Railroad infrastructure is critical to the United States’ economic health and national security. At RIC, we have collaborated with our railroad partners completing complex track layouts and designs, bridge replacement hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, third-party design reviews and rail yard designs, all with a priority of minimizing track down-time.
The RIC team is knowledgeable about AREMA and FRA requirements and has even assisted our railroad clients with developing their standards. Our goal is to be a preferred and trusted advisor when it comes to your system. We’re here to help you find and implement the right railroad infrastructure for your needs.
Projects
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A&M Manufacturing Railyard
A&M Manufacturing Railyard
×RIC provided consulting engineering services to re-design proposed improvements to the A&M Manufacturing Rail Yard in Spring Hill, KS. Construction of Tracks 1,2,3, and 4, partial construction of track 5, and realignment of track 22-100 were completed.
RIC provided horizontal and vertical alignment design of the proposed revisions to the tracks. RIC is also providing a topographic survey, construction staking, construction management and inspection, and storm sewer design.
Location
Spring Hill, KS
Markets
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BNSF Third Party Review
BNSF Third Party Review
×RIC works with BNSF structures managers under RIC’s Engineering Services Agreement to perform 3rd party reviews of proposed public improvements that have the potential to impact BNSF assets. These Public Projects are designed by municipal or state departments of transportation personnel or their consultants.
Our work involves a peer review of the engineering methods and results that were used to design the project. Our deliverable to BNSF is a completed review matrix with comments for the design engineer to address. Since 2016, RIC has performed 3rd party reviews for structures in Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Texas:
Bridge 219.60 – Burlington, Iowa Bridge 28.78 – Seward, Nebraska Bridge 1151.50 – El Paso, Texas Bridge 508.5 – Kingman, Arizona Bridge 8.55 – Duluth, Minnesota Bridge 266.21 & 268.21 – Cambridge, Nebraska
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Westar Energy Spur Track Expansion (Lawrence Energy Center)
Westar Energy Spur Track Expansion (Lawrence Energy Center)
×To consolidate their operations and improve efficiency for the delivery of dependable power to their customer base, Westar Energy had to increase rail car yard space at their Lawrence Energy Center (LEC) Facility, to accommodate a BNSF 135 car unit coal train.
RIC was hired to plan and design the track expansion project to meet BNSF and Westar’s operational goals. The project included coordination with George Pacocha, the BNSF Manager of Economic Development for Unit Coal Trains and Westar staff to update and revise the LEC’s rail operations plan, which was routed through BNSF’s management, operations and engineering departments.
RIC also provided complete surveying of the project site, railroad engineering meeting BNSF’s Industrial Standards and AREMA guidelines, project permitting through Westar’s environmental division, assistance with automated switching, coordination of an existing fly-ash pond closure, and construction assistance.
The LEC had a goal of getting the yard operational by the end of 2016. The project commissioning took place on December 8th, 2016 with final inspection by BNSF. During a field visit and inspection, George Pacocha at BNSF indicated that he thought the project was very successful.
Location
Lawrence, KS
Markets