Title: Site Designer II
Department: Site-Corning Office
What is your role at Larson Design Group?: My role at LDG is multifaceted. From site investigation to attending meetings with clients, I can be certain I will have to do a little bit of everything for a project. This includes, but not limited to, designing project sites, preparing permits, coordinating with clients/townships/regulatory agencies and construction inspection. I find often times being a good team member is my most important role. I do this by helping others on whatever deadline is current to ensure quality work and timely delivery of a project.
What is your background?: After graduation from Lafayette College with a Bachelor of Science, I worked as a traffic/transportation engineer for Herbert, Roland, and Grubic, Inc. in Lancaster, PA. My main job responsibilities included preparing traffic impact studies, corridor studies, highway occupancy permits, utility coordination, and construction management.
What do you enjoy in your free time?: In my free time, I enjoy working out, spending time with my husband and dog on our dairy farm, drinking dry red wine, and traveling all over the Mid Atlantic Region to see family and friends.
Posted in Bridge Design | Codes & Regulations | Economic Development | Politics | Transportation by Maureen Bower (Designer - Site Engineering) on April 26, 2011
Image © 2011 Google Maps
A few years ago, I conducted research for my independent study during my senior year at Lafayette College. My study was part of the 2006 Infrastructure Report Card for the State of Pennsylvania. Living in one of the oldest states in the union as well as a state that has frequent freeze-thaw cycles, I did not have high hopes for the grades the roads and bridges would yield based on their condition, performance, capacity, and funding needs. Turns out, I was correct. Pennsylvania roads received a grade of “D” (meaning poor on the grading schedule) while the bridges did slightly better with a grade of “C” (meaning mediocre). The release of the report card caused commotion and called for government officials to fund infrastructure maintenance programs. In 2009, the Obama Administration provided $27,115,533,955 through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) for Transportation projects around the country, with Pennsylvania receiving $1,098,699,760. In 2010, the American Society of Civil Engineers published the 2010 Infrastructure Report Card for the State of Pennsylvania. I was eager to see the results from the four years of infrastructure improvements. Sadly, I was disappointed. The bridge rating remained a “C” while the roads grade dropped to a “D-”. I was determined to find out why this was the case. It turns out that although the funding from the ARRA was helpful, it is not nearly enough for the upkeep and maintenance of Pennsylvania’s 22,280 bridges and 40,000 state and 76,000 local miles of roadway.
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