In 2021 RIPTA purchased a fleet of New Flyer Xcelsior Charge XE40 electric busses which will provide service specifically for the R Line. The R-Line is RIPTA’s highest-ridership route which runs from Pawtucket/Central Falls Station to a bus turnaround facility at the Providence-Cranston City Line.  The turnaround facility is located at 1533 Broad St in Cranston, RI was the focus of the RIPTA Broad City Line Electric Bus In-Line Charging Station Project.  

This project included the design and construction of an In-Line Electric Bus Charging Facility consisting of (4) pantograph style charging stations, plus a utilities building which includes: restroom facilities, mechanical, electrical, security, plumbing and snow melt systems and equipment.  RIPTA’s plan called for all 4 of the bus charging stations to be fit onto the existing and compact turnaround facility located at 1533 Broad Street in Cranston, RI.  The turnaround path had to accommodate a central charging island large enough to accommodate a new service building, all charging equipment including bus charging spaces for 4 buses with enough room for continuous bus throughput and adequate turnaround room for the new  electric buses all within an existing parcel  located between God’s Family Church, and The Oakland Cemetery.  This parcel has been used as a bus turnaround and rest stop for gasoline and diesel busses since the 1930’s.

GM2 is provided detailed design, permitting, and construction documents as part of the Design/Build team.

• RIPTA’s R Line is now serviced by emissions free electric busses
• Environmental Benefits -No offsite soils disposal needed due to site design
• Environmental Justice – Project resulted in dramatic improvements to neighborhood air quality and a vastly improved view scape in low income area.
• Pedestrian Safety - New bus ingress and egress design are safer for pedestrians
• Utilized new state of the art public transportation technologies to lower the carbon footprint for the RIPTA Bus fleet.

This project was awarded the 2024 ACEC-RI First Place Gold Anchor Award.

GM2's engineers and inspectors assisted our client, Riggs Distler, in providing structural and civil engineering design services in relation to the fabrication of offshore wind components for the South Fork, Revolution, Sunshine, and Ocean Windfarms. This multi-billion dollar initiative spearheaded by Orsted Energy aims to fabricate and install offshore wind turbines at multiple locations along the eastern coast of the United States. The fabrication sites were located at the Port of Providence, RI, Port of Baltimore, MD and Port of Coeymans in Albany, NY.

GM2’s scope of work:

• Construction Engineering for all 3 fabrication locations.
• Preparation of site layout and arrangement drawings.
• Design of all slabs and foundations for fabrication facilities including movable buildings and fabrication jigs.
• Performed equipment hold down analyses for severe weather events during onshore storage.
• Structural design and evaluations of rigging and storage fixtures
• Shop drawing reviews.
• Review of Owners drawings including conversion from metric to English system.
• Structural engineering and design of mockup test stands for Orsted sub-vendors.
• During fabrication GM2 provided Construction Inspectors for rebar Inspections and concrete placements during the fabrication of 77 External Concrete Platforms.
• Structural design of all temporary work devices for lifting and handling of in-process and completed components.

Provided land surveying and engineering design services for the construction of large, ground-based photovoltaic solar array and associated infrastructure at the site of a former golf driving range in Ashland and off Willow Avenue in Haverhill.

The Ashland project involved the design of erosion control measures to protect resource areas from contamination during construction. The Scope included preparation of a Stormwater Analysis/Operation and Maintenance report and instituted low-impact development stormwater management measures - including grassed swales and rain gardens - to mitigate off-site flows and allow for groundwater recharge. Site grading and access road design were included. Additionally, a Notice of Intent and Site Plan Review applications was filed.

In Haverhill, Lodestar Energy was teamed with to provide a conceptual layout for the solar photovoltaic panel layout, site access and accessory structures supporting the facility. This conceptual-level design confirmed that the solar array could be accommodated on the site, given the wetland and slope constraints. GM2 also assisted with permitting for the site, which consists of 113.61 acres with access from Presidential Drive. The design maintained 25 acres of clearing and kept panels out of the 100-foot wetland buffer line.