Structural Design Internship

La Vista Active Mobility Plan earns APA-NE award. Awards, Projects March 10, 2026 LA VISTA, NE - The La Vista Active Mobility Plan earned an Excellence in Transportation Planning Award from the Nebraska Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NE). The project was recognized for creating an actionable roadmap to improve walking, biking and trail connectivity throughout the city. Although La Vista sits within a strong regional trail network, gaps between local routes and the broader transportation system have historically limited access. To address this gap, the City enlisted Benesch to develop the La Vista Active Mobility Plan (AMP), a comprehensive framework that integrates active transportation into everyday travel and strengthens connections between neighborhoods, destinations and regional amenities. Throughout the planning process, the project team incorporated several innovative strategies to guide recommendations. Surveys were distributed in parks across the city to gather input from a broad range of residents and ensure diverse perspectives were reflected in the plan. The team also leveraged tools such as heat maps of bicycle and foot traffic to identify key corridors and prioritize improvements. In addition to expanding mobility options, the AMP highlights projects that enhance the city's appeal, including scenic overlooks, walking bridges and underpasses. The plan also incorporates universal design principles aligned with the latest Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines, with recommendations such as accessible crossings, tactile paving and improved routes connecting underserved neighborhoods to trails, parks and community destinations. To support implementation, the AMP organizes recommendations into short-, near- and long-term phases, providing the City with a clear path to advance improvements over time. Since the plan's adoption in early 2025, La Vista has begun advancing priority trail connections, incorporating recommendations into capital improvement planning and securing federal funding for several projects. Multiple initiatives are already moving forward in design or construction, expanding access to the regional trail network and strengthening support for active transportation investments. The award was presented on March 5 during the Nebraska Planning and Zoning Association (NPZA) and APA-NE Awards Banquet.

Five Benesch projects recognized by ACEC-NE. Awards, Projects March 05, 2026 STATEWIDE, NE - The American Council of Engineering Companies of Nebraska (ACEC-NE) recognized five Benesch projects as part of the 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards. Spanning environmental restoration, infrastructure resilience, urban improvements and mobility planning, the projects were honored for restoring natural systems, strengthening critical infrastructure and improving connections for communities across Nebraska. The 110-acre Ashland Wetland Mitigation Bank is a key component of the Nebraska Department of Transportation's long-term wetland mitigation banking program. Benesch led the planning, permitting and design of the multi-phase restoration, converting former farmland into functional wetland through strategic grading, hydrologic modifications and a high diversity seed mix. The project now provides a reliable, sustainable source of mitigation credits for future infrastructure improvements across the region. The Copper Creek Interceptor Relocation project strengthened critical wastewater infrastructure for the City of Omaha by removing an aerial sewer crossing and relocating the interceptor outside the levee system and away from the confluence of two creeks. Benesch's design replaced aging infrastructure with a multi-pipe siphon system that reduces risk to levees and the interceptor located in the floodway. The result is a more resilient, long-term solution that protects essential services and the surrounding community. The Saddle Creek & Leavenworth Intersection project transformed one of Omaha's busiest corridors into a safer, more accessible gateway serving the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and surrounding community. Benesch partnered with the City of Omaha and UNMC to provide design and construction engineering services to deliver coordinated roadway, utility and pedestrian improvements on an accelerated schedule, enhancing mobility and safety while supporting long-term campus growth. The WRRF Consolidation Plans project helped the City of Lincoln modernize and organize nearly a century of records for its Theresa Street and Northeast Water Resource Recovery Facilities. Benesch partnered with City staff to consolidate thousands of plan sheets into a structured, searchable system that supports maintenance, emergency response and long-term asset management. The project improves access to critical infrastructure information and strengthens operational efficiency across the facilities. La Vista Active Mobility Plan Merit Award Category A: Studies, Research & Consulting Engineering Services The La Vista Active Mobility Plan outlines a practical strategy to improve mobility and connectivity throughout the rapidly growing Nebraska community. Developed with the City of La Vista and MAPA, the plan identifies priority corridors and phased investments in sidewalks, trails and on-street bicycle facilities. Backed by strong public engagement and data analysis, the plan provides a clear path toward safer and more accessible mobility options. The projects will be formally recognized at the ACEC-NE Engineering Excellence Awards Gala on April 23.