• City of Bainbridge Island,
  Core 40 Miller Road Shoulder Improvements

• City of Lynnwood,
  204th Street SW Improvements

Skillings completed comprehensive alternatives analysis including a roundabout.  This TIB-funded project reconstructed part of 204th and completes a missing section from 68th Avenue W to SR-99.  We provided all PS&E to reconstruct and extend the roadway, modify utilities, and improve the stormwater drainage system.  We designed the travel and bike lanes, curb, gutter, sidewalk, and illumination on each side.  We provided analysis and design to reconstruct four affected intersections. The City’s utility infrastructure along 204th Street SW was expanded and retrofitted to accommodate the new design and the City’s growth.

• City of Lynnwood,

• 33rd Avenue West Extension

City of Lynnwood, 212th Street Emergency Water Project

On November 1^st, 2015, an aging 8-inch asbestos concrete water main broke near Hall Lake on 212^th Street SW in Lynnwood. Skillings provided the design and construction management for the temporary emergency water system intertie between the City of Lynnwood and City of Mountlake Terrace, pavement repair and restoration, and the replacement of the remaining AC water main. The water system intertie provided continuous water service to the customers along 212^th while the existing AC water main was taken out of service and replaced.

This project has been awarded the Public Works Project of the Year Award for Disaster or Emergency Construction/Repair projects less than $5 Million. 

• City of McCleary, Third Street Improvements

Skillings provided the PS&E to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety by adding sharrows and dedicated bike lanes, upgrading the existing sidewalk to meet the 2005 PROWAG, and installing 19 new ADA-compliant curb ramps to allow for compliant access to a public school and church.  To improve the safety for children walking to school, we also created a new ADA-compliant trail within the existing right of way.  The project included parking, bike lanes, new curb and gutter, and driveway construction.  Our team provided the design to replace the street lighting system and the existing water line with new 10-foot main on the east side of Third Street, as well as power lines and communication lines where undergrounded.  Our team also provided the environmental documentation and permitting, public involvement, temporary construction easements, and onsite construction management and inspection.

Intercity Transit, Centennial Station

Skillings prepared preliminary site plans for the Intercity Transit’s Centennial Station showing traffic flows, parking stalls, proposed drainage areas, sidewalks, platform modifications, and lighting locations.  Our design team provided final grading plans showing clearing limits, work zone limits, erosion control, and proposed finished grades of curbing and walks.  The lighting plan was engineered and drafted for both the new parking area and the old. Plans showed security camera locations and pertinent installation information.

For the second phase of this project, site plans were updated to expand the parking facilities at Centennial Station and included bus stop pads with shelters.  The plans also detailed traffic flow, parking stalls, proposed drainage areas, walks, platform area modifications, and lighting locations.

A final grading plan was provided showing clearing limits, work zone limits, erosion control, finished grades, curbing, and walks.  Plans also detailed security camera locations and pertinent installation information.  Skillings provided construction inspection, construction surveying, and contract administration.  Construction services included preparing pay estimates, coordination with Intercity Transit, arranging for materials testing, and maintaining the schedule.

In addition to designing the 1,000-foot raised concrete passenger platform, we completed the related SEPA documentation and coordinated between Intercity Transit and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad to arrive at the final design requirements.  We then completed the final design and bid documents.

For the construction phase, Skillings coordinated with Intercity Transit and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad on design of a new raised concrete passenger platform for Centennial Station.  Our scope of work included construction management, construction surveying, contract administration, inspection, and construction activity coordination to maintain bus and train schedules.  Our construction services also included preparing pay estimates and arranging for materials testing.

• • City of Olympia, State Avenue Road Improvements

Skillings designed roadway and utility improvements to widen the existing roadways from Central Street to East Bay Drive and provide safe routes for bicycles and pedestrians. As part of the alternatives analysis, we incorporated stop signs to facilitate the movement of oversized freight from the City’s busy Port area.

The reconstruction included milling the existing asphalt roadway, milling the roadway adjacent to the curb line, and providing an asphalt inlay. In some areas, an overlay was used, where milling was not necessary.  We designed ADA access across the roadway and provided ADA-complaint pedestrian facility upgrades which included 68 ADA ramps and connected to the existing sidewalks. We also designed bike lanes and turn lanes.

The improvements included storm drainage which connected to the City’s existing stormwater infrastructure. We coordinated the utility relocation with the City and PSE.  Water valve boxes and manhole lids were adjusted to grade to create a smooth travelling surface. A striping plan, which included specifications for use of thermoplastic inlays, and signing plan was prepared for the roadway in coordination with the City.

• City of Vancouver, I-205 / Mill Plain Interchange Improvements

We began design for this new off-ramp and modifications to the existing on and off-ramps at I-205 Mill Plain Boulevard I/C using a 3D laser scanning survey system.  A Leica HDS3000 was used to map the project site and roadway topography.  The speed of data collection allowed our surveyors to collect the necessary information in a shorter period of time than with conventional survey equipment.  The survey took place in close proximity to high-volume traffic which created safety concerns.  The laser system offered improved worker safety, as well as significant time and money savings.  The high degree of accuracy and short data collection time allowed design to begin ahead of the original schedule.

Geotechnical testing, analysis and design was used to support environmental documentation, surfacing design and structural design.  Three reports were prepared to document the analysis, 1) a Geotechnical Report, 2) a Surfacing Report and 3) an Infiltration Report.

Once base mapping was complete, preliminary design was begun by developing horizontal and vertical alignments with lines, grades, sections and cut/fill lines, all to WSDOT and FHWA interstate highway design standards.  Critical to this project was assurance that the adjacent and overlapping project would mesh correctly in the final condition.  When completed, the two projects together will provide a braided ramp system with this project spanning over the future project.  It was imperative that horizontal and vertical clearances and sight distances be set correctly to accommodate the future conditions.  Geometric design was concluded with final design/PS&E.

The project footprint identified with the preliminary design effort allowed us to proceed with environmental documentation.  This project required a NEPA Documented Categorical Exclusion and accompanying SEPA Determination of Non-Significance.  Discipline studies were undertaken to address air quality and noise impacts, environmental justice and visual impacts.  A local agency Environmental Classification Summary and Biological Assessment were also prepared to satisfy City, State and Federal requirements.

With receipt of traffic modeling provided by the Southwest Washington RTPO (RTC) via the City of Vancouver, we began operational analysis to determine appropriate lane configurations and intersection modifications.  A new signal controlled intersection was designed to connect the NW Ramp extension with existing NE 112th Avenue.  The new signal was interconnected with the N-E and W-N ramp termini at Mill Plain Boulevard and the signalized intersection at Mill Plain Boulevard and NE Chkalov Avenue.  An intersection Plan for Approval was prepared and submitted to the City and WSDOT as was an Interchange Plan for Approval to document the I-205/Mill Plain Boulevard I/C modifications.  Operational analysis and traffic design, signing, striping, illumination, construction staging/work zone traffic control was concluded with final design/PS&E.

Stormwater/hydraulics design was a major undertaking on this project.  Two Threshold Discharge Areas (TDA’s) were involved with this project, the Columbia River to the south (only quality treatment required) and Burnt Bridge Creek to the north (both quality and quantity treatment required).  Stormwater collection, conveyance and treatment were designed in accordance with WSDOT’s 2006 Highway Runoff Manual including the requirements for enhanced treatment.  The topography combined with limited right-of-way required the use of a very large underground vault for quality treatment prior to the water being infiltrated into the underlying soils.  Pre-treatment was provided prior to water entering the vault system.  Stormwater/hydraulics design was concluded with final design/PS&E.

Two bridge structures were designed for this project, a single span bridge to cross the NW Ramp extension to NE 112th Avenue and a 6-span structure to take the W-N On-ramp from Mill Plain Boulevard across a future off-ramp the NE 18th Street and onto I-205.  In addition, numerous retaining walls were required because of the limited right-of-way available and the close proximity of the existing on and off-ramps.  One of the retaining walls was a soil-nail wall that allowed for more width beneath the Mill Plain Boulevard Bridge across I-205.  The other calls were either conventional concrete cantilever walls or geotextile “bag” walls with concrete facings.  Structural design was concluded with PS&E.

A public involvement effort was begun early in the project by preparing a Public Involvement Plan to chart the planned activities throughout the life of the project.  Open houses, post card announcements and newsletters were used to impart information to the public and request/receive feedback on the project.  Design visualization graphics were prepared for presentation and a public contact database was developed to track telephone and email contacts and the resulting feedback.

Intercity Transit, 2015 and 2016 Bus Stop Pads Improvements

These 2015 and 2016 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funded project updated 71 stops throughout Thurston County to improve accessibility for riders.  Key to the success of the projects was sizing our effort to the level of complexity required.  Each stop was field reviewed, and non-electronic survey methods were used to gather data for design which significantly reduced project costs.  The plans included before and after photos that clearly showed the final vision.  This also led to easier reviews for non-technical staff and better client input on designs.  Construction management, inspection, and materials documentation were provided for the project.

2015 Bus Stop Improvements:  Skillings provided design, construction management, and inspection services for the design and construction of 19 ADA-compliant bus pads located in various areas of the Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Thurston County and WSDOT jurisdictions, reviewed an additional 11 pads designed previously by a different firm, and provided re-design of three of those pads reviewed.  The goal of the project was to improve accessibility for Intercity Transit’s riders.  This portion of our work featured:

• Cost Reduction Measures: Our team utilized an innovative method of plan sheet preparation which included incorporating actual photos showing before and after conditions.  Each stop was also field-reviewed and non-electronic survey methods used to gather data for field layout of the design.  This reduced client cost and made plan review quick and easy for the client, saving them time.  Despite having both a fast-track schedule and providing three additional designs, the PS&E was delivered on time and within budget.
• Collaboration with Permitting Authorities: Patrick Skillings and Tim Horton led the coordination effort with the Local Agencies for permits during the design and construction phases.  The team’s expertise and responsive service to the various permit agencies helped ensure that the contractor understood and abided by all permit requirements, avoiding any schedule delays.
• Familiarity with Federal Transit Authority Funding Requirements: The project team is experienced with FTA funding and documentation requirements.  The team worked with Intercity Transit to ensure that documentation was well organized and included all elements to maintain the project’s federal funding eligibility.  In addition to the funding requirements, the team also provided construction management and inspections to assure that all the constructed bus pads were ADA-compliant.

2016 Bus Stop Improvements:  Skillings provided design, construction management, and inspection services for the design and construction of 41 ADA-compliant bus pads located in various areas of the Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Thurston County and WSDOT jurisdictions.  As with the previous bus stop improvement project, the goal of the project was to improve accessibility for Intercity Transit’s riders.  This portion of our work featured:

• Familiarity with Intercity Transit Staff and Procedures: At the end of the 2015 bus stop improvements project, the team incorporated information from our debrief to improve our internal processes to allow the 2016 bus stop project to be successfully completed on time and within budget.
• Additional Cost Reduction Measures: The 2016 bus stop improvements project had double the number of bus pads as compared to the 2015 project. The project team was able to further reduce the design and construction costs per bus pad by specifying design details such as a thicker concrete pedestrian curb as opposed to using steel rebar reinforcement, a lesson learned from the 2015 project. This, in addition to the previously used method of field layout, field design, and plan sheet preparation helped reduce the overall cost per bus pad.
• Continual Process Improvements: For the 2016 bus stop improvements project, the project team also looked towards the interactions between the bus pads, the bus driver, and the rider dynamic to better understand and optimize the locations and dimensions of the bus pads. This allowed the team to effectively design the bus pads as well as suggest potential alternative locations when a potential issue (such as standing water or irrigation sprinkler overspray) was observed during the field review. The team also developed standard plans for different bus stop types for the project, which have an added benefit of decreasing response cost and time to private developers needing to construct future stops.

Montana Department of Transportation, US 93, Evaro to Polson

Skillings prepared feasibility/corridor study and preservation plans to complete roadway improvements in this environmentally- and culturally-sensitive area.  An aggressive public involvement campaign allowed this project to move forward in an efficient and timely manner.  The process facilitated MDT, FHWA, and Tribal involvement in preparation of design guidelines, traffic and safety analysis, and the review of 44 wildlife crossings on US 93.  Context-sensitive solutions were keys to the project’s success.  The result is a written Memorandum of Agreement that included the results of the corridor study and analysis, design criteria, lane configuration, design features, and mitigation measures.  Skillings also performed a LEDPA analysis and 404(b)(1) Evaluation in support of NEPA documentation and Corps permitting.  The project has received numerous awards, including FHWA’s Team Award for Excellence.  Skillings also provided right of way appraisal, acquisition, relocation services, and design management.