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Greetings from Kansas City
Within the past month we learned that we helped one of our clients win a $50 million federal grant, funded through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants program. We're very excited about the opportunities that these Bus Rapid Transit projects will create for the Kansas City area. In March we welcomed James Landrum to our Olathe Geotechnical team -- and we're excited to have him onboard. I'd also like to recognize Tim Andersen from our Environmental group for his appointment to the AREMA committee. His project experience will make him a great asset to this committee. If you have questions or would like more information on the information shared in this e-newsletter, or about any of our services, don't hesitate to give me a call. Sterling Cramer, PE, LEED AP Kansas City Office Leader 913.748.2519 or scramer@oaconsulting.com |
Olsson Helps Win Federal Grant to Develop Rapid Transit in Kansas City Region
By Clyde Prem, AICP, PTP, Transportation Planning and Transit Team
We 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.
This grant is part of a broader $50 million stimulus grant for the KC area, which was announced on February 17 by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced $1.5 billion in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants at this time. Grants were provided to more than 50 high-priority, innovative transportation projects across the country, and they are funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
 Projects eligible for TIGER funding included highways, bridges, transit, passenger and freight rail, and port infrastructure. The U.S. DOT received nearly 1,400 grant applications requesting more than $57 billion from all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
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Welcome James Landrum!
 We're excited to welcome James Landrum as a senior geotechnical engineer for our Olathe office. James has 15 years of professional geotechnical engineering experience, having worked on a variety of projects, including schools, industrial and commercial buildings, dams, roadways, bridges and retaining structures. In his new role at Olsson Associates, James will manage complex geotechnical projects and develop and manage local and national clients. He also will serve as a mentor for young geotechnical professionals. | |
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Featured Project: Bus Route and Schedule Design | Lawrence, Kansas
Coordinating Routes for Efficiency
The City of Lawrence, home to two dynamic transit systems, hired Olsson to prepare a route and schedule design to coordinate its transportation plan. The University of Kansas' "KU On Wheels" has transported students to class from the residential areas surrounding the campus since the 1970s. The City Transit system, "The T," has provided residents with citywide transportation options since 2001. READ MORE |
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AREMA Committee Membership
 Tim Andersen of Olsson's Environmental team was accepted for appointment to the environmental committee (Committee 13) of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA).  AREMA's mission is the development and advancement of both technical and practical knowledge and recommended practices pertaining to the design, construction, and maintenance of railway infrastructure. Committee 13 is responsible for the development and publication of recommended criteria for environmental concerns. Tim looks forward to serving this committee, whose members include environmental representatives from numerous railroad companies, some of which are our clients. | |
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Around the Firm
Jeff Jenkins joined Olsson in February as our new chief financial officer. READ MORE
* * * * *  Olsson's KC Southland office provided volunteers for the March 4th burning of the Blue River Glades near Swope Park in Kansas City, Missouri. Olsson is a corporate partner in the KC Wildlands group that works to restore native habitat across the metropolitan area through volunteer workdays.
Olsson staff members who volunteered include Shannon Tyree, Mikel Paiva, Justin Cox, and Jonathan Polak.
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