Columbus, Ohio (Feb. 27, 2019) — The city of Columbus, Ohio, has contracted with Woolpert to provide engineering, survey and technical expertise to improve pedestrian access to schools. The project is part of the Columbus City Council’s initiative to support and improve the safety and quality of life of city residents by installing sidewalks around schools within three urban neighborhoods.
Woolpert has been assigned the Near South neighborhood, which will improve routes for students and families attending Lincoln Park Elementary School, Livingston Elementary School and South High School in the Columbus City School District. The basic services to be provided under this contract include civil engineering for roadways, intersections and stormwater design; survey and right-of-way services; construction plan development; and landscaping details.
Nathan Fischer, Woolpert project manager, said these infrastructure improvements will make communities more walkable and improve home values, but the primary goal of the project is safety. He added that Columbus is ahead of the curve in implementing projects such as these that promote stronger, safer and healthier cities.
“Columbus has been very progressive in pursuing funding for pedestrian safety specifically and in supporting national efforts like Safe Routes to School,” said Fischer, who works on roads and bridges projects throughout the state. “Other cities of similar sizes have begun looking to Columbus to lead the way.”
Survey and engineering work for the Near South project is now underway.
About Woolpert
Woolpert is the fastest growing architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firm in the country, delivering value to clients in all 50 states and around the world by strategically blending innovative design and engineering excellence with leading-edge technology and geospatial applications. With a dynamic research and development department, Woolpert works with inventive business partners such as Google and Esri; operates a fleet of planes, sensors and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS); and continually pushes industry boundaries by working with advanced water technologies, asset management, building information modeling (BIM) and sustainable design. The firm, which is 95th among ENR’s Top 500 Design Firms, supports a mission to help its clients progress and become more progressive. For over 100 years and with 28 offices across the U.S., Woolpert serves federal, state and local governments; private and public companies and universities; energy and transportation departments; and the U.S. Armed Forces. For more information, visit woolpert.com or call 937-531-1258.