< PreviousWRITTEN BY DAVID O’NEILL W hen populations increase, so do many other factors such as the demands placed on services and infra- structure. This may seem obvious but the effects of this growth can have a lasting impact. While many of these changes and developments are mere byproducts of growth, each one is intrinsic to the balance and success of a town or city. The equation is a simple one; an increased volume of people brings with it widespread growth. Production, costs, litter, traffic; all are affected when an influx of people move in. Let’s put it another way… When humans arrive, they do not travel alone. Understandably, cities and towns have developed as they have grown. Industry has adapted to ensure that developing spaces are met with the necessary tools to thrive. Infrastruc- ture and building work are in a constant cycle of renovation and rebuilding while new technology and innovation are constantly redefining what it means to live in modern com- munities. However, ongoing growth does not always lead to positive outcomes. Various metrics show that some of the more negative aspects of society can grow exponentially also. Pollution, crime and poverty all remain high on the list of concerns for modern city dwellers. So, what happens when a location develops and the negative impact of larger groups is felt? This is where policy is key. City planners need robust and forward thinking budgetary policy that will equip and support stakeholders. Police, waste disposal, education; each requires two things, money and expertise. | 50 APRIL 2023With that said, one area of population growth that is often overlooked is traffic management. It is no surprise to learn that in recent years, as the number of cars, cyclists and buses have crowded our streets even further, the number of road fatalities has also risen steadily. Across various states, figures are trending upward at an alarming rate – roadway deaths increased by 20% between 2020 and 2021. In fact, according to a recent study, more than 42,000 people are killed on U.S. streets each year and when international figures are added to the discussion, the numbers become ever more stark. So, the question is this; are these deaths an unfortunate side-effect of a growing population or can something be done? According to Vision Zero Network, we already have the answers. “Each year, the population of a small city is needlessly killed on American streets and thousands more are injured. We call this suffer- ing traffic “accidents” — but, in reality, we have the power to prevent traffic collisions.” Vision Zero Network is a non-profit project committed to building momentum and advancing Vision Zero in com- munities across North America. It’s goal is a simple one. Preventable deaths should indeed be prevented. “Our goal is safe mobility for all. We recognize that everyone has the right to safe mobility, whether walking, bicycling, driving, riding a scooter, using a wheelchair, or riding transit. Yet, each year in the U.S., tens of thousands of people are killed, and millions | 51 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONmore injured, in preventable traffic crashes. These are our friends, family members, colleagues, and neighbors. We can prevent these tragedies.” Vision Zero was first developed and implemented in Swe- den in the 1990s. It’s aim is to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries. While this is clearly no small task, the strategy has taken off throughout Europe and is gathering momentum in the U.S. also. By adopting standpoints that are directly at odds with the traditional road safety mindset, gen- uine change is being made. With Vision Zero, traffic deaths are preventable, rather than inevitable. Furthermore, the strat- egy acknowledges that humans will make mistakes while driving and, with this, comes the need to ensure that these failings and mistakes only result in minor accidents. This can be achieved by demanding change from policymakers in rela- tion to improve the roadway environment and policies such as speed management. This approach is multidisciplinary in nature, meaning that diverse stakeholders from traffic planners to pedestrians work collaboratively to identify clear goals and actions. “Vision Zero is not a slogan, not a tagline, not even just a program. It is a fundamentally different way to approach traffic safety.” At Vision Zero Network, the message is clear. Lip service and good intentions will change nothing. Instead, honest self-reflection coupled with tragic planning and com- munity led action is the only way of shifting the dial on entirely preventable deaths. “Communities that want to succeed at Vision Zero need to acknowledge that business as usual is not enough and that systemic changes are needed to make meaningful progress.” With a data-led approach and a focus on collaboration and SMART targets, the formula has demon- strated massive success in a variety of contexts. Simply put, this framework saves lives. So, why has the United States taken so long? The truth is that, confusingly, it hasn’t. Many cities in the U.S. have joined the ranks of cities and communities that are pushing for Vision Zero. Another truth, and one that is much more unpalatable, is that despite signing up to the framework, most of these cities have seen huge increases in the numbers of road fatalities. The reality is somewhat more nuanced than these facts may seem. While signing up to Vision Zero has been an easy deci- sion to make, making the required changes to policy and infra- structure has proved to be infinitely more difficult. “It's an easy thing for a politician to say that they’re committed to Vision Zero,” said Jeff Paniati, the executive director of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, “without actually doing anything different from what they were doing before.” While it seems as though everyone is in favor of change in theory, traditionalist views of car ownership and freedom of choice creep in and throw a spanner in the works. Seleta Reynolds, the director of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, feels that the culture in America is proving to be a much deeper barrier to change than originally anticipated. “A moment comes when a person shows up to do the actual [infrastructure] project, and it’s down the street from your house. Whether it’s a bike lane or a bus lane, the calculus suddenly changes, and it feels like a fundamental assault on your way of life.” | 52 APRIL 2023However, the future for Vision Zero in the U.S. is not com- pletely bleak. Jersey City, the only city in New Jersey to adopt the Vision Zero framework and recommendations, is an out- lier. Not only that, it is succeeding where many others have failed. Incredibly, through a series of initiatives, education and innovative road design, Jersey City did not have a single road death throughout the year of 2022. During COVID, the city used the time as an opportunity for experimentation. “We took advantage of less cars on the street,” said Mayor Steve Fulop in an interview at his office. “And we said, let’s try to do things that we probably couldn’t do as easily under regular circumstances. That included a lot of redesigning of roads.” So, what has the city done differently and why have these initiatives worked when others haven’t? The answer is sim- ple, communication. Small interventions such as diversions, roundabouts and redesigns have been piloted on a weeklong basis with full transparency and robust feedback sessions before, during, and after. By involving communities, the mistrust that may stem in other areas fueled by a fear of losing the traditional American heritage and legacy of the automobile has disappeared. Barkha Patel, Director of Infrastructure, explains how, through careful negotiation and mutual respect, the goals set out in Vision Zero may yet become a reality. “We’ll do notices, let people know what it is, and then for a few days, staff will be out there to interact with the public and explain what’s going on, and how to use the improvement. Then we’ll take it away whenever we’ve com- mitted to it. Because that transparency with the community is a really big part of it, too.” visionzeronetwork.org | 53 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY CAROLINA COIMBRA T he construction industry, with its varied mix of special- ties and sectors, share one thing in common. From cities and their high-rise super structures to homes and infrastructure, every aspect of the industry is built on a foundation. Starting out by supporting road builders and contractors, Powell Foundations is now a cornerstone of the Ontario construction industry with over 60 years of experience in delivering results on MTO, Metrolinx, and private projects. Getting to the top of such a vital sector has taken time, skill, and dedication. Initially, the main goal was on supporting the road builders, traffic sectors pair with each their engineering motives closely followed a research and development sector. Shortly after their energy drifted into the public sector and heavy civil infrastructure…then followed the industrial, com- mercial, and institutional sectors, also known as ICI. These early years allowed Powell Foundations to gain experience and develop its reputation by working on school, institutions, and hospital type projects. Of course, things have changed significantly since these early experiences and the company now offers foundation support to various contractors across the industry. Powell Foundations now delivers services such as design build protection systems, shoring, caissons, sheets piles, driven piles, vibratory hammer work, engineering services for structural and geo-structural, as well as noise walls and retaining walls in both temporary and permanent applications. Clearly, those formative years have been the platform for huge success. | 55 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWith a company that specializes in support and foundation work, it is no surprise that those at Powell Foundations are keenly aware of the role that place and heritage play in its work. The company is deeply aware of the nation’s history, in particular that the territory it operates in was the subject of the “Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant,” an agreement between the Iroquois Confederacy, the Ojibwe, and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. With this in mind, Powell Foundations is committed to always working with both integrity and excellence. Though the company now enjoys a reputation for quality, this is something that has had to be earned. Starting out in busi- ness will always bring challenges and for Powell Foundations, this was no different. One of the earliest, and something that ultimately led to a key strength at the company, was having to navigate a fast-paced and challenging industry while still growing its staff. The need to work effectively as a team led to learning opportunities for everyone involved and led to a greater understanding of devel- oping trust, communication, and a collaborative working environ- ment. For those at Powell Foun- dations, these experiences led to the active pursuit of staff that would excel in these areas. The goal was clear; we prioritize the group over the individual. “When collaboration is strong, team members pool their resources and knowledge to prioritize shared goals: meeting the timeline and budget of the entire process rather than their own individual goals. This is why our team has been hired for reasons beyond core skills, they are truly free thinkers and problem-solvers.” This dedication to a diverse and highly skilled team can be seen in the way it approaches its deep excavation and shoring work. According to Neal Haughton, President of Powell Foundations, these skills are an intrinsic aspect of the services the company provides. “These techniques are used to facilitate any type of change or expansion for new items pertaining to buildings, traffic shifts, sign footings, light poles and lane widenings, new bridges and diversions and heavy civil infrastructure such as new access shafts for below grade infrastructure and subway/ train construction.” While Haughton considers the quality of how the shorings are installed to be, probably, the most dif- ficult aspect of the process to achieve, it is here that Powell Foundations, and its focus on collaboration and teamwork, truly excels. The company has developed an internal organi- zational structure that highlights the strengths of individuals within every team setting. This allows it to match the individual to the task required, pivoting and adapting to any challenge a project may face. Additionally, with the smallest equipment in the market, Powell Foundations is further enabled to adjust as the circumstances demand. While teamwork is a significant aspect of everything that Powell Foundations does, its highest priority is the safety of everyone connected to a project. The construction industry is known to be dangerous. Workplace accidents are, sadly, not uncommon and much is being done across the industry to raise awareness, educate and prioritize the safety of construc- tion workers. At Powell Foun- dations, it is the number one commitment. With daily safety meetings taking place on every jobsite, the company ensures that its staff are briefed on every eventuality. In addition to this, safety training, guidance and programs are also provided. For Haughton, safety is a facet of work that drives the quality of everything else along with it. "A safety culture must be bought in and managed at all levels within our company, it is the responsibility of each of each us to support the program. We continue to set goals for a completely supportive safety structure program as a group – we strongly believe that a strong safety platform creates a comfortable work environment with will lead to better quality more efficient working environment. Working safely is a forever relationship." “This is why our team has been hired for reasons beyond core skills, they are truly free thinkers and problem-solvers.” | 56 APRIL 2023With an impressive portfolio of successful projects and ongoing working relationships to its name, it is not easy to identify one project that epitomizes the quality at which Pow- ell Foundations operates. However, when pressed, Haughton points to the recent track expansion at the Metrolinx Lake- shore Rail Track Expansion and Electrification site. In an example of the range of services Powell Foundations can provide, the project involved designing and performing work on rail systems, while widening the area to allow for more tracks. Powell Foundations was able to offer its wealth of knowledge and expertise throughout the process, from the design through to the railway protection shoring. An enor- mous project with numerous elements and considerations, the company needed to showcase its array of experience in the areas of ground improvement, slope stabilization, struc- tural foundations to ensure the project was a success. Unsurprisingly for a company that is so committed and aware of the land it operates on, a significant consideration on the Lakeshore project was the effect it had on the local environ- ment. Working in built-up areas adds the significant challenge of ensuring the quality of life for locals and businesses are not unduly disturbed. For Haughton, these types of projects are a challenge that can be overcome. Powell Foundations can rely on its technical expertise and wide product range to ensure that the local population is protected. “The company is particularly committed to the well-being of the population living near the area. Thus, noise walls are placed around the project during the process, providing acoustic protection that goes between houses and train tracks, so it can be as nice as possible for everyone.” Powell Foundations is a company that has demonstrated a commitment to safety, innovation, quality and skill-set development. Incredibly, with over half a century under its belt, it is still growing. With plans for significant growth in the future, the company, and Haughton in particular, remains conscious of the importance that safety plays. As the projects get larger, so too do the safety considerations. With safety at its heart, the priority at Powell Foundations is to ensure that success and wellbeing are never too far away from each other. "Our technology is always keeping up with the demands of work. However, it is vital that we explore all avenues as the technology and industry trans- forms with rapid growth to make sure our workforce is safe." Solutions that add to your bottom line. ECA Canada is proud to partner with Powell Foundations. ecanet.com 1 800 760 0925 Sales | Rentals | Parts & Service | Training MORE THAN MACHINES… SOLUTIONS. | 57 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION| 58 APRIL 2023WRITTEN BY MANUELA ARMINI E verybody knows what a plumber does, but what does a precast manufacturer do? Precast concrete has been used in construction for many years and it is claimed that the processes which are applied to its manufacturing actually date back to the Roman Empire. Yet, this material is still relatively new to many professionals in the construction industry and almost unknown to those outside the industry. Incred- ibly, Mauro Brancaleoni, Founder and Vice-President of the Canadian architectural precast manufacturer Advanced Precast, often has to explain to people what it is that his business actually consists of. This year however, Advanced Precast is celebrating its 30th anniversary which represents a significant milestone and a massive achievement for Brancaleoni and Andy Bakhtiari, the company's Co-founder, and President. Starting out in Toronto in 1993 having been laid off by an employer, Brancaleoni and Bakhtiari set up shop in a small warehouse repairing windowsills. From there the company started growing and soon moved into a bigger building which allowed it to pivot and transition into the construction industry, manufacturing architec- tural precast concrete. For Brancaleoni, these experiences were both exciting and formative. "I was 34 years old, and he (Bakhtiari) was 33 years old. We just took an adventure, and we weren't sure where we were going to go. And here we are, 30 years later." | 59 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >