Transportation Engineering
A community is defined by its people and its built environment. Transportation infrastructure is a big part of any community, one that evolves and changes as that community grows.
At Waggoner, we’re passionate about applying bold and innovative solutions to the transportation challenges of communities and industries. Our experience encompasses metropolitan intermodal corridor development involving the connectivity between airports, ports, railyards, roadways and bikepaths. Our team of transportation professionals also assists communities with traffic planning, corridor planning, smart growth concepts and addressing the renewed emphasis on pedestrian and bike.
Metro Parkway Jackson State University, Hinds County and Jackson, Mississippi
Hinds County, Jackson State University, and the City of Jackson recognized the serious need for redevelopment of the community surrounding Jackson State University, as well as the poor accessibility to the Jackson State University campus, especially from the Central Business District.
more
Hinds County and Jackson State University cooperatively engaged Waggoner to assess the situation and present alternatives to address the transportation deficiencies, decline of residential and commercial areas and blight, and to provide an entrance and enhance visibility to the Jackson State University campus.
This project involved the delineation of alternative corridors for development of an east/west arterial roadway connecting the western edge of the Central Business District of the City of Jackson with the intersection of U.S. Highway 80 and Lynch Street near I-220. The Corridor Analysis included detailed evaluations of alternative alignment concepts, impact on existing residential and business community interest within the corridor area, development of economic development enhancements to the area, inclusion of intermodal transportation components, including local rail service and connection of the project to the proposed multi-modal facility of the City of Jackson, environmental, archeological, and socioeconomic criteria, transportation planning and projections, and basic civil engineering design, including utility relocations, use of innovative funding sources, including elements of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and related matters.
This project initiative included development of a four-lane median divided parkway concept with bike and pedestrian trails, underground utilities, heavy utilization of "pocket" parks, traffic roundabouts, and vegetative plantings for an approximate three mile, two phased parkway designed to enhance the economic vitality of the western portion of the Central Business District of the City of Jackson and to provide urban redevelopment opportunities and boundary and access definition for Jackson State University.
The total project value was approximately $50 million and was phased into an initial level of commitment of approximately $20 million with a second level of approximately $30 million.
The parkway concept has been a resounding success. The 1995 Legislative Session included a state appropriation of $20 million for the project. The JSU Parkway Commission was formed and included representation by Hinds County, the City of Jackson, and Jackson State University. The State Bond Commission authorized $5.7 million in funds toward the design, right-of-way acquisition, relocation, and construction of the initial phase of the Parkway. Phase 1 of the Metro Parkway was completed in May of 2004 at a cost of approximately 7.1 million. Phase 2 of the Metro Parkway began construction January 2005 and was completed in 2006 at a cost of $6.5 million.
less
County Line Road Corridor Revitalization Ridgeland, Mississippi
Conventional wisdom and common sense says that when a roadway can no longer safely and efficiently handle its traffic flow it is time to add another lane of asphalt. However, the City of Ridgeland and Waggoner Engineering found that reducing from 5 lanes to 4 lanes has solved traffic capacity problems, reduced accidents, and vastly improved the experience of the traveling public.
more
Rewind to 2003: Ridgeland had a problem – and everybody knew about it. County Line Road was becoming well-known as a thoroughfare that motorists should avoid – a road plagued by traffic snarls. The one-mile stretch of County Line Road between Ridgewood Road and Pear Orchard Road is home to major retail businesses, residential homes and banks and is also a vital commuter path for residents from the Reservoir area, resulting in more than 60,000 vehicles per day traffic loading.
By the fall of 2003, finding a solution had become crucial for the economic viability of the area. Officials with the City of Ridgeland, City of Jackson and area businesses gave input to Ridgeland’s longtime consulting engineering company, Waggoner Engineering, Inc., to determine the best solution.
Waggoner’s assessment found that the center turn lane was the problem, allowing drivers to make left turns across busy twin lanes of traffic, regularly interrupting traffic flow in both directions, and causing frequent and severe accidents.
Since the project’s completion, Ridgeland Police Department data reveals a 52 percent reduction in severe traffic collisions and a 22 percent reduction in overall accidents along the one-mile length of County Line Road.
less
Metro Parkway Jackson State University, Hinds County and Jackson, Mississippi
County Line Road Corridor Revitalization Ridgeland, Mississippi