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Client Name
American Packaging Corporation
Client Type
Project Type
Services Provided
  • Environmental Permitting
  • Environmental Studies
  • Multi-modal Design
  • Railroad Design
  • Railroad Feasibility Evaluation
  • Right-of-Way Acquisition
  • Site Plan Design
  • Threatened & Endangered Species Studies
  • Topographic Survey & Subsurface Utility Engineering
  • Wetland & Stream Delineation & Mitigation

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Industrial Site Plan Design Required Spur Track Access

This project included the design of a new industrial facility on a 185-acre industrial subdivision located in Altoona, Iowa adjacent to Interstate 80 and the Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS). The first phase of construction began in 1999 with the award of $620,800 in Iowa DOT funding. Extension of a rail spur in a two-phase project occurred in 2009 and 2010 with right-of-way acquisition and funding through a $1,146,600 federal earmark.

In 2016, American Packaging Corporation determined a capacity expansion was important to their business plan, and a bare site at the northeast Altoona industrial area was identified as a possible plant location. The facility required rail service along with upgrades to its road, water, sewer, and communications infrastructure. With that in mind, Snyder & Associates began working on site plan design for the facility.

The owner planned to receive raw, plastic pellet components via railcar that required sufficient spur track access to facilitate delivery. Snyder & Associates commenced design of two rail spurs coordinated with storage tanks designed for pneumatic delivery of raw materials. After delivery, materials are transported to the adjacent production plant or transloaded for use at other sites. Due to the significant amount of topographic relief and curvature of the existing on-site spur, railroad design was challenging.

Track layout was coordinated with the IAIS to provide an efficient switching arrangement. We designed and submitted track plans to the IAIS for review and prepared preliminary construction documents for the project. The design progressed to approximately 90 percent completion.

Due to economic forces, the facility was ultimately constructed in another state, and the design for this location was placed on hold with possible resurrection in the future.