24 minute read
Advancing Sustainable Communities
Welcome to News + Views!
From smart buildings and future-facing transportation networks to industry-leading water systems, our goal is to help clients navigate the planning processes and emerging technologies that fuel the growth, prosperity, and well-being of communities worldwide.
This issue focuses on how we are advancing such solutions with a keen eye toward sustainability. Each article demonstrates how we partner with clients to meet their project needs — no matter where, how complex, or what size. Every project is important to us because every community matters.
Our feature article spotlights our Water Sector. Around the world, people are struggling with dwindling access to clean water. Our water experts work to manage and protect our precious water resources, and we are proud to profile some of those key projects.
Lastly, it is our pleasure to announce that Introba and Landrum & Brown are partnering with TYLin in global sustainability. Together, we are committed to leveraging our collaborative spirit, collective wisdom, and creativity to enable a world where infrastructure empowers communities while also safeguarding the planet.
Best wishes,
Matt Cummings, Chief Executive Officer of TYLin Head of Sidara Global Infrastructure Brands
Feature Article: Water Wise
Water is life and protecting this precious resource calls for all the wisdom, experience, and vision we have as engineers and architects.
The world is facing a global water crisis due to factors such as climate change, aging infrastructure, expansive population growth, and emerging contaminants. As experts with a 100-year legacy of water innovation, we are not only responding to this crisis, but we are also providing strategic guidance to our client partners – developing holistic solutions that prepare communities for an affordable, resilient, and water-secure future.
Feature Article: Our Sustainability Partners
TYLin is one of three brands with a shared vision that provide a wide range of services – from engineering and design, project management, and sustainability consulting to planning, digital strategy, and energy.
Together, we use bold innovation and an unwavering devotion to sustainability to enable a world where infrastructure and the built environment empower communities and protect a thriving planet.
Wins:
Sunshine Skyway Bridge Corridor 2025-2029 Engineering Contract (Tampa, Florida, USA)
For the third consecutive time, TYLin has successfully secured the Skyway Bridge Corridor Engineering Services Contract with the Florida Department of Transportation District 1&7 Structures Maintenance Office (FDOT). This high-profile contract underscores our expertise and commitment to maintaining critical infrastructure.
The Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge, often referred to as “Florida’s Flagship Bridge,” spans Tampa Bay, connecting St. Petersburg in Pinellas County to Terra Ceia in Manatee County. The 4.1-mile crossing accommodates over 50,000 vehicles each day.
Our involvement with this cable-stayed landmark began in 2015, when FDOT entrusted us with its maintenance. During the interview, the South Region Bridge team emphasized our in-depth knowledge of the Skyway Bridge, including its history, current condition, and the path to extending its service life beyond 100 years.
Firestone Boulevard Improvement Project (Norwalk, California, USA)
TYLin is leading the Construction Management & Inspection for the Firestone Boulevard Improvement Project from Studebaker Road to Imperial Highway in Norwalk, California. The project will expand Firestone Boulevard from five lanes to six lanes, widen the bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad spur tracks, add Class II bicycle lanes, and enhance safety for drivers and pedestrians.
Our project team includes Project Manager Mazen Mneimneh, PE, Karim Varshochi, and Abigail Manrique.
On-Call Engineering Design and Support Services for LA County Public Works Design Division (Los Angeles County, California, USA)
Los Angeles County in southern California is the largest county in the U.S. and a leader in promoting environmental justice, sustainability, and equity for local communities through initiatives and programs like Equity in Infrastructure, Vision Zero, and its Climate Action Plan. Los Angeles County Public Works constructs and maintains the extensive network of County infrastructure, including roadways, bridges, dams, buildings, waterworks, sewers, and airports. The Design Division of the Department of Public Works has selected TYLin to provide on-call engineering design and support services to bolster their internal capability to design and deliver County infrastructure projects.
In August, TYLin’s Chief Executive Officer Matt Cummings and Chief Financial Officer William Harnagel signed TYLin’s first-ever on-call contract with LA County Public Works. This USD 30 million, three-year contract was a cross-sector collaboration led by Roads + Highways, with involvement from the Rail + Transit, Bridge, Aviation, and Water Sectors, and our global alliance partners Introba and Perkins+Will.
The contract will be managed by the leadership team of James Barr, PE, Ray Fares, PE, Carolyn Crull, PE, and Steven Landolt, PE, PMP, ENV SP. Other staff who were major contributors to the pursuit include Philip Brand, PE, Kiley Rempp, PE, and Chloe Simion, EIT.
Stony Brook State Park Upgrades (Steuben County, New York, USA)
Under a Term Contract with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS Parks), TYLin will provide professional Construction Management and Administration Services for improvements to Stony Brook State Park in Steuben County, New York.
The scenic park, popular for hiking and camping, will soon receive a new park office, improved entrance road, and upgraded parking facilities. The project also includes enhancements to the park's main road and tennis courts, further improving the overall visitor experience.
To secure this win, TYLin offered an alternative, cost-saving approach that uses a blend of remote and onsite staffing. Given the depth of experience and skill of our staff, we can provide an enhanced level of service with fewer people.
At one year into the project, TYLin has been assisting in coordinating the general contractor’s schedules and conducting and attending preconstruction meetings with NYS Parks staff and the prime contractors. We are utilizing our Microsoft share drive for transparency, implementing and coordinating its use for planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and the closeout of the project documentation processes.
Our scope of work also includes ensuring that all required permits are in place prior to the start of construction. We are also overseeing and managing the approval process for proposed subcontractors, and assisting the client in coordinating Notice to Proceed (NTP) for construction with multiple contractors.
Contract Extension for Recommendations and Bridge Design Regulations (Madrid, Spain)
TYLin (formerly IDEAM) received a one-year extension to a three-year contract awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Transportation in 2021 for technical assistance to the Technical Direction of the Spanish Road Administration. The purpose of the contract is to provide technical assistance regarding project revisions, construction, and maintenance, and to develop technical regulation for road bridges and other structures of the Spanish Road Network.
To help facilitate the application of the European standards to Spanish Road Administration projects, TYLin has been deeply involved in the drafting of numerous guides for the application of the Eurocodes. All documents were presented at a conference earlier this year organized by the Spanish Ministry of Transportation, in collaboration with the Spanish Civil Engineering Association.
Taoyuan MRT Green Line Lots GD04A & GC04B (Taoyuan, Taiwan)
The Green Line is the priority route in the mass rapid transit (MRT) network of the Taoyuan Metropolitan Area of Taiwan. The Green Line project is divided into multiple bids, including the ongoing design phase of GC04, which is subdivided into two bids, GD04A and GC04B.
The total length of GD04A and GC04B will be 4.19 kilometers and 1.3 kilometers respectively, with four elevated stations. TYLin Taiwan brings many years of experience in rail and aerotropolis construction projects in Taoyuan, including the Green Line Lot GC01 Elevated Civil Turnkey project, Lot GM01 Track Design Project, Aerotropolis Zone Expropriation (packages A2, C1, C2 and D2) Detailed Design Project, and Aerotropolis Zone Expropriation (packages A1, A3, D1) PCM Project. Our deep understanding of the entire Green Line and related projects enabled us to win the bids.
The Green Line will become the backbone of the transportation network of this airport city, providing not only convenient transportation services for passengers but also serving as a catalyst for the construction of future urban developments for the aerotropolis and Taoyuan metropolitan area.
Milestones:
First in North America: SFMTA Facility for Off-wire Charging (San Francisco, California, USA)
TYLin has partnered with MWA Architects to design a new layover terminal for expanded service on the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) 30 Route bus line, which currently operates 40-foot trolleybuses. The extended route will add three additional bus stops during daytime service, connecting the Marina neighborhood to Crissy Field and the Presidio National Park, and providing direct connections via Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Caltrain commuter rail.
SFMTA’s current trolleybus fleet can run off-wire for a limited distance, which gives the City of San Francisco options for expanding service without the need for costly overhead catenary system upgrades. The new terminal will provide SFMTA with a layover location that provides infrastructure for charging the onboard batteries on the trolleybus for their limited off-wire use.
The facility sits within the historic Presidio Park and reimagines a decommissioned shooting range as an information center with parking, multimodal trail access, public restrooms, and transit. The site was studied, planned, and designed by the TYLin team, who coordinated with clients and stakeholders to develop a layout that serves their needs and minimizes impacts on traffic, while accommodating previous and future adjacent infrastructure projects.
The site incorporates what would be the first off-wire charging facility in North America and the second in the world, providing opportunity charging during the driver’s break and bus layovers. SFMTA is using this solution to prolong the life of their existing fleet batteries, while serving a greater area.
The TYLin team, led by Project Manager Glenn Schwantes , PE, and Principal Ryan Abbotts, Rail + Transit Sector Manager, has provided the Presidio Trust and SFMTA with design options on a sawtooth layout parking terminal, as well as a renovation of the parking area and new public restrooms. Our structural, civil, and electrical team is working to finalize the design of the parking area and bring power to the terminal.
Great Irvine Park Bridges Taking Shape (Irvine, California, USA)
TYLin is providing schematic design and final design services for a family of four pedestrian and multimodal bridges for the City of Irvine’s Great Park. The Southern California city is continuing the development of the park in accordance with the Great Park Framework Plan, which drives the overall capital improvement program. The project area spans nearly 1,300 acres and, when complete, the Great Park will be one of the largest municipal parks in the United States.
Based on collaboration with the client and stakeholders, the preferred design alternative for the four bridges is an aesthetically enhanced, cast-inplace, reinforced concrete box girder structure that is finished with gently curved soffit surfaces that morph seamlessly into parabolic barriers. At the apex of the soffit, the curved surface is indented with a groove that narrows at the bents and arcs outward at midspan in rhythm with the span arrangement.
This indentation mimics a haunched box girder, where the structure is deep near the piers and thin at midspan. The indented curved soffit also features a variably offset diagonal grid pattern for the form liner texture that comes alive at night when concealed lights graze the surface. The exterior surface features repeating grooves that enhance the complex curvature of the structure and conceal joint lines.
The abutments and wing walls function as a visual extension of the superstructure above and the piers adjacent. Single column bents are utilized throughout all structures. All columns are aesthetically enhanced with uniquely shaped, reinforced concrete “V” shape, where the single column base flares from the bottom and splits into two arms that support the superstructure.
All four bridges are designed as a family of structures that share a consistent architectural style, aesthetic lighting, and finishes. The deck widths vary between 12 and 30 feet. The wider bridges include a multipurpose lane limited to bicycles, shuttles, and maintenance vehicle traffic.
Completion of Austin Steward Plaza (Rochester, New York, USA)
Austin Steward Plaza, formerly known as Charles Carroll Plaza, has officially opened in Rochester, New York, marking a major milestone in the ROC the Riverway initiative. Located in the heart of the city’s business district, this project represents a significant achievement in reviving its urban riverfront.
Awarded to TYLin in 2015, the 2-phase project involved the comprehensive design and project management effort to transform this space. The newly revitalized plaza is a key link to the Genesee Riverway Trail, a National Recreation Trail that provides pedestrian access along the Genesee River, extending from the Erie Canal to downtown Rochester and Lake Ontario. The redevelopment enhances connectivity and accessibility between the Central Business District, High Falls area, and the Inner Loop North infill project. Users also benefit from open, curving paths, riverfront views, a public promenade, and lush greenspaces.
A new pedestrian fly-over bridge also provides Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access to the Sister Cities Bridge. The renovation transformed stair towers into illuminated beacons, added new canopy structures, and refreshed the landscape architecture. Significant structural repairs were also made to the underground parking garage, including replacing the below-grade waterproofing system.
TYLin Signs Pledge to Support Equity in Infrastructure (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
We are proud to support equity in infrastructure by signing a pledge as part of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Red Line Extension project in Chicago, Illinois. This pledge underscores TYLin’s dedication to fostering inclusive and equitable development in historically underserved communities. Daniel B. Drew, TYLin Central Area/ Sector Manager, signed the pledge on behalf of the company.
The CTA Red Line Extension is a transformative project aimed at extending the Red Line from its current terminus at 95th Street to 130th Street. We join the CTA in addressing decades of disinvestment in local business districts, improving access to jobs, education, healthcare, and commerce for residents of the Far South Side and creating more livable, transit-supported communities.
Key Highlights of the Pledge:
Equity and Inclusivity: TYLin is dedicated to ensuring that the benefits of the Red Line Extension are equitably distributed, particularly to minority and low-income communities.
Community Engagement: TYLin will actively engage with local communities to incorporate their input and ensure that the project meets their needs and expectations.
Support for Small Businesses: The project will include procurement methods that prioritize the participation of Small Business Enterprises and Minority Business Enterprises, fostering local economic growth.
Sustainable Development: TYLin will adhere to sustainable practices that improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save energy, aligning with the broader goals of the CTA and the Federal Transit Administration.
Update on Sabiñánigo Viaduct (Sabiñánigo, Huesca, Spain)
Construction of the Sabiñánigo Viaduct in Huesca, Spain, is advancing, with the last stages of the deck construction already viewable when approaching abutment 1 at the head of the cliff next to the Gállego River. The viaduct is 933.7 meters long and 25.10 meters wide, and has a span distribution of 9×90+74+49.70 meters.
The deck comprises a large post-tensioned concrete box girder with variable depth and wide lateral overhangs that are supported by a series of precast concrete lateral struts placed every 5 meters. The large lateral overhangs of the cross section are being executed in a second phase by using a wing traveler.
The construction of the 90-meter lateral span 1, the last to be executed, is determined by the location of river and the steep slope next to abutment 1. The 90-meter typical spans represent a world record for a deck constructed using an underslung movable scaffolding system (MSS).
Rehabilitation of Circa 1950 Arch Bridge of Boca Del Cerro (Boca del Cerro, Tabasco, Mexico)
After the completion of the new Boca del Cerro Bridge in Mexico, the rehabilitation of the classic arch bridge of Boca del Cerro, completed in 1950, is progressing. IDEAM (now TYLin) provided the detailed design of the rehabilitation and is now providing technical assistance during construction for Mota-Engil Mexico.
In its day, only five arch bridges similar to this one were built in the world. With a main span of 150 meters, it was designed in 1948 to accommodate road and rail traffic. The railway line has since moved to the new bridge, also designed by TYLin to allow the passage of the Mayan train. The railway track of the original bridge will be replaced by a side area intended for pedestrian and cyclist traffic.
To date, the concrete structure of the access openings has been rehabilitated, the old railway track has been removed, and work is underway to build the slab for the new walkway. Repairs and painting work have also begun on any damaged areas and corroded steel sections to prolong the service life of this treasured local landmark.
Opening Ceremony for Dahan River Waterway Corridor (New Taipei City, Taiwan)
The opening ceremony for the Dahan River Waterway Corridor and Surrounding Environment Improvement Project was held on July 18, 2024. Designed by TYLin’s Taiwan team, the corridor travels close to 7.4 kilometers and crosses the five administrative districts of Yingge, Shulin, Banqiao, Xinzhuang, and Sanzhong. The project provides a comprehensive solution to traffic congestion along an urban and rural area.
The New Taipei City Water Resources Department served as the project organizer, collaborating with the Water Resources Agency on the design of the leftbank embankment reinforcement and the right-bank dredging and river adjustment. TYLin held numerous meetings with non-governmental organizations, wetland patrols, and the National Land Management Agency Ministry of the Interior regarding the route, which passes through the Lujiao Creek artificial wetland.
The green waterfront corridor provides a safe and beautiful walking environment and cycling area, while successfully achieving the goals of securing the riverbank, protecting wetland, and completing a transportation network.
News:
Bridges to Prosperity 2024 (Rwanda)
TYLin and our global partners Introba and Dar teamed up with Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) for a collaborative construction project in Rwanda to build the Muregeya Trail Bridge in Karongi. Crossing the flooding-prone Muregeya River during monsoon periods has been dangerous for local communities.
When landslides jeopardized our original project, our B2P team pivoted quickly, applying the expertise gained from B2P's innovative hybrid suspension bridge project last year. With renewed focus, we successfully constructed a 377-foot bridge. This crucial crossing will serve more than 2,500 residents, providing safe passage and connecting them to markets, healthcare facilities, schools, and communities. Learn more.
New Boca Del Cerro Bridge Named 2024 IABSE Award Finalist (Boca del Cerro, Tabasco, Mexico)
The new Boca del Cerro bridge, designed by IDEAM (now TYLin) for Mota-Engil Mexico, has been selected as a finalist in the 2024 International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) awards program (category: small road and rail bridges of less than 5,000 m2 of surface area). Winners will be announced in November.
Located in southern Mexico, near Tenosique, Tabasco, and with a central main span of 160 meters and two lateral spans of 30 meters each, it is the longest span and most emblematic structure of Section 1 of the new Mayan Train, one of the most ambitious railroad projects in the history of Mexico. The bridge is located in a protected natural environment, at the end of the Usumacinta River canyon, and in a landscape strongly marked by the presence of the original 1950 bridge, which has become an icon of the region.
TYLin Taiwan Wins Two Awards from Chinese Institute of Engineers (Taipei, Taiwan)
The 6th of June is the Engineer's Day in Taiwan, and the Chinese Institute of Engineers held its annual assembly and awards ceremony on that date. TYLin’s Taiwan team was honored with two awards for 2024.
The first was the Engineering Excellence Award for the Seismic Strengthening Project for Subsequent Sections of National Freeway Bridges (Section 2-1) M38B -Wuri to Mei and Wuxi No. 1 Bridge. The award-winning project used the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strengthening method, which was its first usage on a large-scale project in Taiwan. The method was applied to the box-girder structure, simplifying and shortening the construction schedule, adding higher tensile strength, and providing a more aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional steel plate concrete reinforcement.
The second award went to Chloe Chiang, who serves as team leader for TYLin Taiwan’s Transportation and Civil Engineering Department and a Project Manager on numerous large-scale projects. Chloe was named an Outstanding Young Engineer. An incredibly talented individual, she has achieved substantial expertise in professional leadership and project management, and has spearheaded the adoption of 3D design and other innovative methodologies to enhance the efficacy and caliber of design.
Todd Wilkinson, PE, Earns ENV SP Credentials (Bellevue, Washington, USA)
Todd Wilkinson, PE, an Airport Civil Engineer with TYLin Aviation Sector, recently earned his Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP) credentials. Envision is a framework developed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) that encourages systemic changes in the planning, design, and delivery of sustainable, resilient, and equitable civil infrastructure through education, training, and thirdparty project verification. It was specifically designed for use across a range of civil infrastructure sectors and project types to provide a consistent, consensus-based framework.
Aileen Santos-Redman Honored for Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion (Los Angeles, California, USA)
Aileen Santos-Redman, PE, ENV SP, from TYLin’s Aviation Sector was recently honored with the Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) award from the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC). Aileen was recognized for her commitment to championing women and under-represented minorities, whose diverse voices and experiences expand problem-solving approaches that lead to more innovative and effective engineering solutions. Her dedication to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment is a testament to the values we uphold at TYLin.
IWEA 2024 Annual Conference Awards (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA)
The Indiana Water Environmental Association's (IWEA) Annual Conference in 2024 was a significant event, highlighting the achievements of professionals in the water industry, including two members of our Water Sector. Maithilee Das Lappin, PE, ENV SP, was honored for completing the Leadership Development Institute, a program designed to address the workforce shortage through a comprehensive 12-month course. Tim Healy, PE, was presented with the 20 Year Club award, recognizing his contributions to the wastewater industry and IWEA.
Celebrating New Downtown Tampa Office (Tampa, Florida, USA)
TYLin recently celebrated the opening of our new Downtown Tampa office with a regional luncheon. This event marked the official integration of two legacy firms in the area, TYLin and Sam Schwartz, A TYLin Company, now a unified TYLin team. This was the first opportunity for all teams and sectors in the Tampa, Florida, region to meet in person, fostering new personal and professional connections.
Chicago’s Blueprint Summer Interns Finish Eight-Week Rotation (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
Associated with TYLin Blueprint, our adopt-a-school program, the summer high-school internship program in Chicago, Illinois, recently came to a successful close. After eight weeks of rotating between sectors, interns Teniola Ajagbe, Priscila Juarez, and BishopAdam Ajilogba are headed back to Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory High School, while Deven Frierson will start his next phase in life as a college freshman at the University of Illinois.
Upcoming Conferences:
WEFTEC 2024: October 5-9 | New Orleans, Louisiana
CMAA 2024: October 27-29 | San Francisco, California
Singapore International Transport Congress & Exhibition: November 6- 8 | Singapore
Focus on the Future 2024: November 10-12 | Long Beach, California
COP 29: November 11-22 | Baku, Azerbaijan
Greenbuild 2024: November 12-15 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Smart Cities Connect 2024: December 3-5 | Austin, Texas
Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting: January 5-9 | Washington, DC
Insights:
Langston Terrace: Zero Energy, Equity-Centered Decarbonization
Bridging the Gap at the 4th International Bridge Seismic Workshop
