Urban Horizons: From Nostalgia to Progress

This month, we journey through captivating transformations and enduring legacies shaping our urban landscapes. Discover how the sale of a historic Caltrain locomotive has evolved into a nostalgic attraction, and see how the Harbor-Wetland project is revitalizing both community spaces and aquatic life.

We’ll dive into Snohomish County’s remarkable light rail development, explore the pedestrian-friendly revolution on Hollywood Boulevard, and examine the resilience of our power grids amidst rising demands.

Plus, get the latest on New York City’s groundbreaking drone experiments, the FAA’s proactive stance on aviation cybersecurity, and innovative approaches in Texas and Georgia to tackle drunk and distracted driving.

Join us as we explore these stories and more, highlighting the blend of tradition and innovation that defines our urban future.

Caltrain Locomotive Sale Becomes Nostalgic Attraction

Caltrain ’s latest venture has become a nostalgic sensation. The Bay Area’s transit agency is offering “gently used, lovingly maintained” 135-ton diesel locomotives from 1985 on their online store. These historic F40 models, which have traversed over a million miles, are being retired to make way for a new electric fleet.

Caltrain spokesperson Dan Lieberman confirmed the surprising sale is real, driven by a desire to preserve pieces of railroad history. However, owning one is neither cheap nor simple, as practicality demands these locomotives be moved by rail.

Bay Area transit agencies have creatively repurposed old train cars before, transforming them into glamping sites, video game arcades, and Airbnbs. This sale, starting in October, aims to attract collectors and enthusiasts.

Lieberman noted in the San Francisco Chronicler, “Trying to sell them to a wider range of people and organizations through the online store seemed like a good way of trying to preserve these historical engines. Plus, it’s just plain fun and unexpected.”

Harbor-Wetland Revitalizes Community Space and Aquatic Life

Baltimore is making waves with its new floating island, the Harbor Wetland, aiming to revive the aquatic life in the Inner Harbor. This 10,000-square-foot habitat is situated near the National Aquarium and was designed by Ayers Saint Gross, a local architecture firm.

The $14-million project uses native shrubs and grasses to filter pollutants, addressing water pollution from the Jones Falls River. Utilizing pontoon technology that mimics natural wetlands, it attracts marine life like mollusks, fish, and seabirds while serving as a floating park with walkways and seating.

Jacqueline Bershad, the National Aquarium’s VP of planning, views the platform as a way to reconnect people with the Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem. Despite past pollution challenges, the project marks a significant step in the city’s aquatic recovery, complementing efforts like Mr. Trash Wheel, a solar-powered trash collector cleaning the harbor since 2014.

Part of a broader trend, similar eco-friendly shoreline projects in cities like Boston and Chicago have successfully improved water quality and attracted wildlife. The Harbor Wetland enhances local ecosystems while also educating the public about environmental conservation.

Land Surveying Made Smarter: Meet Piotr Jaszczak

Meet Piotr Jaszczak, a Survey Instrumentation Specialist leading the charge in the deployment of modern surveying technology.

As a key member of our Land Services - Survey, Mapping, and Geomatics team in Bellevue, WA, Piotr's expertise in Automated Monitoring Total Stations (AMTS) is crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of critical infrastructure.

AMTS systems continuously monitor structures, providing real-time data on structural health. This proactive approach allows us to identify potential issues early, preventing costly repairs and ensuring the longevity of buildings and infrastructure.

“With advancements in technology, data processing, and remote sensing techniques, we can expect even greater accuracy and efficiency,” Piotr shared. “I believe we’ll see more integration of these tools in various industries, making them standard practice in construction, mining, and infrastructure projects.”

For more insights into Piotr's work and the power of AMTS, visit the Atlas Sphere blog: https://loom.ly/JjfErTU

Snohomish County’s Light Rail Journey: A Tale of Persistence and Triumph

The journey toward developing the light rail system in Snohomish County has been a saga nearly sixty years in the making. It all began in 1968 with the Forward Thrust bond measures, a visionary attempt to establish a rapid transit system in King County. While initial ambitions soared, the economic turbulence of the early 1970s, highlighted by Boeing’s financial woes, derailed subsequent funding efforts and redirected federal dollars to Atlanta instead.

Fast forward to 1996, when a renewed hope emerged as voters in Snohomish, King, and Pierce Counties rallied together to approve taxes for a $3.9-billion transit package, earmarking $1.7 billion for light rail. Enter Jerry Smith, the Mayor of Mountlake Terrace from 2004 to 2018, who championed the cause, passionately advocating for rail expansion into Snohomish County.

As with any good plot, our heroes faced numerous challenges: fierce opposition from city representatives, financial hurdles, and political wrangling. Significant budget overruns in the early 2000s resulted in a temporary loss of federal funding.

But, under the astute leadership of Joni Earl, who took the helm as CEO in 2001, Sound Transit redefined its focus, homing in on realistic project scopes and internal improvements. And just like that, persistence paid off, with federal funding making a triumphant return in 2003.

The debut of the Central Link light rail, stretching from Westlake to the airport, in 2009 was a milestone moment, followed by the University Link in 2016. Yes, the hurdles persisted; however, the crowning achievement came with the approval of the $54-billion ST3 package in 2016, paving the way for light rail expansion from Lynnwood to Everett.

After decades of dogged determination, the Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace stations stand ready to open their doors. The light rail project has navigated through economic recessions, political headwinds, and funding crises, bringing an essential transportation option to the vibrant Snohomish County.

Atlas Transportation Engineer/Project Geologist Named to Mass Transit's 40 Under 40 List

We're delighted to announce that Shane Misztal, P.E., PTOE, PTP, Transportation Engineer/Project Manager, has been named to Mass Transit magazine 's 2024 40 Under 40 List!

Shane’s dedication to improving public transportation began early in his career, working on projects in his home state of Florida. In 2016, he took a leap of faith, moving to Chicago and selling his car to fully embrace the city’s robust public transit network.

This passion for sustainable mobility fuels Shane's work at Atlas, where he tackles challenging transportation projects with a focus on alleviating traffic congestion and creating a more efficient future for our cities.

Read more from Mass Transit's feature article: https://loom.ly/axjkw0U

Hollywood Boulevard Transforms into a Pedestrian Paradise

Hollywood Boulevard is on the brink of a dramatic transformation. Despite its world-famous status, it often leaves visitors underwhelmed with its mix of souvenir shops, nightclubs, and closed storefronts.

Safety concerns and overcrowding have also long plagued this famed locale. But the Access to Hollywood initiative is set to change all that.

Backed by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation and the Bureau of Engineering, this project aims to pivot from car-dominated streets to vibrant spaces for active transportation. We’re talking about a 3.6-mile stretch of road featuring widened sidewalks, dedicated bus and bike lanes, and lush street furnishings shaded by trees.

The project has garnered significant political and financial support, including a $7.2-million grant. Yet, challenges such as transparency and budgeting under Measure HLA and the need for a comprehensive capital improvement plan for Los Angeles persist.

Nevertheless, the transformation of Hollywood Boulevard is a golden opportunity to set a new standard for urban development in the city. It’s a chance to turn a congested thoroughfare into an inviting space for entertainment moguls — and normies on the brink of stardom.

Resilient Power Grid Amidst Rising Demand

Electricity demand in the United States is soaring, but the country’s aging infrastructure struggles to keep up. Extreme weather events only add to the challenge, exacerbating the need for a resilient power grid.

Enter software and AI — innovative solutions are now stepping in to bolster the grid’s reliability.

Companies like Southwire use advanced analytics and locational intelligence to identify vulnerabilities within the electrical grid. By leveraging historical data, these digital assessments suggest proactive reliability improvements such as grid modernization and asset optimization. For example, AI has enabled a Southeastern utility to reclassify one-fourth of its failure causes, leading to more accurate solutions and reduced costs.

One Northeast utility reported a nearly 50% reduction in customer interruptions after implementing an enhanced grid resiliency program, underscoring the impact of integrating AI and data analysis with traditional maintenance practices.

The results are clear: AI-driven assessments are essential in building a more robust power grid. Even our power needs a little extra intelligence to stay bright.

New York City’s Drone Experiment

In a high-tech attempt to improve public safety communication, New York City recently deployed drones to deliver flood warnings in both English and Spanish. Inspired by Mayor Eric Adams’ enthusiasm for tech solutions, the initiative aimed to enhance emergency messaging for neighborhoods prone to flooding.

Unfortunately, the Spanish version of the message was met with lighthearted criticism due to poor pronunciation, resembling a literal translation from Google.

NYC’s Emergency Management Commissioner quickly acknowledged the issue, clarifying that the problem lay in the recording, not the translation. He assured the public that future alerts would be improved.

This drone initiative was a pioneering effort in response to the deadly flash floods during Hurricane Ida in 2021. But this isn’t the city’s first foray into tech-centric public safety measures.

Previous efforts include AI-generated robocalls, drones for crowd monitoring and shark spotting, and even a brief experiment with a robotic patrol in Times Square.

Despite skepticism and legal hurdles, the city continues to push the envelope in integrating technology into public safety.

Setting the Standard in ESG for Real Estate

Exciting news!

Atlas Energy & Sustainability Services Director, Emmanuel Hales, is leading the charge in shaping the future of ESG in commercial real estate.

He’s actively contributing to the development of a groundbreaking ASTM International standard designed to streamline ESG due diligence assessments for real estate transactions.

This standard is set to provide a clear framework for evaluating environmental, social, and governance factors, making it easier for stakeholders to understand and compare ESG performance.

“This guide will serve as a valuable resource for all parties in commercial real estate transactions, promoting a more informed and responsible approach to ESG considerations,” says Emmanuel.

Learn more from the ASTM Newsroom: Proposed Standard to Support Commercial Real Estate Transactions | NEWSROOM (astm.org)

FAA Addresses Aviation Cybersecurity Threats

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking public input on new regulations aimed at protecting future airplanes and critical aviation equipment in response to growing cybersecurity threats. With flight systems becoming increasingly connected to internal and external networks, the need for reliable cybersecurity measures has never been more critical.

The proposed regulations would require design applicants to conduct thorough security risk analyses, identifying vulnerabilities in their systems, architecture, and interfaces. These rules aim to standardize criteria for addressing cybersecurity threats, streamline certification processes — and maintain current safety levels.

While the FAA currently uses “special conditions” to protect against unauthorized access, the new rules intend to formalize these standards across the industry. Joe Saunders, CEO of RunSafe Security, lauds the update as a positive yet overdue measure, though he emphasizes the need for multi-layer defenses to cover all potential threats.

The FAA is working closely with federal intelligence and security experts to ensure comprehensive safeguards against potential risks. And we couldn’t agree more — the only turbulence we should be worried about is the kind that rattles the plane, not cybersecurity.

Texas Takes Aim at Drunk Driving

As Labor Day weekend approaches, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is ramping up its “Drive Sober. No Regrets.” campaign. Last year, the holiday period saw 334 DUI-related crashes, resulting in 14 fatalities and 35 serious injuries. This alarming trend has prompted TxDOT to collaborate with law enforcement to remind drivers of the life-saving choice of arranging a sober ride.

This campaign is part of the broader #EndTheStreakTX movement, which aims to end the tragic streak of daily roadway deaths in Texas that has persisted since November 7, 2000.

From August 16 through September 2, law enforcement will intensify efforts to identify and arrest intoxicated drivers. This initiative aligns with the national enforcement period sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

By partnering with law enforcement and leveraging public outreach, TxDOT hopes to make a significant impact this holiday weekend. The goal is to save lives and ensure that no family has to endure the pain of losing a loved one.

Georgia Fights Distracted Driving with New App

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has launched the “Reach Home Safely” app to combat the growing menace of distracted driving.

Developed in collaboration with Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT), this app is a crucial part of the Safest Driver program, which has already shown significant success in reducing risky driving behaviors.

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA reveal the urgency of this initiative, as distracted driving claimed 12,405 lives in 2021 alone. In Georgia, drivers spend almost two minutes on their phones while driving, placing the state 43rd in the nation for distracted driving.

The app supports Georgia’s Hands-Free Law, enacted in 2018 to limit electronic device usage while driving. To further engage its communities, GDOT has partnered with the Atlanta Braves, offering incentives and contests to promote safe driving practices.