Transportation Infrastructure

As the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and state aeronautics divisions continue to update airport safety and environmental regulations, airport managers trust Epsilon’s guidance to comply with federal, state, and local environmental requirements. Project work includes runway safety area improvements, runway lengthening projects, taxiway construction, hangar developments, vegetation management plan support, and other similar airport expansions and improvements.

Epsilon relies upon qualified airport wildlife biologists who meets the requirements of FAA Advisory Circular 150/5200-36 to provide airports with these documents. They have supported numerous airports throughout the Commonwealth in producing Wildlife Hazard Assessments and Wildlife Hazard Management Plans.

We prepare permitting documentation for and have successfully received Variance Orders of Conditions from the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and Section 401 for several general aviation airport projects. We have a strong, established working relationship with the MassDEP Variance review team and have an in-depth understanding of the Variance review process and permitting requirements. Furthermore, Epsilon has served as Environmental Monitor on several projects as required by these project’s Variance Orders, working collaboratively with the Airport or MassDOT project team, contractor, and MassDEP to ensure compliance with permits and overseeing complex wetland mitigation construction.

From major highway expansions and new interchanges to pedestrian footbridge crossings, Epsilon’s team of technical specialists can efficiently plan and execute a winning permitting strategy for roadway and bridge projects. Epsilon has been supporting both MassDOT’s Environmental and Construction Divisions with on-call services contracts. Under these contracts, we have completed dozens of assignments related to ecological fieldwork (including wetland delineations, rare species surveys, and sediment sampling), cultural resource assessments, environmental permitting (including Section 401/404 permits), and construction inspection services.

Epsilon has a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding large-scale critical infrastructure projects like railway development. Our regulatory specialists maintain long-standing relationships with federal, state, and local agency regulators so that all teams work cooperatively and efficiently. Epsilon’s proven solutions ensure timely completion of all freight and passenger rail projects.

Towns and cities have been taking advantage of former railroad rights-of-way by extending them and creating multi-use trails that provide a safe place away from vehicular traffic or developing trail networks along the Commonwealth’s waterfronts. These trails serve as a fundamental link between neighborhoods, schools, businesses, parks, and community amenities. In both small towns and busy cities, trails can be used to create active transportation and recreation networks that improve the quality of life locally as well as regionally.

Our staff have helped numerous clients at the local and state level secure complex environmental approvals for these multi-use trail projects including the Neponset River Rail Trail and the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. Our services span a project’s life cycle including producing ecological assessments for both freshwater and coastal ecosystems, supporting alternative analyses for bridge types, developing permitting applications, and monitoring construction and wetland mitigation areas.