a variety of traffic planning, roadway design, traffic signal design, and railroad engineering projects for DOTs, local governments, and private clients. In his new role, Jason will be managing roadway projects, working on the traffic components within those projects, and helping build the Kansas City office team. Welcome to #LifeAtLochmueller, Jason! Get to know Jason more 👇 What led you to your career path? “When I was in the 7th grade, my English teacher asked each of us to write a report on what we wanted to do when we grew up. I chose Civil Engineering since I wanted to be the one on the job site that knew what was going to be built. Now I enjoy seeing my work get constructed and solve real world problems. I enjoy transportation engineering since it has a community-focused impact of reducing congestion, improving drive times, and making roadways safer and smoother to travel.” #WhyWednesday What is your all-time favorite TV show or movie? “Any of the Bond movies.” This or that: Intersection, roundabout, or a different kind of innovative intersection? “It really depends on the situation and community you are located in. The traffic volumes may lend towards one type of intersection. If I had to pick one innovative intersection, I would say diverging diamond interchanges; it really is a creative way to solve an intersection problem at interchanges.” #newhire #welcome #welcometotheteam #newemployee #seniorprojectmanager #projectmanager #PM #roadwaydesign #highwaydesign #transportationengineering #transportation #trafficplanning #trafficsignaldesign #railroadengineering #civilengineering #solvingrealworldproblems

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Hilliard is ready for passenger rail! Check out this study showing that there would be significant benefits to placing a future Amtrak passenger rail station in Hilliard. Two adjacent sites that are part of the study share easy access to I-270, land that is already owned by the City of Hilliard, and existing restaurant, hotel, and retail amenities that would serve passengers! The study indicates the sites are ideally suited for a suburban station that would support the Federal Railroad Administration’s considerations to reintroduce passenger rail service through Central Ohio – and could accommodate up to 100,000 arrivals and departures per year! Read more and see the study: https://bit.ly/3TZYP4J #Amtrak #FederalRailroadAdministration #OhioRailDevelopmentCommission

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Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) continues to be a major economic engine for the city of Jacksonville and the greater North Florida area. Here’s an AI generated assessment of the impact. JAXPORT has a significant economic impact on the Jacksonville economy, with the following effects: - *Job creation*: Cargo activity through Jacksonville's seaport supports 206,927 jobs in Florida, with 28,194 people employed in port-dependent positions in the Jacksonville area. - *Economic output*: JAXPORT accounts for $33 billion in annual economic output for the region and state. - *Port-dependent jobs*: Port-dependent jobs pay an average annual salary of $76,356, well above the state average. - *Cruise industry impact*: The cruise industry in Jacksonville is responsible for more than 870 jobs and $211 million in annual economic impact. - *Growth*: JAXPORT has experienced double-digit growth in its total statewide job impact over the last five years. - *Infrastructure investment*: The investment in port infrastructure and the St. Johns River Deepening Project has resulted in job growth and increased diversification of markets and cargoes served by JAXPORT.

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The NTC is working closely with state transportation officials to understand the impact of the FSK bridge collapse on traffic in the region. Learn more about what to expect on the region's roads from Dr. Mansoureh Jeihani and the research team in today's Baltimore Sun!

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Next time you see someone “jaywalking” instead of crossing at an intersection, please understand that this behavior is often a calculation of risk and not a “death wish”. Our roads, and especially our intersections, are #DangerousByDesign - designed for the purpose of moving vehicles as quickly and efficiently through space, often at the expense of humans who are not protected by two tons of metal. We can and should address our road violence crisis through design and policy changes. It is simply unacceptable and immoral that we have the solutions to prevent thousands of deaths and serious injuries every year and fail to implement proven solutions at a more rapid pace.

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Excellent panel discussion from The Leaders Moving the I-4 Corridor Foward. Several exciting infrastructure improvements planned for Central Florida roadways.

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Faced with increasing natural disasters and extreme weather events, AtkinsRéalis has been awarded the first ever Georgia Department of Transportation statewide #Resilience Improvement Plan services contract. We’re helping ensure critical #Transportation infrastructure is prepared for every weather scenario by effectively assessing risks and prioritizing improvements to harden against unavoidable shocks and stressors. Learn more about how we are helping Georgia become more resilient towards threats and hazards: https://lnkd.in/epqVd_7Y #EngineeringaBetterFuture

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In what seems like a very short time, it looks as though the Port of Baltimore is set to reopen as soon as next week. Explosives are being used to break off final pieces of the Francis Scott Key Bridge from the Dali to allow it to be moved. This article states they expect to move the Dali as soon as 48 hours after it is freed opening the port to most vessels early next week. #PeopleDriveLogistics #ScottKeyBridge #Dali #3pl #3pls #3pllogistics #3plsolutions #transportation #transportationindustry #transportationmanagement #international #internationalshipping #shipping #shippingindustry #shippingworldwide #logistics #logisticssolutions #logisticsmanagement 

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I was honored to be in attendance last Friday to assist Florida Department of Transportation District 5 launch the first-of-its-kind Safety Strategic Plan (SSP). As a sponsor of the inaugural Central Florida Safety Summit, Burgess & Niple was proud to be part of developing the SSP and the planning and execution of the Summit. It was a noticeably different event with an impactful first-hand story of tragedy and hope on our roadways, a motivational message from culture-changing expert Jason Barger and most importantly, a challenge to all in attendance to work together differently and take a critical next step to get to Zero. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings provided the keynote address to more than 250 stakeholders (i.e. Cities, Counties, MPOs/TPOs, law enforcement agencies and schools) from across the District 5 nine County area, all working together to get to Zero! This action-oriented SSP will increase collaboration between all stakeholders, continue to build on the core safety mission to improve the built environment but most notably, move BEYOND INFRASTRUCTURE. What does moving BEYOND INFRASTRUCTURE mean? Under the leadership of FDOT District 5 Secretary John Tyler, PE and FDOT District 5 Safety Administrator Loreen Bobo, PE, the District is forging a new path by recognizing we cannot rely on infrastructure changes alone to reach our safety and Target Zero goals.  We recognize we cannot just build our way to Zero! We must incorporate behavioral and culture-changing strategies into our approach and practice to improve safety for all road users. We must examine existing laws and explore future legislative remedies to some of the most recognized, yet most resistant safety issues… distracted driving, speeding and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. We must advocate now for new driver education programs to shape the behavior of drivers before they’re drivers! With four drivers under the age of 22 at home, I am personally invested in supporting these District 5 efforts and look forward to making a strong push to get to Zero for as long as it takes. As Secretary Tyler said in his challenge to all attendees: “If not us, who? If not now, when?” If you’re looking for true leadership on a vitally important issue affecting society today, it was present last Friday and can be found in the District 5 Safety Strategic Plan!

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A recent article from Construction Dive breaks down a new audit from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The audit highlights the need for better oversight on state transportation projects, among other things. Visit the link below to learn more! #Infrastructure #ConstructionNews #PaveConnect https://lnkd.in/gQaQzi25

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