Site Planning, Survey, and Land Development

THE PROJECT
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) needed to provide an EV charging infrastructure at many of its district offices so that it would be prepared to support the addition of electric vehicles to its fleet of pool cars. EV charging stations would be added to seven district office and maintenance building sites throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The number of Level 2 EV chargers per site ranged from 10 to 32, which totaled 142 across the seven locations. All chargers were for PennDOT’s use only and not available to the public.

Erdman Anthony was selected to as the prime consultant to provide engineering and design services for the project. Construction administration services will also be provided, along with assistance in completing rebate applications for the installation of the chargers.

FEATURES/SOLUTIONS
The design process began by referencing aerial imaging of each site during meetings with district representatives to determine proposed locations for the charging stations, and to identify the areas where topographic surveys were needed to develop the base mapping for site-plan drawings. A load analysis was simultaneously completed for each site.

Once the base maps were obtained, electrical surveys of each site were completed to obtain existing parking area conditions, check electrical one-line drawings and panelboard locations, and review proposed EV charger locations with facility personnel.

Drawings were developed for each site, along with common detail sheets and specifications for use in permitting and bidding. Several sites required new and separate utility services.

Our firm coordinated with the utilities on required service details, metering, and points of connection. Electrical usage meters were included at the sites where power was obtained from the existing building electrical service so that PennDOT could track how much energy was being used to charge the fleet of pool cars.

Most of the sites have two units mounted on a single pedestal, while one site has primarily wall-mounted units. 

IMPACTS
The charging stations will help Pennsylvania work towards fulfilling its carbon emissions reduction strategies.

Sustainable Design Impact Nearly 150 Level 2 EV chargers at seven district office and maintenance building sites have helped reduce vehicle emissions and noise while advancing the commonwealth’s goal of making its fleet greener.