- March 22, 2021
- In the Media, Perspectives, Trending Topics
NAIOP’s Development Magazine Features Kimley-Horn’s Rail-Served Industrial Experts
Railroads continue to be important for the transportation of goods. Properties adjacent to rail lines can successfully become revenue-generating assets with the right considerations given to site development, logistics, internal and external operations, cost, and design.
Kimley-Horn’s Dan Grant, PE, and Nick Kern, PE, shared their expertise on creating superior rail-served industrial properties in a recent cover story for NAIOP’s Development magazine. Kimley-Horn’s Randall Phelps, PE, and Jamie Gwaltney, PE, also contributed to the article.
As this area of industrial real estate continues to expand, selecting an ideal site, effectively communicating with railroads and other stakeholders, and understanding rail operations, design, and transportation, will be essential for developers.
About the Authors
Dan Grant, PE
Dan has more than 20 years of experience concentrated in project management and design for municipal and private development projects, giving him valuable insight into how best to balance the two interests. Dan offers clients a strong working knowledge of how to deliver quality PS&E packages incorporating stakeholder interests and successful collaboration. He regularly performs research on policy, ordinances, and legislation impacting municipal planning and land development.
Nick Kern, PE
Nick has more than 10 years of experience managing and designing railroad- and transit-specific projects with a multitude of railroads, private entities, and agencies who operate freight, commuter, light rail, and short line railroads. This experience has given him a broad view of the complexities of the railroad industry and how they can affect a private development project. Nick's varied background equips him with the knowledge to understand how to approach track design projects of many shapes and sizes, including industrial rail-served facilities, maintenance and layover facilities, and mainlines. He also is an active member of the railroad education and training committee within AREMA, which focuses on promoting railway engineering education to students and peers in the industry.
About the Contributors
Jamie Gwaltney, PE
Jamie has more than 20 years of civil engineering project management and design experience with a track record of success in large-scale design projects. He has an extensive background in managing private and public-sector projects through site selection, conceptual planning, entitlement, design, permitting, and construction, particularly port projects involving container terminals and intermodal rail yards, as well as the off-terminal infrastructure required to support these facilities.
Randall Phelps, PE
Randall has more than 20 years of civil engineering experience, including in industrial warehouses, infrastructure improvements, complex redevelopments, and secure office/data facilities. He is a strong leader with exceptional technical knowledge who provides creative solutions for many industrial clients.