Peloton Land Solutions

The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area has surpassed 6.5 million people after adding an estimated 56,160 last year, according to the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG).

The city of Fort Worth led the region in absolute growth, welcoming 9,360 new residents. Its population now stands at 757,010. Frisco (3,830), McKinney (3,170), Dallas (1,930) and Carrollton (1,790) rounded out the top five in absolute growth.

Fort Worth accounted for the majority of Tarrant County’s 12,990 new residents. Denton County added more people than any other county, growing by 13,080 (2 percent) to 683,010.

NCTCOG’s population estimates are based on current housing inventories for cities in the NCTCOG 16-County Region with populations of 1,000 or more. Cities are included in the county which contains the majority of the city’s population. For more information, see the NCTCOG Demographics and Development website.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the Interstate 35W project, also known as the North Tarrant Express, has received a $415 million federal loan through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) financing program.  Securing funding for all segments of I-35W has been the top priority of the 35W Coalition since its inception in late 2005, according to the local non-profit organization. The corridor is critical for national and international trade as well as local commutes.

The project includes improvements to sections of I-35W and construction of an interchange at I-35W and I-820. The project boundaries are north from I-30 to near the Hwy. 287 split. Work could begin within a year and be completed by 2018. The project includes rebuilding existing lanes and adding toll lanes.

“Today’s announcement … represents a tremendous victory for this region,” said Russell Laughlin, president of the 35W Coalition in a news release. “With this funding commitment, we can finally advance the critical improvements along the I-35W corridor – plans that have been in the works for decades and will have a far-reaching economic impact for not just Fort Worth, but also for the greater North Texas region and the state.”

Portions of I-35W slated for improvement currently rank fifth and 25th on the list of Texas’ most congested roadways.

Peloton employee, Matt Schneider, recently returned from a two-week trip to Tura, India where he donated his engineering skills with the non-profit organization eMi. The work included conducting site surveys, developing master plans for future growth, and designing wastewater, water, and storm water systems for two church expansion projects.

Steep topography proved to be a challenge on both sites, as each site had 30 to 40 feet of fall over less than an acre. In addition, one of the sites was bordered on one side by an 18 foot tall retaining wall.

After multiple meetings with ministry leaders, the eMi team located future buildings based on the needs of each ministry. These final master plans allowed for the future construction of a conference hall, dining hall, pastor’s quarters, new kitchen, and offices.

Water distribution systems were designed using storage cisterns and pumps. On one site, a water tower will be incorporated into the design of the new conference hall. Each location will have wastewater disposal systems containing both septic tanks and soak pits, and rain harvesting systems with overflows.

Remember that street closures begin today and continue through Sunday night for the 2012 Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival. This award-winning annual open-air gathering is a showcase of juried art, savory food, live concerts and performance artists. Entrance is free. Organizers encourage patrons to ride bikes and use public transit to cut down on traffic. Bring your own water bottles (or buy aluminum souvenir bottle) and fill up at free Water Stations provided by TRWD.

Thursday, April 19    10am-10pm

Friday, April 20    10am-11pm

Saturday, April 21    10am-11pm

Sunday, April 22    10am-8pm

www.mainstreetartsfest.org

Up To Date Street Closure Information

Festival Map and Entertainment Guide

At Peloton, we take safety seriously…ours and yours. The health and safety of our employees, clients, and the people in the communities where we work are of paramount importance to Peloton Land Solutions. We recognize our responsibility, in all areas of our work, to instill and practice healthy, safe and sustainable habits. That’s why we instituted a Health, Safety and Environment Plan (HSE) that is followed by all our employees. We make HSE a responsibility of every single employee at every level in our organization.

Apparently, not everyone feels the same way….

At least this guy will be highly visible bobbing in the water.

We’ve all felt a heavy weight over our heads at work from time to time, just not literally.

(more…)

Aircraft wildlife strikes are a serious problem in the U.S., resulting in an estimated $600 million in damage annually to civil aircraft alone.  But the financial cost of wildlife strikes is overshadowed by the potential for loss of life.  As recorded in the FAA Wildlife Strike Database, wildlife strikes to civil aircraft have resulted in 23 fatalities in the U.S. since 1990.  Such statistics point to the importance of managing wildlife and the areas they inhabit, on and around airports, to reduce potential hazards. Conducting airport wildlife surveys and performing wildlife hazard assessments (WHA) increases risk awareness and serves to identify and assess potential threats that wildlife pose.

At Peloton Land Solutions, we are familiar with federal regulations and FAA guidelines pertinent to wildlife hazard management, and have performed wildlife hazard assessments and wildlife habitat management plans (WHMP) in virtually every habitat type in the U.S., from California to Maine.

As mandated by the FAA in 14 CFR 139.337, all certificated airports are required to conduct a wildlife hazard assessment when an aircraft experiences multiple wildlife strikes; substantial damage from striking wildlife; an engine ingestion of wildlife; or if wildlife of a size, or in numbers, capable of causing one of these events, is observed to have access to any airport flight pattern or aircraft movement area.

In addition, the FAA now requires, beyond the scope of 14 CFR 139.337, that all certificated airports conduct a wildlife hazard assessment regardless of whether they have experienced a triggering event. The FAA also requests that airports voluntarily update any completed wildlife hazard assessment that is more than five years old.

Fieldwork for wildlife hazard assessments typically takes place over a full calendar year (with monthly site visits), to allow for the observation of seasonal wildlife behavior and movement patterns. The assessments include observations of wildlife and potential hazards at all times of day, including night-time hours.  During site visits, in addition to general observation, a variety of survey techniques are employed by wildlife biologists, including point-count, runway crossing, and road-kill surveys.

Our Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologists at Peloton Land Solutions meet the requirements of FAA Advisory Circular 150/5200-36. We have performed wildlife hazard assessments on civil and military airfields in several states and territories across the U.S., including:

• DFW International Airport, Dallas Love Field, and Corpus Christi International Airport in Texas

• Gillette-Campbell County Airport, Wyoming

• Bangor International Airport, Maine

• Grant County/Silver City Airport, and Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico

• Naval Weapons Facility at Point Mugu, California

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona

• Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico

In addition, we are available to assist airport staff with bird identification, acquiring permits for trapping and depredation, and training in wildlife management/dispersal techniques at airports.

In recognition of National Engineers Week , Peloton took the opportunity to reach out to a local Boy Scout troop to highlight the positive contributions engineers and scientists make to society. At a recent weekend workshop held at the new Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT®) facility in Fort Worth, Peloton engineers and scientists helped the Boy Scouts fulfill requirements for engineering, math and natural resources related merit badges.

These merit badges (in addition to helping the Scouts fulfill the requirements for Eagle Scout), are required elements for the prestigious Hornaday Award. This Award was established to encourage learning about natural resource conservation and the environment, teach sound stewardship, and recognize those who are outstanding in this field. Since its inception 80 years ago, only 1,100 Hornady medals have been awarded. Applying for these awards requires a substantial commitment of time and energy by the Scouts.

Founded in 1987 and based in Fort Worth, BRIT documents the diversity of plant life and conducts extensive research around the world. In the last ten years, BRIT scientists have located and described scores of species previously unknown to science. BRIT’s mission is to conserve our natural heritage by deepening our knowledge of the plant world and achieving public understanding of the value plants bring to life.

The BRIT facility achieved a Platinum LEED® certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and incorporates many “green” building features, from geothermal heating/cooling and a living roof to rainwater harvesting. The building materials are sustainable too. Cypress paneling comes from logs that sank to the bottom of the Mississippi. Ceilings are constructed of quick-growing bamboo which matures in six years. The building design maximizes natural light which reduces the need for electricity.

The BRIT facility served as a great venue to teach the Hornady/Merit Badge short course. Peloton’s work with the Boy Scouts is a rewarding way for our scientists and engineers to contribute to the future of engineering and applied sciences, not just during Engineers Week, but throughout the year.  Peloton appreciates the participation of BRIT and looks forward to a continued relationship.

BRIT is open to the public and offers private and public tours. www.brit.org

As part of Fort Worth’s Healthy City Initiative, the development of a plan to make the City more pedestrian-friendly is underway. The objective of the Walk! Fort Worth Pedestrian Transportation Plan is to promote and provide a safe, efficient, equitable and accessible comprehensive pedestrian network.

Some of the initial goals of Walk! Fort Worth include:

• to increase total walking trips and overall physical activity,
• to create an environment that encourages walking and
• to increase safety for all pedestrians.

The benefits of replacing short vehicle trips with pedestrian trips include cleaner air over Fort Worth, a reduction in traffic congestion and a healthier population.

The Plan is at the very beginning stages of development and public input is being sought through written comments.

Peloton Land Solutions has been named a finalist in the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce 2012 Small Business of the Year Award in the Emerging Business Category. This category includes start-up companies in business less than three years.

Finalists will be honored at a Chamber Business After Hours event on January 17 at the Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel. After final judging, award recipients will be announced at a private reception prior to Mayor Betsy Price’s State of the City address on February 23 at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Peloton is proud to be considered for this award and would like to thank the Fort Worth Chamber for this important opportunity. The Presenting Sponsor for the 2012 Small Business of the Year Awards is Community Bank. Platinum Sponsors are TCU’s Neeley School of Business Entrepreneurship Center, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., and Staples, and the Media Sponsor is the Fort Worth Business Press.