As Kevin Costner learned in the movie Field of Dreams, if you build it, they will come. Development generates traffic, and that is good. But traffic snarls, air pollution, and fuel inefficiency aren’t, so many localities are increasingly requiring traffic impact studies with development projects.

When Great Eastern Resort Company was considering building a water park, condominiums, and high-end retail on property near Massanutten Resort in Rockingham County, Va., Anderson & Associates was called in to do a traffic impact analysis to predict demands on the transportation network and support rezoning of the land. The study, performed by Jennifer Belcher and her team, involved gathering information on the traffic network. The team combined this data with details on the proposed new development to forecast future traffic volume.

After rezoning was approved, A&A designed approximately two miles of roadway, including the expansion of a two-lane highway to four lanes and straightening a mile of existing roadway. Access improvements for the 118-acre development were funded jointly by VDOT, Rockingham County, and Great Eastern.

When Corey Carter was laid off in January 2004, he made up his mind to pursue a new career in something solid, a field with longevity. He chose civil engineering with an emphasis on surveying. With a referral from Kyle Austin, a Lord Fairfax Community College professor who worked for A&A, Corey joined A&A as Design Technician in 2005.

With flexible hours during school, Corey graduated from Lord Fairfax magna cum laude with an associate’s degree in civil engineering in May. Corey is anticipating the same supportive atmosphere as he pursues his professional license as a surveyor.

"The training I receive at A&A supplements my education and helps as I go after my next goal of becoming an L.S. At A&A, I’ve learned surveying in a broad sense," Corey said.