Since 1995, SME has managed numerous on-call/non-project specific contracts for a variety of public and private sector clients throughout the Four Corners region. Through this experience, the firm has mastered the ability to provide sufficient professional competence, meet time schedules, and to accommodate cost considerations and project administration requirements.

SME has provided environmental services to transportation agencies for projects including resurfacing, highway expansions, safety improvements, culvert replacements, and bridge construction.  Our expertise has been called on time and again to assist the transportation industry to navigate difficult situations in complying with the Endangered Species Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Clean Water Act.

Colorado Department of Transportation


SME maintains an on-call contracting agreement with the Colorado Department of Transportation. In all, SME has completed approximately 200 transportation projects subject to CDOT review.

CDOT Design and Construction Projects

Since 1995, SME has performed environmental regulatory compliance tasks as a subcontractor to design engineering firms and construction companies for specific CDOT design and construction projects. In this role, SME has completed nearly 40 projects, including the recent Paths to Mesa Verde Planning and Environmental Linkages Report in summer 2018.

Paths to Mesa Verde

The Paths to Mesa Verde trail project is a multi-use path which would provide multimodal access to Mesa Verde National Park, Phil’s World, Southwest Colorado Community College, Montezuma Fairgrounds, and the new high school in Cortez. SME prepared an Environmental Scan Report to document existing environmental resources in the study area for analysis in future NEPA processes, as well as an Aquatic Resources Delineation Report. SME also provided environmental support services for the Planning and Environmental Linkages study, conducting a comprehensive analysis of potentially impacted resources in the 70-square-mile study area with the goal of locating, identifying, and quantifying resource impacts, including those to natural, aquatic, cultural and paleontological resources.

CDOT NPS Projects

Since 2013, SME has been on the CDOT Region 5 Non-Project Specific (NPS) Engineering Services contract as a subcontractor. SME has also filled this role for CDOT Region 1 since 2014, and has been on the NPS Traffic Engineering Services for CDOT Regions 3 and 5 since 2014. SME has acted as subcontractor for 60 projects under these contracts.

From 2013 to present, SME has completed over 60 projects as prime under NPS Environmental Engineering Services for CDOT Region 5.

bridge to nowhere, wetlands, us 550, delineation

US 550/US 160 Connection

The US 550/160 Connection project is part of a long-range planning effort to enhance transportation in the Durango area. This project provides for future growth, enhancing mobility, safety, economic vitality and connectivity for the Four Corners region. The project will also provide safer and more efficient access to Mercy Regional Hospital and the Three Springs and Grandview neighborhoods. In October 2014, SME completed an Aquatic Resources Delineation Report for the 285-acre study area at the intersection of US 550 and US 160, including a 2.5-mile section along CR 220. SME navigated the US Army Corps AJD process with the result that irrigation induced/leaky ditch wetlands were determined non-jurisdictional. SME also prepared a Biological Assessment and facilitated an evaluation of paleontological and cultural resources. SME also assisted AMEC-Muller with the third-party environment review report. The US 160 and Wilson Gulch Road Extension phase of the project was completed in 2016.

CDOT-Sanctioned Projects

SME has completed over 35 CDOT-sanctioned projects since 2000 on behalf of various entities that have used federal sources to help fund their design and construction. All such projects are subject to environmental review by CDOT Region 5 staff. Projects include road, bridge, and sidewalk construction and improvements, as well as multi-modal and pedestrian trail construction.

SME Serves Metropolitan and Sanitation Districts

Animas River Trail and SMART 160

The Animas River Trail (ART) is a hard surface shared-use path stretching seven miles through Durango, providing access to parks, open spaces, and neighborhoods.  The Safe Multi-Modal Aesthetic Regional Transportation (SMART) Trail is a planned trail parallel to US 160, connecting the Three Springs area with the rest of Durango. SME conducted NEPA analysis for over a dozen multi-modal segments, including wetlands delineations, biological assessments, hazardous materials assessment, and Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting. SME is currently involved in CWA permitting for the planned Memorial to Oxbow Park trail segment in Animas City

CDOT Access and Utility Permit Projects

SME has also provided expertise with environmental regulatory compliance for a number of projects on behalf of various entities to meet environmental compliance requirements for CDOT Access and Utility Permits. These include road construction and improvements, pedestrian and multi-modal trail construction, sanitation line replacement, and fiber optic utility installation within highway right-of-way.

fiber optic, communications

Conejos Fiber Optic Installation

Jade Communications selected SME to manage environmental clearances required by CDOT for buried fiber optic utility installation within right-of-way of CO 17 west of Antonito. SME utilized GIS to identify and quantify BMPs as part of preparation of a Stormwater Management Plan. SME also prepared a CDOT Initial Site Assessment for identification of hazardous materials, facilitated CWA permitting, and performed a Biological Assessment. The project included a wetlands delineation and stormwater management for construction adjacent to the Conejos River in the right-of-way of CO 17. Potentially impacted aquatic resources with were identified, and BMPs were identified for trenching and boring locations .

New Mexico Department of Transportation


In New Mexico, under contract with engineering firms and on behalf of municipalities, SME has coordinated with NMDOT staff to obtain Categorical Exclusion (CE) Environmental Checklist approvals for projects including East Aztec Arterial Road (City of Aztec), Oliver Road improvement (City of Aztec), Simonds Road improvement (City of Aztec), and two segments of the San Juan River Trail extension (City of Bloomfield).

Read more about SME’s experience in the transportation sector.

Related Services

Please contact us to discuss how we can help you with your transportation project.