CONSULTANTS
Finding the Right One for a Mobility Breakthrough
Make sure the consultant you pick for your mobility improvement project is fully informed of APM options. Not all are, even many who present themselves as such.
Does your consultant embrace the principles of urban centrality?
The big ones – Parsons-Brinckerhoff, Gannett-Fleming, PSBJ, Kimley-Horn – have scores of seasoned professionals who claim APM experience. Their true art, however, is keeping Washington officials happy – USDOT, the World Bank, APTA, highway contractors, etc. – thus assuring that Federal funds keep flowing in for local infrastructure. While mainstream consultants may represent the State-of-the-Art, their vision is based on the State-of-Yesterday.
Witness the on-going wobble of Honolulu’s decades-old effort to build a rail system. The current version is all elevated, maybe automated but ambiguously not driverless. The governor has delayed approval of environmental studies, and consultants Parsons-Brinckerhoff are among the few happy as they may have additional billings to swell their income.
In 2010 we should demand innovative thinking to respond to the compelling needs for sustainability. As one California activist put it, “1970s consultants won’t do.” Where does one find responsible and technically competent professionals who are APM-creative?
Most established US consultants obey the unwritten rule from a Washington that gets queasy at the mention of APMs. They and their political clients, to whom they make generous and perfectly legal contributions, are happy with any dollars that go into infrastructure, even if they produce bridges to nowhere. Not much better is a $500-million light rail (LRT) and bus scheme (BRT) that attracts only 20,000 passengers a day.
Citizens often feel powerless to influence their mass transit providers. Transit officials are focused on moving today’s crowds safely, pleasing Federal officials, and networking with APTA lobbyists. True, they must coordinate through a metropolitan planning organization (or MPO, often known as a Council of Governments or a regional planning commission). MPO directors are appointed, not elected. MPOs are weak in a regional structure where elected mayors and councilors often feel lost.
“Entrenched bureaucracy” is a term often heard relative to transportation planning and transit services, which are often cut because budget shortfalls come with sad regularity. It’s much like the Post Office’s downward spiral of market loss to email, forcing price hikes that further discourage mailing. Can you expect innovation from a declining sector? No, you need insightful, creative, cutting-edge expertise – and that comes with the right consultant.
One big consulting firm stands out as creative – Aecom, which recently focused APM expertise into a new working group. They are on an innovative track in Orange County (CA) working on the Anaheim Rapid Connection. This could be the first APM serving an American downtown since a USDOT program in the 1970s produced three DPMs (Miami, Detroit and Jacksonville) in the 1980s. Aecom has experience on the Morgantown PRT Master Plan for West Virginia University. It has designed APM many guideways, stations and more along with traditional technical specs and documentation and project oversight.
On the other end of the scale is small San Jose-based Jakes Associates, which helped pioneer a public-private partnership which owns and operated an APM in Indianapolis, making Clarian Health facilities more efficient and saving valuable medical staff time. Jakes has worked on several casino and resort APMs, including planning, engineering and rehabilitation.
Lea+Elliott has several offices in the US – still small but still an industry leader in APM consulting, demonstrated by their role as the lead consultant on the recent opening of three APM: Dulles Airport, Atlanta Airport landside, and the private cable-propelled APM at CityCenter in Las Vegas. Lea+Elliott continues to be involved with PRT, through their work on the Morgantown master plan and ASCE APM Standards. L+E’s goal is to allow for technology innovations through the use of performance specifications. Additionally, L+E is the consultant to Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) in pursuing Public-Private-Partnerships in a strategic .
Berger ABAM also provides cutting-edge structural and aesthetic design for APM guideway and stations, including permitting and construction management. Colorado-based PRT Consulting thrives on problem solving and specializes in PRT planning and engineering for both public and private clients. Established in 2004 by Peter Muller after a successful career in airport planning, first applications were for aviation. PRT Consulting now does work for developers, universities, the US Army and the Kansas DOT. Its website is a wealth of information solely devoted to PRT.
Modern mixes with historic at APM in Venice, Italy thanks to consultants who provide good design and function.
– courtesy of DCC Doppelmayr
Consultants
Industry Consultants
Good design based on solid engineering and urban planning principles determines your future.
This is a listing of professional consultants who have contributed to the emergence of APMs as viable mobility modes. It is designed to provide you objective information to identify and engage professional assistance to the pursuit of your project goals and objectives.
Large, Multi-Office Transportation Consultants
AECOM
Michael Venter
Based in Colorado
Headquartered in Los Angeles
Phone: +1 (720) 635-0248
Michael.venter@aecom.com
Consulting Services: This big firm stands out as creative, with design-level APM expertise in various offices and individuals, newly networked into a working group with world-standard expertise and experience, including innovative APM institutional work such as at Huntsville Hospital, O'Hare Airport and the Morgantown PRT. Experience includes procurement documents and specs and owner oversight of APM vendors. On a cutting-edge track in Orange County's (CA) Anaheim Rail Connection project, which could become the first US downtown APM since the DPMs of the 1970s.
ARUP
Don Phillips, Principal
155 Avenue of the Americas (Headquartered in UK)
New York, NY 10013, USA
Phone: +1 (212) 229-2669
Fax: +1 (212) 352-1354
Email: don.phillips@arup.com
Web: www.arup.com
Consulting Services: Various services and project management in the infrastructure, building and industrial sectors, with PRT experience at London Heathrow airport and San Jose CA's PRT initiative.
Authentic Projects Group
Tom Richert
84 Parkhurst Drive
Westford, MA 01886 USA
Phone: (978) 808.4668
Email: tom@tomrichert.com
Web: www.tomrichert.com
Tom Richert is an authority on project management that optimizes your results based on collaborative workflow processes. He is one of the first US professionals to employ lean project delivery methods to construction programs. He provides coaching and training in effective project management principles and processes to radically improve results.
Tom has extensive experience with land use and economic impacts of APMs in commercial districts, with several transit business model research papers published by ASCE and TRB. He can develop and evaluate strategies for profitably implementing improved transit traffic flows.
Berger/Abam Engineers Inc.
Bob Griebenow, P.E., S.E. VP
33301 9th Avenue South
Suite 300
Federal Way, WA 98003, USA
Phone: +1 (206) 431-2300
Fax: +1 (206) 431-2250
Email: bob.griebenow@abam.com
Web: www.abam.com
Consulting Services: BERGER/ABAM Engineers Inc. supports APM projects with decades of hard structural engineering experience producing elegant, cost-effective elevated guideways long on the forefront of the APM industry. Projects include the monorail guideway at Walt Disney World (Orlando); Expo Line (Vancouver); and the circuitous ribbon guideway for the Getty Center (LA). Thoroughly knowledgeable on ASCE Standards and strong supporter of the APM Conference series that aborted with the last one in Atlanta (June 2009). Looking to help you achieve your goals in the form of a landmark project.
Gannett Fleming, Inc.
Raymond L. Hofsass, Vice President & National Practice Manager
P.O. Box 67100
Harrisburg, PA 17106, USA
Phone: +1 (610) 650-8101
Fax: +1 (610) 650-8190
Email: rhofsass@gfnet.com
Web: www.gannettfleming.com
Consulting Services: Expertise in planning, engineering design, construction management, and design-build for APMs, especially in complex urban environments. Dull on the cutting edge.
Jacobs Consultancy
Peter B. Mandle, Director
555 Airport Boulevard, Suite 300
Burlingame, CA 94010, USA
Phone: +1 (650) 579-7722
Fax: +1 (650) 343-5220
Email: inquiry@jacobs-consultancy.com
Web: www.jacobs-consultancy.com
Consulting Services: Airport-focused financial, business, commercial and strategic planning, as well as airfield and airspace planning, terminal and landside planning and environmental management and planning.
Kimley-Horne Associates
J. Sam Lott
12012 Wickchester Lane, Suite 500
Houston, TX 77079, USA
Phone: +1 (281) 597-9300
Fax: +1 (281) 597-8032
Email: sam.lott@kimley-horn.com
Web: www.jkhmobilityservices.com
Consulting Services: APM consulting practice swallowed by the more traditional transportation planning of Kimley-Horn and Associates. Specialties are station details and simulations.
Local officials can install and maintain bus shelters, but they can’t assure that buses are frequent and reliable.
PRT-Focused Consultants and Other Resources
ATRA
Stanley E. Young, President
Advanced Transit Association
c/o CATT at University of Maryland
5000 College Avenue
2200 Technology Ventures Building
College Park, MD 20742-3021
Phone: 1+1 (301) 403-4601
Email: seyoung@umd.edu
Consulting Services: International non-profit membership group that organizes confererences, seminars, workshops and other project review services.
Calver Marketing Associates Limited
Calver Marketing Associates Limited
G Bowles, Director
4 Windsor Crescent
Chard, Somerset TA20 2HG, UK
Phone: +011 (44-14) 623-9024
Email: cmagbowles@ukonline.co.uk
Web: www.calvermarketing.com
Consulting Services: A specialist consultancy in real-time APM simulations and economic modeling to support the efforts of airport and urban transport authorities to take up new transit technologies.
IST: Institure for Sustainable Transportation
IST: Institure for Sustainable Transportation
Magnus Hunhammar
Mariatorget 6
118 48 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: +011 (46-8) 643-4164
Email: info@podcar.org
Web: www.calvermarketing.com
Consulting Services: Unparalled podcar (~PRT) visioning and community-based study services with outreach to a wide range of audiences. Related research, networking, and events for sustainable transportation. Studies for national agencies and local municipalities. IST has established Kompass, an international network of cities with PRT interests.
Logistikcentrum AB
Ingmar Andreasson, Senior Partner
Taljegardsgatan 11
SE-431 53 Molndal, Sweden
Phone: +011 (46) 3187 7724
Fax: +011 46 3127-9442
Email: Ingmar@logistikcentrum.se
Web: www.logistikcentrum.se
Consulting Services: Demand analysis, network design, control strategies, dimensioning and evaluation of generic PRT systems based on our proprietary software PRTsim.
PRT Consulting, Inc.
Peter J. Muller, President
9781 S. Meridian Blvd., Suite 215
Englewood, CO 80112, USA
Phone: +1 (303) 565-1800
Fax: +1 (303) 414-0868
Email: pmuller@prtcons.com
Web: www.prtcons.com
Consulting Services: Creative insight for the conceptualization, design and engineering of PRT with particular reference to airport applications. Services include feasibility studies, alternative analyses, travel demand modeling, ridership forecasts, and network planning and simulation.
Martin Tillman
Martin Tillman
Abu Dhaby, UAE
Phone: +971 (0)50 1039-044
Fax: +1 (303) 414-0868
Email: martinrtillman@hotmail.com
Consulting Services: Strategic transport planning and feasibility studies with UK experience and UAE networks. Expertise with PRT routing, patronage and revenue forecasting, station design and integration, fare structures.
Raul V. Bravo + Associates
1889 Preston White Drive, Suite 202
Reston, VA 20191, USA
Phone: +1 (703) 326-9092
Fax: +1 (703) 326-9096
Email: contact@rvba.com
Web: www.rvba.com
Consulting Services: Expertise for passenger and freight transportation systems, including mass transit and mainline rail (commuter, inter-city, high speed, freight), with expertise in vehicles, systems, infrastructure and facilities.
Colin Buchanan And Partners Limited
Colin Buchanan And Partners Limited
Adele Jacques, Marketing Manager
Newcombe House
45 Notting Hill Gate
London W11 3PB, UK
Phone: +011 (44-20) 7309 7000
Email: enquiries@cbuchanan.co.uk
Web: www.cbuchanan.co.uk
Consulting Services: Expert transport planning and traffic engineering with advanced interests in development, planning, integrative urban design, the economics of sustainability, related market research and expertise in PRT analysis. Offices in Ireland and overseas.
EGIS Rail
25 Crs Emile Zola
69625 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
Phone: +011 (33-4) 7269-6000
Web: www.semaly.com
Consulting Services: Rail transit consultants and engineers. Formerly Semaly (Lyon metro) Hard to contact from the US. Pourquoi si diffcile?
Rick Harrison Site Design Studio
Rick Harrison Site Design Studio
Rick Harrison, Principal
8832 7th Avenue North
Golden Valley, MN 55427, USA
Phone: +1 (763) 595-0055
Email: malibu310@aol.com
Consulting Services: Innovative, sensitive land use planning and subdivision layout, excited by the potential of PRT.
JAI
J. David Mori, P.E., Vice President
Jakes Plaza
1940 The Alameda, Suite 200
San Jose, CA 95126, USA
Phone: +1 (408) 249-7200
Fax: +1 (408) 249-7296
Email: jakes@jakesassociates.com
Web: www.jakesassociates.com
Consulting Services: Strategic planning, market projections, competitive analysis, advanced/conventional technology, passenger/cargo applications, procurement management, design review, multi-modal, feasibility studies, complex economic analysis, "turn key" consortia and acquisitions. Successfully completed the challenges of a cutting-edge public-private partnership in Indianapolis, IN. A wide range of experience with conventional transit modes, rehabilitatron of APM installations, and bridging the gap between strategy and technology, from the board room to the design board.
RE Johnson Consulting
Bob Johnson
199 Rollins Ave., Suite 608
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: +1 (240) 221-0532
Email: robert@johnsonvisual.com
Consulting Services: Independent consultant for the analysis and simulation of automated road vehicles for passenger transportation. Can quickly estimate service level and fleet size.
Lamoreaux, Mclendon & Associates, Inc.
Lamoreaux, Mclendon & Associates, Inc.
2686 N. 775 W., Suite 201
Cedar City, UT 84720, USA
Phone: +1 (435) 586-0174
Fax: +1 (435) 865-1848
Email: blamoreaux@laeng.com
Web: www.lamoureauxgroup.com
Consulting Services: Conceptual design and cost estimates for bridge structures, columns and alignments, vehicles, site investigations, project management with experience in Korea and other parts of Asia as well as the US West.
Lea+Elliott, Inc.
Jack Norton, Principal
2505 N. Highway 360, Suite 750
Grand Prairie, TX 75050, USA
Phone: +1 (972) 890-9800
Fax: +1 (972) 890-9801
Email: jnorton@leaelliott.com
Web: www.leaelliott.com
Consulting Services: Lea+Elliott, Inc. is an employee-owned firm of consulting engineers, architects and planners that specialize in the planning, design, procurement, and implementation of transportation systems with special emphasis on APMs and driverless rapid transit. We provide a broad range of planning and engineering services for clients worldwide, and are widely regarded as the world’s leading automated transit consultant. For 35 years, we have enjoyed a reputation as an imaginative and innovative firm that consistently maintains a leadership role by introducing new ideas and technology to the transportation industry.
Lea+Elliott has expertise in all modes of transit, including high speed rail, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, APMs, personal rapid transit, conventional and advanced technology buses, and emerging technologies. We have more APM experience than any other firm in the world. Our principal activities involve transportation system planning, analysis, design, procurement, implementation, and overhaul.
- We have planned, procured and implemented 32 systems now in operation.
- We are currently in the process of implementing 11 new systems and planning and/or procuring 8 additional new systems.
- We have conducted over 300 planning/feasibility studies for various kinds of automated and non-automated transportation systems.
When applicable, we perform alternatives analyses to determine environmental, cost, operational, and mobility benefits of different transportation options. We use these analyses to inform local officials and community members of the benefits, costs and impacts of the planned transit system.
Our technology studies evaluate performance characteristics, operational data, product availability, and cost considerations that aid in the selection of effective and efficient systems. Our operating analyses determine potential station locations, predict system service levels, evaluate emergency response strategies and estimate capital and operations and maintenance costs.
Lea+Elliott’s long history of success in planning new systems and expansions of existing systems demonstrates our thorough understanding of how to move a transit project from the initial planning activities through preliminary engineering, final design, construction, and commissioning. Our new start experience includes those that are federally funded and those that are creatively funded by multiple sources, including Public Private Partnerships.
We are a group of seasoned professionals who understand transit system design from all perspectives. We have developed and routinely use powerful and accurate computerized tools and models to assess and simulate critical system components in order to make recommendations that optimize system design.
The procurement and successful implementation of transit systems is a central focus of our entire company, not a sideline activity performed by a small sector of the firm. Because of this focus, we are able to provide clients with the most up-to-date engineering recommendations in this specialized area. Further Lea+Elliott ensures its objectivity by not working for suppliers of transit vehicles or systems, a statement that very few consulting firms can make.
Finally, we have repeatedly demonstrated our ability to provide value‑added services and cost‑saving recommendations to project Owners through our sophisticated project procurement and implementation services.
Logplan
Alex Anderson, Marketing Manager
Flughafen Frankfurt am Main, CargoCity Süd
Tor 32, Geb. 571, Ebene 2
60549 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Tel: +011 49-69 690-78483
Fax: +011 49-69 690-50761
e-mail: logplan@logplan.com
Web: www.logplan.com
Consulting Services: Design, planning, project management, testing and commissioning of innovative APMs with sound design principals and modern technologies, including rubber tire, maglev, monorail, and cable propelled systems. Recent projects include Madrid and Incheon airports. Experience with transport logistics, cargo, baggage handling and screening, and airport terminal planning.
Parametrix
Jim Fletcher, Senior Consultant
1331 Seventeenth Street, Suite 606
Denver, CO 80202, USA
Phone: +1 (303) 791-9235
Fax: +1 (303) 791-9231
Email: jfletcher@parametrix.com
Web: www.parametrix.com
Consulting Services: Guidance in transportation planning and design of Alpine (cable-propelled) systems.
TUV Rheinland Intertraffic GmbH
TUV Rheinland INTERTRAFFIC GmbH
Stephan Jubin |
Thomas Rettig |
Am Grauen Stein |
12 Commerce Road |
51105 Cologne, Germany |
New Town CT 06470 USA |
+011 49-221 806-2483 |
+1 (203) 426-0888 x124 |
Email: stephan.jubin@de.tuv.com |
Email: trettig@us.tuv.com |
Web: www.tuv.com > |
Consulting Services: Independent third party safety assessment and review, quality audits, software validation and verification.