WINTER More ideas. Better solutions.®
IN THIS ISSUE STEM outreach introduces students to career opportunities…….............2 Negotiate a win-win relationship with private developers…….................5 Could floods impact your community?..................12
LEED-Certified Skyline Tower transforms busy campus area....8
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Most businesses start as an outlet to do something people love to do that is valued by others. Making money is a requirement to stay in the game, but is not very often the sole reason a business is created. As I imagine my future self and reflect on what I accomplished in my career, or in my life, I expect to look back with pride on the hand I had in creating cleaner water in our communities and in developing people to be their best. Our goal of performing as a sustainable business is only icing on the cake.
Outreach introduces students to STEM careers
MSA asked ourselves the question of “What is our Purpose?” in 2015, and it led to some intriguing internal dialogue. We held 25 focus groups across the company. What emerged was our new purpose statement:
Presentation solidified aspiring surveyor’s career ambitions
Reflections Why does a company need a Purpose? Aren’t they all just trying to make money?
MSA enables people to positively impact the lives of others. One of the things we liked about this statement is that it can be interpreted in many ways. The people could be MSA engineers, architects or planners helping our clients achieve their goals. Or it could refer to our clients being enabled to improve the lives of their tenants or citizenry. It can also refer to people inside of MSA helping their co-workers complete their tasks, which in turn will benefit someone else. And it can refer to our public service contributions to our communities. All of these would be true. In this issue of MSA Today, you will find examples of MSA staff members living their purpose. The Skyline Tower in Champaign is an award-winning, silver-LEED® certified, residential tower that undoubtedly contributes to the lives of its tenants, while benefiting society through its sustainable features. The story on MSA’s outreach activities to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education is another way in which we are trying to positively impact lives. By encouraging more kids to follow a science-based curriculum, we hope to inspire the next generation of problem-solving engineers and scientists. We have found the exercise of better articulating our purpose to be fulfilling and inspiring, and it allows all of our employees to better understand what motivates them to get out of bed in the morning. That’s the purpose of Purpose. Best regards,
Gil Hantzsch, President/CEO
As a Tomahawk (WI) High School senior, Michaela Galganski knew she wanted a career that would allow her to work outside. MSA guest speakers who presented at her Civil Engineering Class in April 2015 helped clarify Galganski’s career goals; she wanted to become a surveyor.
Michaela Galganski checks out a data collector that was shared by MSA as part of a high school classroom presentation.
MSA’s Jeff DeMuth, P.L.S., and Jamie Anderson, P.E., talked to the high school seniors about how surveying and engineering work together to create successful projects that help make people’s lives better. Galganski, 18, is now pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Applied Sciences at Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. “Once Jeff talked to us, I knew I really wanted to get into surveying. He was the first surveyor I ever talked to,” she said. The career appeals to Galganski because the job is always changing and it combines technology with social interaction.
3 DeMuth learned of her career decision after speaking at a recent Wausau Area Land Surveyors meeting that she attended. DeMuth was thrilled that his high school presentation had such a positive influence on Galganski. “It is a great moment when you realize that your outreach efforts have made the difference in someone’s life,” DeMuth said. STEM in the classroom MSA, like many other professional services companies, sees the value of promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) in our classrooms. President/CEO Gilbert Hantzsch believes STEM-based organizations should bring their employees into local schools to share their knowledge. “Let’s pitch the value of professional engineering licenses to students before they sit behind the wheel to earn their driver’s licenses,” he said. Many MSA personnel throughout the Upper Midwest share a passion for introducing students to potential STEM careers. MSA’s involvement with schools began decades ago with the Baraboo School District and continues today. Our firm’s engineers lead programs in the classrooms and they worked with educators to develop a curriculum that aligns with Next Generation Science Standards. For our efforts, MSA was named to the 2015 Business Honor Roll by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards.
Outreach Efforts
MSA’s Jeff DeMuth, P.L.S., reviews a surveying project with Michaela Galganski, a Mid-State Technical College student.
Growing public-private partnerships Many STEM-focused private entities are offering a new level of support to their local schools. Participation contributes to the pipeline of future recruits for STEM businesses, provides an opportunity for employees, particularly millennials, to do something purposeful that builds loyalty to their organizations and boosts community goodwill. Hantzsch said, “This participation makes good business sense and I believe it will become standard practice for private entities. The demand for a skilled STEM workforce will continue to increase. Early exposure to STEM careers is one way to encourage the technical workforce we will need in the future to remain competitive in the worldwide marketplace.”
Girls in Science Youngsters made gumdrop structures, including a road (on right), at the Girls in Science Festival, supported by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Nichole Sungren, P.E.
Nichole Sungren, P.E., volunteered at the Girls in Science Festival at the Science Center of Iowa, in Des Moines. In the photo, youngsters are making gumdrop structures, including a road (at left). The event is supported by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Sungren is a senior project engineer at MSA’s Des Moines office. “There was an amazing response from young girls who were interested in the STEM fields,” she said. “The industry needs to sponsor these kinds of events, have our female engineers attend and act as role models for these girls. We can show them the possibilities of what they can do as engineers in the future.”
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Engineering Encounter The Minnesota Society of Professional Engineering sponsored an Engineering Encounter at Riverview Elementary School in Farmington, Minnesota. About 250 students and family members participated in the event that was designed for elementary school-aged children who have not yet been introduced to chemistry or physics courses. Children enjoyed circuit play, crazy cars and other activities.
Children enjoyed circuit play, crazy cars and other activities at the Engineering Encounter in Farmington, MN.
Luke Jones, P.E.
“Being able to share in the students’ first experience with hands-on science experiments was a blast. We showed them that science can be fun!” said Luke Jones, P.E., MSA’s St. Paul office. “Their enthusiasm was unmatched, questions genuine and designs unique.”
4-H Astronomy Workshop Shannon Lybarger, LEED AP, electrical engineering designer at MSA’s Champaign office, is a co-leader of a 4-H club with about 50 children ranging in ages from 5 to 18. She believes “it is critical to promote math and science for both boys and girls in 6th – 8th grade. Schools need to continue offering the ‘fun’ hands-on projects that are prevalent in elementary school. 4-H promotes these activities and other school programs should do the same.” For example, members of the Student Space Systems, a high-powered rocketry organization at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, challenged youth at a 4-H Astronomy Workshop. Participants worked to solve a problem using everyday materials. Pictured from left to right are: Frankie O’Donnell, Lexie Mohr, Morgan Lybarger and Connor O’Donnell.
Student Space Systems challenged Champaign, Illinois youth at a 4-H Astronomy Workshop. They were asked to solve a problem using everyday materials.
Shannon Lybarger, LEED AP
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Developer’s Agreement MSA worked with the Village of Cross Plains on a Developer’s Agreement for the West Gateway Development project at the site of the former Zander Creamery. MSA also completed a conceptual redevelopment plan for the property and environmental site assessment.
Negotiate a win-win relationship with private developers
A community’s engineer and/or planner can be part of the team that prepares the agreement, typically with final review completed by each side’s attorneys. A successful outcome can lead to an increased tax base for the community, while providing financial rewards for the developer. During negotiations, each side should be sure to clarify their expectations and understand their obligations.
Agreements offer protection for municipalities
MSA Senior Planner Andrew Bremer, AICP, indicated that Developer’s Agreements are mandatory within Tax Increment Finance Districts (TIDs) in Wisconsin. When TIDs aren’t involved, these agreements are still a best practice, he said.
Is private development picking up in your community―or do you wish it would? When that proposal lands on your desk, will you be ready to craft a Developer’s Agreement that protects your community, while still encouraging the project to move forward?
Financing a Project When tax incremental financing (TIF) is involved, developers typically work with municipalities in one of three ways:
In the best case scenario, a developer builds a project that’s expected to increase a community’s tax base. Of course, tales abound of unsuccessful projects where cities are left with unfinished projects or poorly designed infrastructure. A comprehensive Developer’s Agreement establishes expectations and offers protection for all involved. Set the Stage for Success “Set the stage for mutual success,” said MSA Vice President Chuck Bongard. “Each side must work at developing trust as the negotiations proceed. You need to have a well-defined process and consistently applied policies. Developer’s Agreements can help achieve those goals.”
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Municipality provides a loan to the developer
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Municipality provides grant dollars to the developer
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Developers are repaid a specified amount of the tax increment created by their project over a pre-agreedupon time frame – this is referred to as “pay-as-you-go”
The first and second options provide the developer with upfront financing at the start of their development project, while the third does not. Sometimes a combination of these options are used to complete a project. In all cases the municipality should negotiate guarantees of the developer, such as property assessment targets, letters of credit, bonds, or a mortgage security.
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Cashton Greens Business Park; Organic Valley Distribution Center, Village of Cashton Developer’s Agreements were used for the projects listed above: Williamsburg Way Roundabout, DeForest, Wisconsin, left; and Cashton Greens Business Park, Organic Valley Distribution Center, Village of Cashton, Wisconsin.
Williamsburg Way Roundabout
MSA Vice President Brian Miller said that one of his municipal clients had a letter of credit, but it was from a financial institution without assets. He recommends vetting any financial institution before accepting a form of surety. Bremer brings in MSA’s technical expertise, including, engineering, environmental, landscape architecture and planning, to review development projects. He also prepares a pro forma analysis to help determine if the proposed project makes financial sense for the municipality. Enhancing Developer’s Agreements MSA works with communities to advise them of potential impacts of a proposed development. We help protect a municipality’s interests in the following ways: • Review infrastructure plans (sewer, water, stormwater, sidewalk, street lighting, etc.) to make sure they comply with a municipality’s standards and overall vision for the development site • Determine if infrastructure should be upsized (i.e., a larger water main) at the municipality’s expense, for existing or planned projects not related to a developer’s project • Obtain a developer’s cooperation to help seek grant funding, if available • Stipulate that a developer will pay for a city engineer’s plan review and construction-related services
Public Side
MSA Vice President Steve Thompson reported, “It’s very common for us to have heavy involvement in the water and wastewater portion of a Developer’s Agreement, trying to arrive at a fair and equitable solution for both parties. We typically investigate the system’s ability to serve the additional demand on the system, and calculate the costs associated for improvement, which can then be incorporated into an agreement.” In Farley, Iowa, for example, MSA worked with the City and a biofuel producer to negotiate into their agreement a user charge proportionate to the cost of improvement required to meet their anticipated demands. For another project, MSA worked with a developer and the City of Decatur, Illinois to amend the incentives in the agreement to encourage further development on the site. Each community has unique goals when preparing a Developer’s Agreement. A municipality needs to balance its desire for encouraging new growth with the protections that they should get for itself and taxpayers. For information about preparing Developer’s Agreements, contact abremer@msa-ps.com.
Benefits of Developer’s Agreements
Growth or a Growth Catalyst Redevelopment of a Blighted Area Improved Tax Base Increased Employment/Jobs Improved Public Amenities
Private Side
Financial Reward Advantageous Timing and Schedule Enhanced Reputation Sustainable Projects Well-Planned Projects
www.msa-ps.com
Grants
Illinois
Organization: Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity Economic Development & Emergency Public Infrastructure Deadline: Ongoing for each program
Public Infrastructure Deadline: TBD (Anticipate first week of July)
Organization: Illinois Department of Natural Resources Boat Access Area Development Program Deadline: July 1st through September 1st Snowmobile Trail Program/Snowmobile Trail Enhancement Program Deadline: May 1st for each program
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Organization: Minnesota Dept. of Employment & Economic Development (DEED) Small Cities Development Program
Deadline: November 2016
Organization: MN Pollution Control Agency; MN Public Facility Authority, MN Dept. of Health
Drinking Water Revolving Fund Deadline: May 2016
lean Water Revolving Fund & Wastewater Facilities Plans or C Stormwater Project Plans Deadline: March 2016 for each program
Intended Use Plans for Clean Water and Drinking Water Deadline: June 2016
Organization: Illinois Department of Transportation Economic Development Deadline: Ongoing
Wisconsin
Community Development Block Grant - Public Facilities Program Deadline: May 20, 2016 (estimated)
Organization: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Municipal Brownfield Redevelopment Grant Deadline: January 1st and July 1st
Community Development Block Grant - Planning Program Deadline: May 20, 2016 (estimated)
Water & Wastewater State Revolving Funds (Pre-application) Deadline: Ongoing
Section 319 - Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Deadline: June 1st through July 31st
Truck Access Route Program Deadline: Annual Fall Solicitation
Iowa
Organization: Iowa Economic Development Authority CDBG Water/Sewer Deadline: January 2017 CDBG Housing Sustainability Deadline: January 2017 CDBG Community Facilities Deadline: January 2017 CDBG Downtown Revitalization Deadline: February 2017 Organization: Iowa State Revolving Loan Fund Planning & Design Loan and Intended Use Plan (IUP) Applications Deadline: Quarterly for each program
Minnesota
Organization: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Local Trail Connections Grant or Outdoor Recreation Grant Deadline: March 31, 2016
Organization: Wisconsin Department of Administration
Organization: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Environmental Improvement Fund (CWFP and SDWLP): Notice of Intent to Apply Form (ITA) and Priority Evaluation & Ranking Form (PERF) to secure eligibility for the DNR funds Deadline: October 31, 2016
Clean Water Fund Deadline: Hardship Funding Assistance Applications due June 30, 2016; Regular Program Applications due September 30, 2016; Small Loan Program, Rolling Applications
Safe Drinking Water Loan Program Deadline: June 30, 2016
Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program Grants Deadline: May 1, 2016
Organization: Wisconsin Department of Transportation Transportation Economic Assistance Deadline: Ongoing
Federal
Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants Deadline: Varies, contact local MSA representative
For information on all states, contact funding@msa-ps.com.
Mary Wagner, P.E., Funding Administrator
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Illinois
The structure’s vegetative roof, the first of its type on Green Street, features LEED®-approved native plants.
LEED-Certified Skyline Tower transforms busy campus area What does the construction of LEED®-certified buildings mean for your community? For a growing number of owners and tenants, the third party certification is desirable and they are willing to pay a premium for the “green” design. These thriving properties will encourage economic development. The U.S. Green Building Council established the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 15 years ago. According to the council, “LEED-certified buildings save money and resources and have a positive impact on the health of occupants, while promoting renewable, clean energy.” Skyline Tower, a 14-story, LEED-certified structure in Champaign located only a few blocks from the University of Illinois campus, was at full occupancy prior to the building’s opening in 2014 and continues to be a popular location. The 80,000-square-foot
Skyline Tower at 519 E. Green Street, recently named the busiest pedestrian intersection in Urbana-Champaign, is located only a few blocks away from the University of Illinois campus.
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Skyline Tower replaced aged lower-rise buildings.
building owned by Bankier Apartment Rentals features nine floors of apartments, one floor of common areas, three floors of parking and one floor of commercial space. The new structure transformed Champaign’s busiest pedestrian intersection at Green and 6th Street. Aged lower-rise buildings once served Campustown at this location that features multiple eateries and numerous retail and service businesses. But now, thanks to the construction of Skyline Tower, the site is a dense urban development creating commercial and residential opportunities. Sustainable elements enhance structure The building’s sustainable elements benefit the tenants and owner, and demonstrate the value of LEED design for other property owners in the area.
Skyline Tower residents enjoy living close to the University of Illinois and nearby restaurants and shops.
roof system, was chosen because of its ability to come pre-grown, with LEED-approved native plants. This was important due to the tight completion deadline and extremely tight staging area.
Those elements include energy-efficient LED lighting and use of regional and recycled materials, such as concrete, metal framing, gypsum board and insulation. A glass façade offers open views of Green Street. Vision glazing, used for a large portion of the building, enhances views and provides daylight for most spaces, often from multiple angles.
Single Source MSA served as a single source for all design work on this project. The firm’s ability to provide all services in-house resulted in a comprehensive and coordinated approach that achieved all of the client’s goals. ASCE Central Illinois recently named Skyline Tower as the Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement for 2015.
The structure’s vegetative roof was the first of its type on Green Street and a first for Bankier Apartments. LiveRoof®, the vegetative
For information about LEED design, contact Eric Peterson, AIA, at epeterson@msa-ps.com.
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Iowa
A contractor installs bricks in a designated pattern on a City street. The bricks are placed in three-foot by three-foot squares and then rotated to create a pattern. MSA provided survey, design and construction-related services for eight of the City’s new Green Alleys. The design for each alley and the associated permeable paver system addresses that site’s unique features. MSA’s design for this Green Alley had to match existing driveway slopes, while smoothing out the dips and bumps of the old alley.
Green Alleys step out of the shadows to star in water quality effort Grant helps City of Dubuque finance 20-year project
Who cares about alleys? Typically, they’re a forgotten part of a city – hidden and unappreciated. But not so in the City of Dubuque. A multi-phased $57 million project is transforming unsightly alleys into attractive infrastructure assets. They’re reducing the volume of stormwater in the Bee Branch Watershed and preventing polluted runoff from reaching the Mississippi River.
Mitigation Program that allocates grants to cities and counties to implement long-term flood mitigation and protection projects. In 2013, the City was awarded $98.5 million for the Bee Branch
Other communities are watching Dubuque’s Green Alleys project to determine if the conversion is one they wish to follow. The stakes are high at many levels – environmental, governmental, social and economic. Green Alleys have been used in several other Midwestern states, but this is the first project in Iowa of this magnitude, said MSA Vice President Steve Thompson, P.E. “The City of Dubuque, as a riverside community bordering the Mississippi River, cares deeply about protecting the environment. This long-term project will improve water quality to benefit the river and watershed.” State funds water quality project Emphasizing the water quality and quantity impacts this project would have, the City was awarded funds through the Iowa Flood
Dubuque’s Green Alleys feature permeable pavement that reduces the volume of runoff by allowing stormwater to soak into the ground. MSA’s initial involvement in this project was to develop a calculation tool to quantify the actual benefits to be achieved by the program, in terms of both flood reduction and water quality treatment. With slight modifications to the design, the performance of the permeable pavement system was improved to capture 100% of the water quality volume. The design also is reducing Total Suspended Solids in stormwater runoff by about 80%. (Graphic courtesy of the City of Dubuque)
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Before
Construction of the Green Alleys at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church was phased to provide continuous access. The pictures show the church before (at right) and after construction.
Watershed. One component of this multi-phased project is approximately $57.4 million earmarked to reconstruct roughly 240 alleys over 20 years using a permeable paver system. The permeable pavements allow infiltration of air and water. The specially designed interlocking concrete pavers have openings that allow water to pass between the pavers and percolate through two to three feet of stone aggregate and then into the soils below. These pavers are an attractive addition to Dubuque’s alleys, which are often a forgotten and neglected part of many neighborhoods. New alleys inspire property owners The new Green Alleys are creating a ripple effect of improvements throughout the City. The attractive alleys are encouraging residents to clean up their properties and make additional cosmetic changes, which are expected to increase property values. This conversion project also promotes pride in the older sections of this community, while protecting the environment.
Construction of the Green Alleys, a key element of the Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation project, will help prevent flooding, improve water quality, encourage economic development and beautify neighborhoods. Ultimately, the reach of this project is much wider than Dubuque’s city limits. The efforts the City is putting forth today will reduce the amount of polluted runoff entering the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. For information, contact Steve Thompson at sthompson@msa-ps.com.
For information on all states, contact funding@msa-ps.com.
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Minnesota Before
Could floods impact your community? Learn how to protect property and maximize funding relief In just hours, torrential rains and devastating floods can damage infrastructure and disrupt communities. Recovery, on the other hand, can take years of costly repair, a fact well known by many Minnesota residents who have survived severe flooding in recent years. Are you ready to minimize potential damage in your community? “You can’t prepare for every emergency,” said MSA Vice President Brian Miller, P.E., “but there are steps you can take to mitigate flooding and then to efficiently deal with the disaster in the short- and long-term.” Miller offered a three-pronged plan for addressing potential flooding issues before, during and after a significant rainfall.
Flooding in June 2012 eroded the banks of Merritt Creek in west Duluth. (Inset) Our team coordinated efforts with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ staff to minimize permitting comments in this sensitive trout stream. To promote a more natural restoration, the project conserved adjacent trees, repurposed flood debris as rip rap and used compost from the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District to encourage plant growth and stabilize the site.
Prepare for Emergency One of the first proactive steps a community can take is to join the National Flood Insurance Program. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said this program provides affordable insurance to property owners and encourages communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations. According to FEMA, “these efforts help mitigate the effects of flooding on new and improved structures.” For information, contact the National Flood Insurance Program support hotline at (800) 621-3362. Other proactive measures are to create accurate floodplain maps and ordinances to preserve floodplains and minimize opportunities for property damage. Don’t allow residents or businesses to build in the floodplain or expand properties already located in the floodplain. In addition, cities located in flood-prone areas should have an emergency plan that outlines what to do to protect people and property.
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An uphill slope landslide caused vegetation to blanket a portion of D Street.
In the City of Mendota, located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers in Dakota County, heavy rainfall caused landslides in 2014. During Emergency The severe conditions fractured a portion D Street and caused to After the flood waters subside, localofofficials face the itchallenge of vertically slide about 16 inches. Poor fill was used under the original road, rebuilding infrastructure and navigating through complex governbuilt around 1900. mental regulations.
In order to maximize the likelihood that your reimbursement requests will be honored, be sure to document expenses and labor time above and beyond normal expenses, and take photos of the damage. Post-Emergency Miller recommends getting a written commitment from FEMA prior to embarking on a post-emergency repair project. Generally, FEMA rules don’t allow communities to improve infrastructure above pre-existing conditions.
MSA stabilized a steep slope above the roadway and repaired the slip plane. Our team helped the City obtain federal funding for the repairs.
Local officials need to understand which improvement costs will be covered and to what level the community will be expected to contribute, if a project exceeds pre-existing conditions. Many grant and funding programs are available to assist with disaster recovery. Understanding the nuances of program requirements and applications is even more critical when you’re dealing with the unexpected and critical infrastructure expenses.
There’s no silver bullet to prevent heavy rains, but communities can plan ahead to reduce flood damage or at least have a plan in place to deal with a natural disaster, if it does occur. For assistance, contact Brian Miller at bmiller@msa-ps.com.
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Wisconsin
Sprocket Drive, located over the Military Ridge Path, includes two access ramps and a precast bike tunnel. The Arrowhead redevelopment project improves the quality and flexibility of transportation infrastructure.
Think Beyond Roads: Fitchburg’s industrial park redevelopment benefits major employers and trail users Industrial parks are often lauded for the economic development they spark, the jobs they bring, etc. But have you ever thought about the indirect benefits they offer? More specifically, have you thought about industrial park redevelopment in the context of an opportunity to create multi-use transportation corridors? That’s the approach City of Fitchburg leaders took when considering the community’s Arrowhead Industrial Park redevelopment project. They placed a high priority on improving multi-modal transportation. MSA worked with the City to construct new roadways to improve the quality and flexibility of transportation infrastructure and systems in the area, and add development capacity for new businesses. But the project also provides additional access to bicycle and pedestrian trails to increase recreational opportunities for residents and the local workforce.
Spoke and Sprocket Drives provide needed access for vehicles – and turkeys. Prior to design of the project, key stakeholders participated in the development of the Arrowhead Redevelopment Plan, developed by MSA. The project implemented the first phase of many of the plan’s recommendations, including the construction of the new roadways and easy access to multimodal transportation.
Increased Capacity “An ongoing challenge for development in Arrowhead is peak-hour transportation capacity of the nearby intersection of Verona and McKee Roads,” observed Fitchburg Mayor Steve Arnold. “By building serious, year-around, bicycle transportation highways in former railroad corridors, capacity for commuter traffic to Arrowhead has been significantly increased, allowing for more intense development.” As a result of the community’s newfound connectedness, the City of Fitchburg received a national Bicycle Friendly Community award by the League of American Bicyclists. It is one of eight communities in Wisconsin to earn this honor. Mayor Arnold observed that Saris Cycling Group, one of the employers in the industrial park, is also recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Business for its programs to promote bicycle commuting by its employees.
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Providing additional access to this industrial park was of key importance to the City because of a major Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) project planned in 2018 that will limit access to the area. MSA assisted the City with the successful application and administration of a $1 million Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) program grant to the City of Fitchburg. The grant helped fund the design and construction of Spoke and Sprocket Drives. The project required the cooperation of key employers during the design development process. Certco, Inc. and Saris, two of the employers, committed to the retention of 404 jobs. Now numerous businesses in the Arrowhead Development are benefiting from greater access. Bicycle roundabout acts as hub In addition, WisDOT awarded the City a Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Program grant of nearly $510,000 to help fund the Cannonball/Military Ridge Paths that led to the first bike roundabout in the region.
The Military Ridge Path, located off of Sprocket Drive, offers easy access for recreational activities in the Arrowhead Industrial Park.
Fitchburg Mayor Steve Arnold joined the Wisconsin Bike Federation’s Community Ride to the Capitol Square during Wisconsin Bike Week.
The City hired MSA to design the 2.3-mile Cannonball/Military Ridge Paths and provide project administration. The 10-foot-wide asphalt path with grass shoulders complies with AASHTO’s Bike Trail Design Guide and the Wisconsin Bicycle Facility Design Handbook. Project Benefits By creating access to industries, the Arrowhead Industrial Redevelopment Project encourages Fitchburg industries to stay in the area and continue providing good jobs. The interconnected bicycle and pedestrian trails enhance the quality of life for residents and the workforce. For information about multi-modal redevelopment, contact MSA Vice President Mike Maloney at mmaloney@msa-ps.com.
The bike roundabout features a wayfinding sign with the multiple trail options.
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MSA Today
Editor: Leslie Blaize, CPSM lblaize@msa-ps.com Contributing Designer: Alyssa Scheuneman MSA Professional Services 1230 South Blvd., Baraboo, WI 53913 (800) 362-4505 www.msa-ps.com
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