Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study Chapter 6, List of Preparers

Tier 1 Service Level EIS 6-1 October 2012

CHAPTER 6

LIST OF PREPARERS

This Tier 1 EIS was prepared by numerous professionals comprising the Chicago to Council 

Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study team.

6.1 FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION

The following FRA staff was responsible for overall project management, technical 

direction, and review of the Tier 1 EIS.

Federal Railroad Administration

Name Qualifications/

Background

Project Role/

Responsibilities

Andréa Martin

MA Ed. Curriculum and Instructional 

Development; BS Environmental 

Management; 8 years of experience

Project oversight and reviewer

6.2 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The following Iowa DOT staff were responsible for project management, technical direction, 

and review of the Tier 1 EIS.

Iowa Department of Transportation

Name Qualifications/

Background

Project Role/

Responsibilities

Tammy Nicholson

BS Civil Engineering; 22 years of 

experience with highway location studies 

and rail transportation.

Office Director – Rail 

Transportation

Amanda Martin

BS Community and Regional Planning; 

14 years of experience managing federally 

funded projects/activities, planning studies, 

and working with state and local agencies 

on various multimodal transportation 

planning projects.

Project Manager –Agreements, 

EIS, Service Development Plan, 

Conceptual Design, and Financial 

Progress Reporting

Janet Vine

MS Estuarine Ecology; 6 years of 

experience managing NEPA process and 

documentation.

NEPA Lead – EIS

Tracey Bramble

BS Journalism and Mass Communications; 

26 years of experience in media relations 

including media buys, copywriting, editing,

and design.

Public Involvement Lead –

Assisted with development and 

approval of content for webpage, 

meeting materials, and stakeholder 

toolkit.
Chapter 6, List of Preparers Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study

October 2012 6-2 Tier 1 Service Level EIS

Name Qualifications/

Background

Project Role/

Responsibilities

Ed Engle

MS Civil Engineering and Environmental 

Science; BS Chemical Engineering;

Licensed professional engineer; 25 years of 

technical/research experience with 18 years 

related to transportation.

Engineering Lead – Service 

Development Plan and Conceptual 

Design

Diane McCauley

BA Art Education; 35 years of experience 

in management analysis, graphics 

presentation, training, and marketing.

Public Involvement – Assisted 

with development of content for 

webpage, meeting materials, and 

stakeholder toolkit.

Laura Hutzell

BS Community and Regional Planning; 

3 years of experience in transportation 

planning.

GIS/Data – EIS

Anne Turcotte

MRP Regional Planning; 2 years of 

experience in multimodal and long-range 

transportation planning.

GIS/Data – EIS

Mary Jo Key

38 years of experience working in various 

positions with the Iowa Department of 

Transportation, including the past 10 years 

managing state and federal rail 

transportation projects.

Project Maintenance – Assisted 

with organization and storage of 

project documents and other 

various project activities.

Mark Lane

BS Education; 25 years of experience in 

digital video production; 20 years of 

experience in web and graphic design.

Web Design – Developed 

webpage, generated analytic 

reports, and assisted with video 

production activities.

Mike Coon

BFA; 40 years of video production 

experience including broadcast, advertising,

and corporate television, including 14 years 

in transportation programming; training in

commercial art, photography, music, and 

basic electronics.

Video Production – Developed all 

video productions included for 

online public information

meetings.

Christina Andersen

BS Journalism and Mass Communications; 

7 years of experience in copywriting and 

graphic design.

Graphic Design – Assisted with 

development of meeting materials 

and stakeholder toolkit.

Jari Mohs

38 years of experience in project 

coordination, editing, design, and public 

relations.

Public Involvement – Assisted 

with review and approval of 

webpage, meeting materials, and 

stakeholder toolkit.

6.3 ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The following Illinois DOT staff were responsible for review of the Tier 1 EIS.

Illinois Department of Transportation

Name Qualifications/

Background

Project Role/

Responsibilities

Miriam Gutierrez

BA History; 3 years of experience in rail 

program planning

Bureau Chief of High Speed and 

Passenger Rail

Walt Zyznieuski

MA Environmental Studies; BS Geography; 

30 years of experience in environmental 

resources

Air and Noise Impact Analysis and 

Review; General NEPA Content 

Review
Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study Chapter 6, List of Preparers

Tier 1 Service Level EIS 6-3 October 2012

Tom Brooks MLA Landscape Architecture; 18 years of 

experience in land use and natural resources

Natural Resources Review and 

Comment

Emilie Eggemeyer

MS Historic Preservation; BS Historic 

Preservation; 4 years of experience in 

cultural resource research and review

Historic Documentation Review

Brad Koldehoff

MA Anthropology/Archaeology; BA

Anthropology; 30 years of experience with 

cultural resources 

Archaeology and Historic 

Coordination Analysis and Review

6.4 HDR ENGINEERING, INC. AND HNTB CORPORATION

HDR Engineering, Inc. and its subcontractor HNTB Corporation were responsible for 

supporting FRA and Iowa DOT in preparing the Tier 1 EIS. The following individuals were 

key members of the project team.

HDR Engineering, Inc.

Name Qualifications/

Background

Project Role/

Responsibilities

Will Sharp

MS Civil Engineering; BS Civil 

Engineering; 27 years of experience in

project management, roadway location 

studies, roadway design, environmental 

compliance, and traffic engineering.

Project Manager – EIS, Service 

Development Plan, and Conceptual 

Design.

John Morton

MS Engineering Management; BS Civil 

Engineering; 38 years of experience in

design, permitting, and approval of civil 

engineering structures, with specialized 

experience and training in environmental 

compliance, NEPA compliance, mitigation 

design, Clean Water Act permitting, public 

involvement, and interagency coordination.

Senior Advisor – EIS, and QA/QC 

Review.

Mark Hemphill

MA History; BA History; 18 years of 

experience in the railroad industry in 

operating, mechanical, engineering, and 

program management with a particular 

expertise in train operations and control 

systems.

Task Manager – Service 

Development Plan, and QA/QC 

Review.

Kelly Farrell

MBA Business Administration; BS 

Environmental Sciences/Studies (Natural 

Resources); 14 years of experience in

threatened and endangered species habitat 

surveys, identification, and reports; wetland 

identification and delineation; Section 404 

and NPDES permitting; federal and state 

agency coordination; NEPA projects 

including EAs and EISs; fatal flaw analysis;

and wetland mitigation site monitoring.

Deputy Project Manager –

Prepared draft Purpose and Need 

(Chapter 1), Alternatives (Chapter 

2), and Next Steps (Chapter 5).
Chapter 6, List of Preparers Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study

October 2012 6-4 Tier 1 Service Level EIS

Name Qualifications/

Background

Project Role/

Responsibilities

Brian Goss

MS Environmental Sciences/Studies 

(Geochemistry and Mineralogy); BA 

Geological & Related Sciences; 26 years of 

experience in environmental analysis, 

including the preparation of NEPA and 

supporting compliance documents.

EIS Document Manager –

Conducted technical review of 

Affected Environment and 

Environmental Consequences 

(Chapter 3), prepared draft 

Comments and Coordination 

(Chapter 4) and Indirect and 

Cumulative Impacts section.

Randy McCart

MA Geography; BS Geography; 

BS Education; 31 years of experience in

NEPA program experience, environmental 

assessments, and environmental impact 

statements.

Senior Environmental Analyst –

Prepared draft sections on Parks 

and Natural Areas, Section 

4(f)/6(f), and Irreversible and 

Irretrievable Commitments of 

Resources.

Tim Casey

BS Biological/Life Sciences; AS Science; 

26 years of experience in performing noise 

and vibration analyses, and finding 

solutions to address noise and vibration on 

projects throughout the United States and 

Puerto Rico.

Senior Environmental Analyst –

Prepared draft section on Noise 

and Vibration Impacts.

Alan Stanfill

MA Anthropology; BA Anthropology; 

38 years of experience as an archaeologist 

and cultural resource manager in the private 

and public sectors. 

Senior Environmental Analyst –

Prepared draft section on Cultural 

Resources.

Theresa McClure

MA Public Policy, Public Relations/Org 

Comm (Strategic Public Relations and 

Political Management); BA Geography; 

9 years of experience in implementing

project-specific outreach plans.

Public Involvement Specialist –

Planned public information 

meetings, developed framework 

for webpage and stakeholder 

database, and provided data input 

for Chapter 4.

Alex Fischer

BS Environmental Studies; 1 year of 

experience in GIS, NEPA compliance, 

threatened and endangered species, wetland 

delineation, monitoring, and reports.

Environmental Analyst – Prepared

Park and Natural Area tables, and 

Section 4(f)/6(f) tables

Dylan Eigenberger

MA Anthropology; BA Archaeology; 

5 years of experience in cultural resources 

management.

Environmental Analyst – Prepared

Cultural Resources APE and 

potential impact area tables

Scott Reed

MBA Environmental Sciences/Studies; BS 

Geology; 21 years of experience in 

managing environmental projects.

Senior Environmental Analyst –

Conducted QA/QC of EIS chapters 

and sections.

Janice Reid

BS Sociology; AA Liberal Arts/Sciences; 

22 years of experience in transportation 

planning and environmental documentation.

Senior Environmental Analyst –

Conducted QA/QC of EIS chapters 

and sections.

Amy Sorensen

AS Geographic Information Systems; 

AS Education; 8 years of experience in 

Geographic Information Systems (GIS),

including reading, interpreting, and 

understanding legal descriptions, maps, 

plats, aerial photographs, and other GISrelated source information.

GIS Specialist – Managed GIS data 

collection and environmental 

analysis, and generated EIS 

figures.
Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study Chapter 6, List of Preparers

Tier 1 Service Level EIS 6-5 October 2012

Name Qualifications/

Background

Project Role/

Responsibilities

Kim Gust

MA English Composition and Rhetoric; 

BSE English; 15 years of experience in 

developing templates and style guidelines, 

technical editing, copy editing, compiling 

references, formatting, and preparing 

documents for publication.

Technical Editor – Established

document templates, performed 

technical editing of EIS, and 

prepared document for publication.

HNTB Corporation

Name Qualifications/

Background

Project Role/

Responsibilities

Randy Wade

MS Water Resource Management; BA 

Economics; 38 years of experience in 

environmental management, policy and 

systems planning in natural resources, state 

economic development and transportation.

Project Manager/Senior Advisor –

Service Development Plan and 

Task Lead for Station 

Development and Financial 

Analysis, and QA/QC Review.

Steve Wells

MS Urban & Regional Planning; BS 

Political Science; 23 years of experience in 

transportation planning, environmental 

planning, and NEPA documentation.

Project Manager – Conducted 

QA/QC review of various EIS 

sections.

Kip Strauss

MBA; Master of City Planning; MS 

Transportation Engineering; BA Liberal 

Arts; 19 years of experience in 

transportation planning.

Deputy Project Manager –

Conducted QA/QC review of 

various EIS sections.

Gretchen Ivy

MS Engineering Management; BS Civil 

Engineering; 14 years of experience in 

NEPA management, environmental, and

transportation planning.

Environmental QA/QC Reviewer –

Provided EIS preparation oversight 

and reviewed EIS Chapter 3.

Caron Kloser

MS Horticulture; BS Agronomy; 27 years

of experience in NEPA environmental and 

transportation planning.

Environmental QA/QC Reviewer –

Reviewed environmental Technical 

Memoranda and EIS Chapter 3.

Tim Flagler

MLA Landscape Architecture; BFA Fine 

Arts; 10 years of experience in site design 

and master planning; 17 years of experience 

in NEPA environmental and transportation 

planning, natural resource field 

investigations, and wetland delineations.

Senior Environmental Task 

Leader – Prepared sections of EIS 

Chapter 3, including Agricultural 

Resources, Elderly & Disabled, 

Hazardous Waste, Visual 

Assessment, Water Resources, 

Wetlands, Water Quality, 

Floodplains, Topography, 

Geology, Soils, Natural Habitats, 

Wildlife, T&E Species, and Shortterm vs. Long-term Productivity. 

Conducted QA/QC review of other 

sections.

Brian Comer

Masters of Community and Regional 

Planning; BA Political Science and History; 

14 years of experience in land use, 

transportation, and environmental planning.

Senior Planner – Prepared sections 

of EIS, including Transportation, 

Land Use, Socioeconomic 

Environment, Title VI and 

Environmental Justice, Public 

Health and Safety, Construction 

Impacts, and Permits.
Chapter 6, List of Preparers Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study

October 2012 6-6 Tier 1 Service Level EIS

Name Qualifications/

Background

Project Role/

Responsibilities

Betty Burry

MPA; 25 years of experience in 

communications and public engagement and 

education; 12 years of experience in NEPA 

public engagement processes.

Reviewer.

Brandon Yarbrough

MS Urban and Regional Planning –

Environmental Planning; BA Earth Science 

and Geology; 5 years of experience in 

NEPA, environmental and transportation 

planning, and natural resource investigation;

7 years of experience in application of GIS 

for alternative development and 

environmental analysis. 

Environmental Planner – Provided

document preparation assistance, 

conducted QA/QC of GIS data 

analysis, and managed GIS data 

collection and environmental 

analysis. 

Eric Strack

MS Civil Engineering; BS Civil 

Engineering; 3.5 years of experience in 

transportation design, transportation 

planning, and environmental planning.

Engineer II – Prepared sections of 

EIS, including Air Quality and 

Energy, and conducted GIS 

environmental impact analysis.

Robert Hosack

MUP Urban Planning; BS Geography; 

1 year of experience in transportation 

planning; 3 years of experience in GIS.

Urban Planner – Conducted data 

collection and GIS, and assisted 

with EIS preparation for 

Environmental Justice.

Cindy Doran Over 10 years of experience in graphic 

design and creative layouts.

Graphic Designer – Prepared

corridor route maps and cover 

graphics.

Corey Fischer

MS Urban and Regional Planning; BS 

Geospatial Sciences; 2 years of planning 

experience. 

Infrastructure Planner – Assisted in

preparation of sections of EIS, 

including Land Use and 

Environmental Justice, conducted 

QA/QC review for other sections, 

compiled references.