Projects
Selected projects
Site engineering for Northern New Jersey homeowners and builders, backed by two decades on major public infrastructure.
Private practice
Thomas N. Ott, PE Consulting, 2014 to present
First project to meet NJ Highlands Major Development criteria
Kinnelon, NJ
Designed a subsurface drainage system that met the Highlands groundwater-recharge requirements. It was the first project to satisfy the NJ Highlands Council's Major Development criteria. Work done as consulting engineer to the Borough's municipal engineer.
Reviving a failing leach field with an aerobic retrofit
Passaic County, NJ
Diagnosed a mounded septic system in high groundwater whose bioreactor blower had failed. Restored the aerobic treatment unit, and within three weeks the leach field had recovered.
Read the case studyGrading and drainage to stop flooding next door
Northern NJ
Grading and drainage reports and plans that control stormwater runoff so it no longer floods adjacent properties.
Site plans for use and bulk variances
Residential & commercial
Site plans supporting use and bulk variance applications before municipal zoning and planning boards.
Storage building converted to apartments
Northern NJ
Final construction plans for converting an existing storage building into residential apartments.
Pre-purchase site feasibility
Northern NJ
Feasibility assessments for clients evaluating whether to buy a property. They cover what can be built and what approvals it will take.
NJDEP permitting
Northern NJ
Freshwater Wetlands LOIs, stormwater management and flood hazard area compliance, with watershed delineation, GIS mapping and NJ TR-55 analysis.
Career highlights
Major public infrastructure, 1994–2014
Before founding the practice, Thomas spent two decades on transit, roadway and flood-control projects as a civil engineer and project manager. The same drainage, permitting and site-design discipline now goes into every residential and commercial job.
2008–2010
New York City Transit
Project Manager · SYSTRA
Subway flood control, Manhattan, Brooklyn & Queens
Subway flood mitigation, including fast-track work at 7 locations in Brooklyn and Queens. Covered hydrologic analyses, raised street furniture and gratings, curb and sidewalk design, NYCDOT coordination and community board outreach.
2008
NJ TRANSIT
Senior Civil Engineer · SYSTRA
Passaic–Bergen passenger rail restoration
Led civil design for 8 light rail stations, a park-and-ride and a yard/shop. Prepared the NJDEP Flood Hazard permit package and the floodplain-fill mitigation.
2010–2013
Amtrak
Project Manager / Team Leader · SYSTRA
ADA upgrades at intercity stations
Inspections and 100% bid drawings for ADA upgrades at 6 stations, covering parking, curb cuts, ramps and railings, plus site work, soil erosion and sediment control, and trackside underdrains.
2010–2011
DRPA / PATCO, Lindenwold NJ
Senior Civil Engineer · SYSTRA
PATCO Shop Annex
Civil/site, grading, utility and soil erosion bridging documents and specifications for a design-build team.
2000–2002
NJ TRANSIT
Senior Civil Engineer · Parsons Brinckerhoff
Southern New Jersey light rail station stops
Station access roads, parking and layouts, with HydroCAD hydrology, stormwater design, estimates and construction support.
2006–2007
City of Newark
Deputy Project Manager · Parsons Brinckerhoff
Norfolk St / Jones St traffic calming
Alignments, drainage and hydrology, construction plans, estimates, and budget and scope control.
2006
Union County, NJ
Deputy PM / Lead Civil Engineer · Parsons Brinckerhoff
North Avenue Corridor
Roadway geometry, stormwater design and gutter-flow hydrology, staged estimates, and NJ Turnpike and Port Authority coordination.
MOS 2 & 3
NJ TRANSIT
Lead Engineer · Parsons Brinckerhoff
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail right-of-way
Property and right-of-way needs, parcel and condemnation maps, and coordination of surveying subconsultants.
1995
New Mexico DOT
Design Engineer · Parsons Brinckerhoff
Geogrid-reinforced embankment, US 285
Embankment steepened to 45° with geogrid reinforcement to limit property takings, from bid documents through installation support.
Have a property question?
Call or email with the address and what you're trying to do. You'll get a straight answer on what's needed, the likely timeline and the cost.