Tristan, an associate project manager at Hanson’s Seattle regional office, focuses on civil and railway engineering projects throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Tristan joined Hanson in 2011 after completing his master’s studies with RailTEC at the University of Illinois, where he worked as a research assistant for a BNSF-sponsored multidisciplinary project that implemented machine vision technology for the measurement of intermodal freight train loading and energy efficiency.

‘Rich and challenging environment’“Rail projects bring many different people and backgrounds together because they intersect all kinds of stakeholders and infrastructure. They create a rich and challenging environment for an engineer to learn and grow.”

At Hanson, Tristan has worked on railway track and site design for a variety of rail facilities. His track design experience includes spurs, leads, mainlines, sidings, set-offs and industry track connections, along with site design for automotive and containerized freight facilities. His technical background encompasses computer applications such as HY-8, AutoCAD, Civil3D, MicroStation and OpenRoads Designer.

Tristan has contributed to significant projects for BNSF Railway Co., including triple-track segments in Kelso and Blaine, a siding extension in Mount Vernon, the estuary restoration project at Meadowdale Beach Park near Edmonds, all in Washington. He also worked on the Sandpoint Junction Connector project that relieved rail traffic congestion in Sandpoint, Idaho, and included a 4,800-foot-plus bridge over Lake Pend Oreille.

From his extensive rail-related design experience, Tristan understands the typical composition of railway embankments and how past rail construction practices affect the natural environment. He also has experience evaluating alternatives and developing practical approaches for challenging sites. In 2023, he was selected to present his insights at the AREMA rail conference.

Tristan is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association’s Committee 1-Roadway and Ballast.