Richard is an expert in Highway and Municipal Engineering, with more than 35 years of experience working with State DOTs and municipalities. Rich provides investigations, reports, and testimony in matters related to highway and municipal infrastructure design, construction, operations and maintenance.
He has unique experience in managing snow and ice control for roadways, for dam safety and for managing parks.
Prior to joining Robson Forensic, Rich served as the Director of Public Works for Hamilton Township in Mercer County, New Jersey for several years and worked nearly 30 years for the New Jersey Department of Transportation in numerous management and engineering capacities.
Rich is a degreed engineer and licensed Professional Engineer, licensed Professional Planner, Certified Public Works Manager, and Certified Public Manager. He is the recipient of many awards for his professional efforts in engineering and construction management. Rich has been published in professional journals and has presented to professional organizations and State DOTs across the country. He is a member of industry organizations, including the Transportation Research Board. Rich was also designated a national Public Works Leadership Fellow (PWLF) by the American Public Works Association (APWA).
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Traffic Roundabouts - Expert Article on How Roundabouts Differ from Traffic Circles
Although they are similar, there are distinct differences between roundabouts and traffic circles. In this article, Highway Engineer, Richard M. Balgowan, P.E., P.P., CPWM, CPM, discusses both roadway features with a specific focus on the benefits of mondern roundabouts and how they offer advantages in both safety and efficiency.
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- Snow & Ice Control - Expert Introduction to RWIS
A Road Weather Information System (RWIS) consists of a network of Environmental Sensor Stations (ESS) connected to a computer. The stations are located adjacent to highways and bridges. Currently, all 48 contiguous states have environmental sensor stations and use RWIS; however, the majority of these stations are located in the Snowbelt states.
RWIS provides users, such as state Departments of Transportation, with the ability to make timely and efficient winter maintenance decisions. RWIS, especially for winter maintenance, can provide decision makers with critical information on the current and future condition of pavement surfaces. This allows those decision makers to be proactive in mobilizing maintenance forces to anti/deice their pavements so as to provide motorists with safer and more efficient travel.
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- Balgowan Named National APWA Public Works Leadership Fellow
Philadelphia’s Robson Forensics Highway/Municipal Engineering Expert, Richard Balgowan, was recently designated a national Public Works Leadership Fellow (PWLF) by the American Public Works Association (APWA). As a PWLF fellow, Balgowan will mentor public works professionals enrolled in the APWA Donald C. Stone Center for Leadership Excellence (DCSCenter) throughout the year. He is among about 220 public works professionals from across North America who were recently inducted as Leadership Fellows (PWLF). The APWA Donald C.Stone Center’s Program Council determines the selection of recipients for the PWLF designation.
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- Winter Roadway Maintenance: Mitigating Environmental Impacts
The application of abrasives, chlorides and other chemicals used for snow and ice control are detrimental to our environment and infrastructure. It is critical that those involved in winter operations/snow and ice control understand how chemicals work and the importance of applying the right chemicals, at the right time and in the correct amounts. This can be accomplished by utilizing a winter operations management system that includes an anti-icing program. A successful winter operations management program includes many interconnected aspects such as operations; choice of materials/chemicals; equipment; decision making; personnel; planning, scheduling and monitoring progress; and public involvement.
This presentation was designed for and delivered to industry professionals by Municipal Engineering Expert, Richard M. Balgowan, P.E., P.P., CPWM, CPM.
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- Winter Weather Forecasting for Roadway Safety – Expert Article
Forecasting services have improved their ability to meet the needs of winter operations managers for accurate, timely forecasts of the weather on the mesoscale and microscale levels and for forecasts of the pavement temperature and condition. Winter operations managers need to know what will happen when precipitation hits the pavement. Will the pavement be warm enough to melt any accumulating snow? Will the pavement be so cold that rain will freeze to the surface on contact? Are conditions right for frost to form on bridge decks?
Roadway and Municipal Expert, Richard M. Balgowan, P.E., P.P., CPWM, CPM, discusses these topics and others in a brief article that was featured in TR News in 2009.
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- Frost and Ice Roadway Warning Systems – Expert Article
Roadway and Municipal Expert, Richard M. Balgowan, P.E., P.P., CPWM, CPM, evaluated the effectiveness of a moisture, frost, and ice early warning system. In his evaluation, he found the system to be effective as an early warning system with the potential benefit of reducing snow and ice related traffic accidents.
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- Roadway Roundabout – Expert Presentation on Design and Implementation
In response to complaints from residents about speeding on various streets, Roadway and Municipal Expert, Richard M. Balgowan, P.E., P.P., CPWM, CPM, worked with the public to develop a solution to their problems. The attached presentation details the process and describes the benefits achieved by installing a roundabout.
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