Needs Assessment and Project Information Management System - Topeka and Shawnee County, Kansas
Bartlett & West conducted a needs assessment for Topeka and Shawnee County’s project data management system. Our assessment process focused on identifying needs so that input, access and reporting requirements could be defined and, eventually, implemented in the new system. To gain this information, workshops were conducted with stations to focus on specific topics.

At each station, participants were asked to explain existing processes and make suggestions for improvement of those processes. After the assessment process was complete, Bartlett & West developed the application that will provide the City of Topeka and Shawnee County with a project management system with accessibility to view and query data by many users and a direct link to the GIS. The application consists of a custom built web-based application running on SQL with GIS functionality. Access is made available to internal staff as required through the use of a web browser and login. Public access via topeka.org will use ArcIMS with an interactive map.

Oakley Water Main, I-70 to Crestview Park – Topeka, Kansas
This five mile large diameter water main improvement project was the first in a series of projects branded by the City of Topeka’s Water for Growth logo and a public education campaign.

The vital water main improvement was made in Topeka’s largest and most critical water pressure zone. Water infrastructure in this area of the city serves as the backbone of Topeka’s entire water distribution system. With construction of this cross-town main, additional reserve capacity has been created to alleviate the load on two aging mains.

63^rd & Blue Ridge Cutoff – Raytown, Missouri
The intersection improvements made during the 63^rd & Blue Ridge Cutoff project created a gateway to the City of Raytown from the east. High traffic volumes through the intersection made it a logical location to express a positive image of the community and landscape, lighting, and sidewalk themes developed as a part of this project were incorporated throughout the city to provide a consistent look.

Nearly 2,200 feet of arterial roadway was reconstructed and widened at this location. Streetscape elements incorporated into the design include colored stamped concrete medians and crosswalks; landscaping at the corners of the intersection; street trees in the median; irrigation for the landscaping; stone monument pylons at each corner of the intersection; and unique area lighting.

Concepts for the $1.6M improvements were formulated, reviewed and approved through a committee appointed by the Board of Alderman for the community.  Extensive coordination with area utility companies took place throughout the project to minimize disruption of service during construction and to minimize unsightly aerial utility lines after construction.

Bartlett & West designed the roadway, decorative traffic signals and lighting, landscaping improvements, and developed the plans and specifications using MoDOT standard format.

Needs Assessment, GIS and GPS - Oak Grove, Missouri
Like many smaller communities around the Kansas City area, Oak Grove is growing rapidly. Subdivisions are being platted with 400 lots in a town that a few years ago had less than 3,000 residents.  The public works staff recognized the benefits of accurate, complete infrastructure mapping and had previously contracted with Bartlett & West to locate, inspect and map the sanitary sewer system.  The City was impressed with the project and turned to Bartlett & West to advise them on the potential for a full-fledged Geographic Information System.  The project began in April, 2007 and includes migrating data from CAD mapping to ArcGIS, field locating water and storm sewer features using hand-help GPS units, and integrating the data available from Jackson County and the Mid-America Regional Council.  The Oak Grove GIS will be hosted at Bartlett & West on ArcServer with accessibility via the internet.

Bartlett & West has developed a hosting structure that takes advantage of recent improvements in GIS technology.  Many entities do not have the technical staff or funding, yet they can benefit greatly from an enterprise GIS.  The Bartlett & West model gives them the ability to develop and oversee their GIS system with various levels of access without having to worry about the hardware and software and staff necessary to maintain the system.

Downtown Lawrence Beautification – Lawrence, Kansas 

Bartlett & West provided framework and guidance for current and future development and beautification enhancements in the Downtown Lawrence area. The main goals were directed toward increased landscaping, amenities and overall ideas for aesthetics and beautification, but also investigated other big picture ideas for consideration.

Bartlett & West worked directly with City management staff, the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department and downtown business owners to complete an overall study. The final product included recommendations for increased landscaping and maintenance as well as addressing specific City budget concerns and planning for the future.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements – Hiawatha, Kansas
Faced with the requirement to upgrade two aging fixed film process wastewater treatment facilities to meet more stringent water quality discharge standards, the City of Hiawatha hired Bartlett & West to determine the most cost effective solution for the City and assisted with assessing rate impacts on the system users and procuring multi-year, multi-agency financing for the project.

Addressing the need to nitrify and denitrify the effluent, a single extended aeration activated sludge process was selected for the 1.75 MGD facility. The improvements  included two new headworks facilities with fine screening and grit removal prior to pumping to the treatment process. Physical and hydraulic space is reserved within the treatment train to install effluent filtration if future permits require it. Waste biosolids are further stabilized by aerobic digestion followed by mechanical thickening and land application.

High Service Pump Station – Lee’s Summit, Missouri
The High Service Pump Station, now a 20 MGD station, is the heart and soul of the City of Lee’s Summit’s water distribution system. Water purchased from two outside distribution sources, flows by gravity to two nearby reservoirs which feed this pump station which then conveys water to many residents served by the south pressure zone.

For this renovation project Bartlett & West furnished complete design, contract administration, and construction inspection which allowed for minimum down time during construction where the old pumps had to be systematically replaced with new pumps. Improvements to the clearwell meant the entire pump station had to be taken out of service. During the renovations tank levels and pressures throughout the city were monitored and appropriate actions were taken to ensure quality service to the residents of Lee’s Summit at all times necessary. Hydraulic analyses performed by Bartlett & West helped determine out of service times and coordination between the contractor, owner and engineer was the key to the success of this project.

Deer Creek Pump Station – Topeka, Kansas
Deer Creek’s 34 MGD pumping capacity and its 3.4 million dollar construction cost make it one of the most cost effective pump stations ever built for the City of Topeka. The facility is comprised of two structures including a 32-foot deep screening/wetwell building which houses the bar screens, screenings washing press, and submersible pumps and a slab on grade control building that houses the discharge piping manifold, standby generator, and pump controls. The station utilizes four 280 hp submersible sewage pumps, one being redundant. In addition to the typical moisture and thermal sensors, bearing temperatures for each pump are measured and monitored.

This new pump station replaced an aged 47 year old wet pit/dry pit pump station with no screening system. The existing pumps were four levels down at the bottom and the discharge piping was two levels higher. Since the only means of ingress and egress was by a spiral staircase, access for maintenance and repairs was a concern. Provisions for a new 60-inch gravity sewer interceptor complicated the design and sequence of construction. A submersible type pump station eliminated the need for low level maintenance and provided a cost benefit by reducing the overall size of the wet well structure. A mechanical bar screen protects the pumps and the above ground discharge piping and header system simplifies maintenance and access.

Fairchild Storm Sewer Separation – Topeka, Kansas
Creating a wetland park with native grasses, diverse plants and a natural wildlife habitat was the result of some environmentally friendly planning by Bartlett & West on the Fairchild Storm Sewer Separation project.  Instead of replacing an outdated pump station and an egg-shaped brick combined sewer, as called for in the North Topeka Stormwater Master Plan, Bartlett & West’s proposal called for a re-routing of the sewer which  eliminated the need for a pump station altogether and proved a more economical solution.

The 6,000-foot storm sewer project ultimately incorporated a downstream area into a wetland park at the same time it provided flood relief to 33 intersections in north Topeka and will enable future separation projects to occur by providing a downstream conveyance system for existing storm sewer systems. Flood relief hasn’t been the only environmental improvement as wastewater flow has been removed from a drainage system that at one  time directed runoff into the Kansas River.

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