Bogusia Stapor - Al-Terra

Edmonton
Team member since 1996

Department
Planning and Public Consultation

What is your favourite thing about working at Al-Terra?
Al-Terra is a truly special place to work. I have been in Al-Terra for many years, and I love to work here because it is small, and it fills like being a part of well adjusted family; we all know each other, both at work and outside of work. We work together and have fun together. Over the years, our Al-Terra family has grown, but the close connections remain. Despite the expansion, we all still know each other, maintaining the friendly and supportive atmosphere that makes it a great place to learn and grow. The management at Al-Terra is generous and approachable. Their door is always open, and their supportive nature makes each workday a pleasure. They are always willing to listen and provide guidance, which promotes a positive and productive work environment. This combination of a supportive team and approachable management makes Al-Terra not just a place to work, but a place to thrive.

What project are you most proud of and why?
Throughout my professional career, I've had the pleasure of working on many memorable planning and design projects. I love seeing the projects that are now built, like interchanges or intersections. Sometimes, planning jobs end up forgotten, but other times, my designs are built. This gives me great satisfaction. I often think, "they didn't notify me that they were building it." I believe this is the fate of a planning engineer. . . The project which I have worked on through all the stages including strategic, concept and design is the Waterdale Bridge Replacement. Over the stages, we were looking for the right bridge fitting the environment constraint which would replace the old bridge and become the City of Edmonton signature. Al-Terra was involved in project management, development of the approach roads plans, provision of support to the bridge designers, coordination of multiple utility relocations, finding resolutions for exiting accesses and mitigation for impacts to historical sites in the environmentally restricted area. The biggest challenge was to construct the new bridge while the old bridge was still carrying high volumes of traffic. Now the arch style signature bridge is built and fits the site while respecting the history of the River Valley. I am very proud to be involved in this project having opportunity to work with multidisciplinary team of experts. My grandsons recognize the bridge and say: ”Babcia Bogusia helped to built this bridge."

What lessons has your work life taught you?
I believe that every project is a challenge. Look for solutions in many different places such as local design standard manuals, check what others are doing in different jurisdictions and countries, consult and collaborate with experienced professionals and most of all, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Continue learning to stay updated with the latest trends, technologies and methodologies in the field so your skills are current and relevant.

I am a Senior Transportation Planning Engineer with 40 years of experience. I joined Al-Terra in February 1996 after ten years with Alberta Transportation and Utilities (AT&U) in the Roadway Planning branch. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work on a variety of transportation planning and design projects, including functional and concept planning studies, interchange planning and design, traffic impact analyses, benefit-cost analyses, road safety reviews, and detailed intersection designs, including signals and roundabouts. I believe in the importance of public engagement, so I actively prepare for and attend public meetings to discuss project plans and gather community feedback.

I strive to stay proficient with various technical tools and software that are essential for transportation planning and engineering. I am skilled in using MicroStation, Eagle Point – RoadCalc design, Transoft Solutions Modules: Torus, Nexus, and AutoTurn. Additionally, I am experienced with traffic control software programs such as HCS, Synchro/Sim, Sidra and Vistro. I also use Microsoft Office and Microsoft Project Manager for project management and documentation.

I am passionate about improving transportation systems and handling complex projects with precision and efficiency. My extensive experience and technical skills have allowed me to contribute to the successful completion of numerous projects. I am committed to enhancing transportation infrastructure and improving safety and efficiency for the public.

In summary, my 40 years of experience, technical expertise, and dedication to public engagement have shaped my career in transportation planning and engineering. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to serve the communities and make a positive impact on transportation systems.

Associated Projects

Transportation Planning

Terwillegar Drive between Anthony Henday Drive and Whitemud Drive

Project Management, Transportation Planning

Walterdale Bridge Replacement and Approach Roads Evaluation