At BLA, we’re engineering quality for life. That’s why time and again our clients entrust us with planning their biggest investments. When success requires careful consideration of a myriad of needs and opinions, you need a firm with experience striking the optimum balance. Services include:
- Corridor/Feasibility Studies
- NEPA Statewide and Metropolitan Transportation Plans
- Public Involvement – Context Sensitive Solutions
- Long-Range Transportation Plans
- Transit Systems
- Access Management
- Innovative Financing Studies
- Street and Road Management System (SRMS)
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- Corridor/Feasibilities Studies
- Economic Development Corridor Feasibility Study, LaPorte, Indiana
Client: City of LaPorte, Indiana
Over 40 years ago, the mayor of LaPorte recognized the need for a project to route traffic to the east and west sides of the city. Boyd Boulevard from US 35 south (Indiana Avenue) to State Road 2 east (Lincolnway) on the east side of the city was the only portion of the ambitious vision that was ever completed. This feasibility study examined a wide range of alternatives ranging from low-capital cost transportation system management improvements to major capital investments along existing and new roadway alignments. The alternatives were subjected to a performance evaluation based on achievement of project goals, traffic considerations, community and environmental impacts, agency considerations, and the input of environmental resource agencies and the public. The preferred alternative was the Inner Loop of 20.2 miles with a total project price tag of $163.3 million. Construction of the improvement was phased to facilitate implementation.
- US 50 Corridor Planning & Environmental Assessment Study, North Vernon, Indiana
Client: Indiana Department of Transportation
 This corridor planning and environmental assessment study addressed the transportation problems on US 50 from I-65 east through North Vernon to the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center that was developing as the premiere urban warfare training center in the nation. The study provided a system-level planning and safety analysis for the 18-mile corridor, as well as detailed planning analysis and environmental evaluation. Combined with public input, preliminary alternatives were first evaluated on the basis of achievement of project “purpose and need”, then on the basis of traffic considerations, community and environmental impacts, and agency considerations (project cost, maintenance of traffic and constructability). Because of the high number of displacements and access control concerns on the existing alignment, BLA recommended that the three new alignment options between US 31 and the west side of North Vernon be carried forward into the preparation of the EIS.
NEPA Transportation Studies- I-69 Tier 1 Environmental Impact Study (EIS), Evansville to Indianapolis, Indiana
Client: Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)
 In December of 1999, INDOT issued a notice-to-proceed for BLA to begin work on what was hoped to be the definitive study of the long-awaited highway connection between Indianapolis and Evansville. This transportation facility was envisioned as Indiana’s contribution to the congressionally-designated “high priority” Corridor 18 (Interstate 69) that will eventually provide a mid-continent link between Canada and Mexico. In 2005, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standing Committee on the Environment cited the I-69 Tier 1 Final EIS as one of the top ten examples of best practice nationwide. According to the study, the BLA document “illustrates how a complex and potentially overwhelming project with multiple impacts on multiple potential alignments over a very large study area can be analyzed in a relatively succinct manner.”
- I-69 Tier 2 Environmental Impact Study (EIS), Evansville to Indianapolis, Indiana
Client: Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)
 In April 2004, INDOT initiated the Tier 2 Studies to begin work on the next phase of this 142-mile corridor study. INDOT hired BLA as the Project Management Consultant to oversee the project development activities of six section consultants. With EISs being prepared by six separate firms on essentially the same project – but with different termini – BLA has been responsible for establishing guidelines for the efficient preparation and review of the six EISs. This effort includes the development of guidance and format manuals; review of technical memoranda and reports; preparation of “generic” text to be incorporated into each EIS; review of the Preliminary Draft and Final EISs and Record of Decisions; and coordination with INDOT, FHWA, and other agencies on review of the documents.
- US 31 Environmental Impact Study (EIS), Plymouth to South Bend, Indiana
Client: Indiana Department of Transportaton (INDOT)
 BLA led the preparation of an EIS and Environmental Assessment to evaluate a segment of the US 31 Improvement from Plymouth to South Bend in St. Joseph and Marshall counties, Indiana. The study area was approximately 20 miles long by 10 miles wide, running from the southern terminus at US 30, near Plymouth, to the northern terminus at US 20 near South Bend.
The purpose of the EIS was to identify and evaluate the social and environmental impacts associated with a proposed project and to reveal those impacts to the public and other federal, state, and local agencies. The EIS conforms to the Indiana Streamlined EIS procedures for preparation of environmental documents as well as all applicable environmental rules and regulations. Key components included public and agency involvement in the decision-making process and social and environmental impact analysis of project alternatives. The project included coordination with many resource agencies and consulting parties, including the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Agency, Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, the South Bend and St. Joseph County Historic Preservation Commission, and many others.
Public Involvement - Context Sensitive Solutions- KY 114, Saylersville to Prestonsburg, Kentucky
Client: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC)
 The purpose of this project was to upgrade the critically deficient substandard highway to current AASHTO design criteria, concurrent with providing the needed capacity and safety. Steep grades, numerous sharp horizontal curves, and limited sight distance combined to form an undesirable facility. Identifying possible impacts required interviewing residents and community leaders along the corridor. The problem was how to reach out to the parties that could be impacted to get their input. BLA’s solution – invite them to a party.
For two days, along KY 114 at Prestonsburg and Salyersville, a roadside information station was manned by the KYTC, FHWA and consultants. The station was open to anyone who wanted to attend. Food was served, entertainment was provided by the Crash Test Dummies (Vince and Larry) and Buckle-Up Bear, balloons were given out to children, and people were asked to fill out questionnaires regarding the KY 114 project. Almost 300 questionnaires were completed providing excellent information on possible impacts to the residents and businesses along the proposed KY 114 improvement project area. This innovative public outreach and media relations campaign contributed to the successful public perception and acceptance of this project.
- Illinois Route 159, Madison County, Illinois
Client: Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
 Increased traffic prompted IDOT to consider alternatives to improve this 2.9-mile section of IL-159. Running directly through the center of town, the roadway passes through several business and residential areas, including a historic district. As IDOT’s consultant responsible for public involvement for this project, BLA devised a community outreach effort that included the formation of a Community Advisory Group (CAG). The community outreach effort was designed to solicit public input and the input of the CAG on potential solutions to congestion and safety issues, as well as on aesthetic considerations. Due to the urban constraints and numerous stakeholders affected, the public involvement effort conforms to IDOT Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) guidelines. CSS takes a broader approach to design focusing on the unique needs of the community so that the solution not only meets engineering standards, but strives to do so in a way that also enhances the quality of life for area residents. To aid in this process, BLA is using advanced 3D modeling to help stakeholders and team members visualize how the expanded roadway will impact the area.
Street & Road Management System- Warrick County, Indiana
Client: Warrick County Board of Commissioners
In 1989, the leadership of Warrick County recognized the need for a road management plan that would allow them to maximize their return on transportation dollars. BLA, using a proprietary approach developed by the firm identified as Street & Road Management System (SRMS), assisted the county in developing a plan that emphasized preventive maintenance. BLA experts used SRMS to inventory, evaluate, and analyze the county's transportation assets, including pavement, drainage flows, and drainage structures. Ten years later, the results were dramatic: overall roadway surface conditions had improved significantly while annual funding needed for maintenance and improvements had decreased by $12 million. As a result, Warrick County continues using the SRMS approach to “keeping good roads good.” Visit the SRMS page to read more about how SRMS can work for your community.
Long-Range Transportation Plans- Jackson Area 2030 Long-Range Transportation Plan Jackson, Tennessee
Client: Jackson Metropolitan Planning Organization
 With 2000 state population numbers estimated to be up almost 40% in 2030, the city of Jackson recognized the need for a dynamic and dependable transportation system to help create jobs to keep the economy strong by planning for sufficient infrastructure to move both goods and people. The Long-Range Transportation Plan developed by BLA provided the MPO with a blueprint for transportation investments across all modes of the transportation system - streets and highways, bikeways and walkways, public transportation, and railways. Consideration was given to population and employment trends, land development patterns, travel characteristics, current and future transportation system performance, and other planning factors. The recommended plan is based on a series of stated community goals, financial capability, environmental considerations and public guidance.
- Long-Range Transportation Plan Update for 2030, Greater Terre Haute, Indiana
Client: West Central Indiana Economic Development District, Inc. (WCIEDD)
 This effort involved updating the multi-modal Long-Range Transportation Plan for the metropolitan planning organization for the City of Terre Haute and Vigo County. One goal of the plan was to demonstrate air quality conformity to address the area’s April 2004 designation as non-attainment for 8-hour ozone standards. The final plan included a Long-Range Capital Improvement Program to the year 2030. WCIEDD re-established the “blue ribbon” advisory committee that had overseen prior transportation plan updates to serve as a sounding board and advisory body to BLA and WCIEDD as transportation problems were identified and alternative future transportation improvements were evaluated. A new travel demand model was developed and calibrated using the GIS user-friendly TRANSCAD modeling platform. The growth pattern of the Year 2025 Transportation Plan was pushed out to the year 2030 through a workshop of local officials involved in the development review and approval process.
Transit Systems- Comprehensive Transit Needs Assessment, Northwestern Indiana
Client: Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC)
BLA served as part of the team responsible for the comprehensive analysis of existing transit service in a three-county region covered by NIRPC. The analysis included determining the level of unmet need for transit service in the region and recommending new services to meet these unmet needs. Using data provided by transit operators, as well as other published data, BLA prepared an analysis of the performance of existing transit operators in the region. Operating cost models were prepared for fixed-route bus and demand-response operators. BLA also designed, executed, tabulated, and analyzed rider surveys for multiple transit operators to determine major unmet needs for transit riders, as well as to assess their level of satisfaction with existing transit service. For the four existing fixed-route bus operators in the region, BLA prepared recommendations for improved service to meet identified needs. Each recommendation included changes in operating cost and forecasted increases in passengers and fare revenue.
- TransPorte Comprehensive Operations Analysis, LaPorte, Indiana
Client: Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC)
As major subconsultant for a comprehensive operational analysis of the city’s demand response transit system, TransPorte, BLA interviewed public officials, community business leaders, and agency officials to document role and importance of TransPorte to the residents. BLA also participated in two public meetings and summarized public input. A detailed analysis of operating and ridership data was developed that included hour-by-hour ridership and vehicle utilization; identification of ridership and revenue by type of rider; analysis of timing of passenger trip requests; and comparison of TransPorte operating performance with peer systems in Michigan and Ohio. This analysis resulted in changes in fare and dispatching policies. Prior to the changes, only 6% of riders pre-booked their trips at least a day in advance. Recommended changes were intended to encourage passengers to request service at least a day in advance. In addition, several successful peer systems in surrounding states were identified as potential contacts for successful marketing strategies, as well as state-of-the-practice dispatching and scheduling practices.
- Consolidated Human Services & Rural Public Transportation, LaPorte, Indiana
Client: Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC)
LaPorte County has five human services agencies that provide transportation, but none are coordinated leaving large parts of the county without regular public transportation. As subconsultant, BLA was involved with an analysis of the potential for consolidated human services and rural public transportation for the second-largest county in Indiana. BLA interviewed agency officials, public officials, community business leaders, and stakeholders regarding use of current transportation services and transportation needs, and conducted a detailed survey of the five agencies currently providing transportation services. Using this information, a detailed analysis of the transit needs was developed, and recommendations were made for consolidating services. Some recommendations included joint dispatching and ridesharing under the leadership of one of the agencies, new services for southern LaPorte County emphasizing the use of volunteer drivers, establishment of a triangle route connecting Purdue North Central and the cities of LaPorte and Michigan, a unified call center, and long-term integration of all county services.
Access Management- Indiana Statewide Access Management, Phase I
Client: Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)
BLA was part of a team that developed an access management classification system for Indiana. Access management controls and regulates the spacing and design on driveways, medians, median openings, traffic signals, and freeway interchanges. This system aids in traffic management and increases safety and short travel times. BLA’s role in the study included evaluation of roadway characteristics in development of the access management classification system, participation in interviews and recommendations on intergovernmental relationships in access management, and preparation of the US 31 Hamilton/Tipton County Access Management Plans.
- State Road 135 Pilot Study Access Management
Client: Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)
The second phase of the Indiana Statewide Access Management Study involved a case study of the State Road 135 from County Road 500N to County Road 700N. An inventory of project area characteristics was compiled including roadway right-of-way plans, aerial photography, current land use and zoning information, future land use and thoroughfare plan, and traffic volume data. A study committee was established to identify issues and concerns. Guidelines were established and an implementation program to purchase access rights for major roadway reconstruction projects was developed. Methods were also developed for adding “access management benefits” as a criterion for reconstruction project prioritization.
River Ports- Port Relocation Feasibility Study
Client: City of Tell City, Indiana
Prepared study of technical, physical, and financial considerations of relocating and expanding the existing 38-acre Ohio River port on the south end of the city to the north end of the city to allow it to better compete with other regional river ports. Considerations included environmental concerns, disruption to nearby aggregate and concrete operations, loading and conveyor facilities, roadway and rail access, utilities, ancillary buildings, and permitting.
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