The judges for the Planning Commission's 30th Annual Community Design Awards program selected a wide range of fantastic planning projects in many categories presented at an Awards Dinner on May 10th at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. They also considered how excellence in planning can impact economic development and can actually build a better, more sustainable community when they called out special projects to receive Judges' Choice Awards.

The first Judges' Choice was an Award of Merit going to the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, Kimmins Contracting, and Tampa Historic Streetcar for the TECO Line Streetcar Extension Phase Two A.

Completed on-time and under-budget, this project expanded streetcar service into the core of the downtown business district. It provides a vibrant connection between the cultural, residential and business destinations in Downtown Tampa, the Channel District, and Historic Ybor City. The new station includes a "Lights on Tampa" public art display, complements its surroundings, and is sensitive to traffic flow.

Most importantly, more than $1.2 billion in private investment has been made along the original streetcar line that now serves visitors, residents and workers alike with this extension. The judges loved this transit link for pedestrians and bicyclists as well as its proximity to major parking facilities and applauded HART and the City of Tampa for its perseverance and recognition of the significance of mass transit investments to enhance economic growth and development. This is evidenced by the new $30 million facility for the University of South Florida Center for Medical Learning Simulation (CAMLS) as the type of new investment that just opened accompanying this extension.

All aboard the TECO Line Streetcar Extension for this great investment in our community!

Stone Consulting provided the Design/Build team’s design for the Tampa Streetcar Extension

Stone Consulting & Design, PC a division of Stone Consulting, Inc. was hired to Engineer, Bid and provide Construction Management Services for the Repair and Revitalization of the Utica Mainline Rail Project in Chenango County, New York.

Follow link for more information.
http://www.chenangony.org/ecodev/rail-project

Stone Consulting has provided site design and environmental permitting for the Oil and Gas industry for many years. Currently, with the resurgence of drilling in the deep gas formations, Stone has been providing road, bridge, permitting and site design for our clients.

Read about new services here!

Stone Consulting, Inc. was recently tasked with start-up management duties for the Iowa Pacific Holding Company’s Saratoga & North Creek Railroad. Stone Consulting was responsible for bringing the track to FRA Class 2 compliance and providing all engineering services required to start-up the SNCRR. Doug Ellison and Rod Whitehead of Stone Consulting spent several months on-site, working with FRA inspectors and track contractors to get the railroad started up under passenger compliance with FRA 49 CFR 238 and 239 standards.

After several years of planning and design, the first two contracts have been let for the reconstruction of the former CSX Glenwood Yard, now under lease to the AVR (Carload Express). Stone Consulting has been responsible for design of all track to go into the yard and is currently overseeing the first construction contract.

This approximately $5 million reconstruction project is expected to be completed within the next three years. The first two contracts were both awarded to Ohio Track Inc. and they are funded partially with grants under the Pennsylvania Rail Capital Budget. Phase 3 is currently under design and is expected to go to bid in the spring of 2012. Matt Anderson, P.E. is the project manager for the project.

We're glad to announce that "We're back!" as an independent consulting and engineering firm. We purchased our office back from TranSystems effective April 29, 2010. We continue to have subconsulting relationships back with TranSystems, and all projects and clients have been transitioned. As a result of that, our own web page and domain name have re-emerged. Excuse us as we update these pages and restart our own identity again!

All phone numbers and address information are the same. Email addresses will be forwarded from TranSystems, but the new email format is "firstname@stoneconsulting.com".

Doug Ellison has re-joined our firm effective May 10, 2010, providing his extensive experience in equipment, rail, and management consulting.

Stone Consulting, Inc. in conjunction with Balfour Beatty Rail has been selected to begin conceptual and preliminary design for the rail access to a new coal mine in Sheridan, Wyoming . The facility will be capable of shipping 15 million tons of coal per year using 150 car unit trains on the BNSF mainline. The project will include mine access, loading loop and storage for up to three unit trains, bad order cars and maintenance equipment.

Work on the conceptual design is to begin immediately with construction estimated to take place in 2008/2009.

Stone Consulting, Inc. has been very busy this year with energy projects. Including this project, Stone is working on three coal mine rail facilities, four ethanol plant rail facilities and has just completed a rail access project for a bio-diesel plant.

So far this year Stone has worked in 17 states and 1 province in Canada.

Ethanol facility designed by Stone Consulting in Columbus, Ohio

Warren County, PA named to national list of "Best Places to Live in Rural America"!

Request for Qualifications 1/9/07

Texas State Railroad Operating Agency, Palestine, TX

Texas State Railroad Excursion Railroad Operator Selection

Newspaper article on operator selection results.

The University of Pennsylvania ’s Class of ’56 unveiled their 40th year memorial on Saturday, October 28th. The gift is a replica of the Peter Witt streetcar that traversed the campus up until 1956 when the streetcar line was placed underground. The replica car was designed by Stone Consulting and constructed by Gomaco Trolley, of Ida Grove, IA. It was placed over an existing subway stop entrance at Spruce Street between 36th and 38th Streets. The site design was completed by the University’s architectural and planning departments.

The site is expected to become the premiere photo opportunity for visitors to the University of Pennsylvania campus. The interior of the streetcar is fitted out with oak bench seats and actual streetcar controllers. It is lit with actual streetcar lights and boasts a memorial mural on the back wall that provides a history of the streetcars and photos of the streetcar line.

View more construction photos from Gomaco.

The Gannon University (Erie, PA) Small Business Development Center awarded their “Professional Services Business of the Year” award for 2006 to Stone Consulting & Design, Inc. of Warren, Pennsylvania. With its entire staff present at the awards luncheon, Harvey Stone, President of Stone Consulting, accepted the award.

“Stone Consulting represents the best in business practices: hard work, commitment to excellence, consideration of community and a willingness to become involved without any expectation or opportunity for direct personal or corporate benefit.” – James Decker, President of Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry

We would like to thank James B. Steffan of Northwest Savings Bank, Hank Rudge of the SBDC and James Decker of WCCBI for nominating our firm for this prestigious award.
The Gannon University Small Business Development Center is one of 16 such centers in Pennsylvania and is an accredited affiliate of the national network of Small Business Development Centers. The Gannon SBDC’s professional consultants work with entrepreneurs in Erie, Crawford, Warren, and Mercer counties in areas such as accounting, banking, business planning, financial analysis, marketing and advertising, and strategic planning, among others.

In memoriam …. Fred J. Perry

Our good friend Fred Perry died April 18, 2006. Fred was the one who helped to lead us into the world of streetcars. He opened a whole new world for us. He was a person who would lend a hand whenever it was needed. He loved what he did and he loved to pass on his knowledge. Most of the heritage streetcar systems in this country and some of the modern light rail systems have benefited from Fred’s vast store of knowledge.

Fred would travel the country from one end to the other, east to west and north to south in one of his Volkswagens. He would stop at this museum or that one, a streetcar system here or there, helping out where he could, finding a part in the car or truck he was driving that was needed to fix an old streetcar, help install it, then move on to his next stop. He probably volunteered at more railroad and streetcar museums than anyone in the country.

Fred was one of the friendliest people I ever met. I liked him instantly and learned so much from him. He is irreplaceable as both a friend and for his vast knowledge of heritage streetcars and the infrastructure that supports them. He will be missed by all of us at Stone Consulting.

Stone Consulting, Inc. completed the City of Lancaster Streetcar Feasibility Report for the Red Rose Transit Authority of Lancaster, PA. The report outlines and investigates a 2-mile loop connecting the Amtrak station with the Penn Square downtown district, providing a historic streetcar circulator system connecting parking facilities, local attractions, businesses, and transportation facilities.

(Project renderings by Stone Consulting & Design)

The City is currently reviewing the report, soliciting community input, and pursuing possible funding sources for the next project steps.

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad announced that they would be hosting "Thomas the Tank Engine" at Cumberland, MD, Sept 22-24 2006, and Sept 29-Oct 2, 2006. Stone Consulting congratulates WMSR's successful negotiations with HIT! Entertainment following our initial investigation of the concept and recommendations to pursue the event, as part of the 2005 Five-Year Strategic Plan project.

See details at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad official webpage.

WMSR successfully completed 2005 with an exceptional effort, and was recognized by the Cumberland Times News in an article that outlines the recordbreaking season.

(Stone Consulting performed the Engineering Analysis, Market Feasibility Study , and Economic Impact Analysis for the Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust)

Ellsworth — An agreement governing the Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust’s use of 29-miles of the Calais Branch Line was signed last week by the MDOT Commissioner David Cole. The abandoned line is a historically rich, 127-mile “short-line” railroad extending from Brewer to Calais. It was bought by the MDOT in 1987.

Several years ago, members of the Trust began working on a plan to bring the line back to life and operate it as the Downeast Scenic Railroad. Other components of the plan include an Ellsworth based depot/museum and maintenance facility. Findings from a 2005 market analysis and economic impact study validated the premise that after start-up capital investments were made the Downeast Scenic Railroad would be a self-sustaining operation. It was with that information in hand that the Trust approached the MDOT to begin lease negotiations last summer.

The MDOT lease and operating agreement allows the Trust access to the Ellsworth to Brewer portion of the line to operate a 24-mile round excursion trip from Ellsworth to Green Lake. (The Brewer to Green Lake piece will be used minimally for moving equipment.) The lease covers a 15-year period with two 5-year renewals and acknowledges the State’s right to build a recreational trail within the corridor. Additionally, the Trust is responsible for all restoration work and must invest a minimum of $10,000/year in materials for ongoing maintenance in lieu of rent.

Thomas J. Testa, President of the Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust, was delighted that the lease had been signed. “This is the first step towards preserving an important part of Ellsworth’s railroad history and establishing the Downeast Scenic Railroad. The business-like approach, commitment and hard work of our volunteers and advisors, whether in project planning or line maintenance, has established credibility for this start-up endeavor. I would like to thank the MDOT and the Trust’s members, advisors and generous supporters who have all been instrumental in getting us to this point.”

The mission of the Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust is to celebrate and preserve the railroad history of Downeast Maine . For more information visit the Trust and Downeast Scenic Railroad Project or call 1-866-449-RAIL.

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