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Civil Engineering
Elevated.

Railroad Infrastructure, Land Entitlement & Planning, Commercial & Residential Development, and Public Works Civil Engineering Nationwide.

Principal-led. Forty years of combined experience. Every project led by a partner.

Our Services Start a Conversation
01

Principal-Led, Always

You work directly with a principal — not a project manager. A principal with decades of experience on every call, every decision, every deliverable.

02

Technically Rigorous

Over 40 years in the field. We bring discipline, depth, and genuine expertise to every site plan, environmental review, and infrastructure design.

03

Strategically Oriented

Civil engineering is a means to an end. Rail corridor operational. Entitlement secured. Public infrastructure delivered. We keep your real goals in focus.

What We Do

Four Areas of
Deep Expertise

01

Railroad Engineering & Infrastructure

Specialized civil engineering for rail corridors, crossings, and industrial rail infrastructure.

02

Land Planning & Entitlement

From raw site to approved plans — we lead the civil engineering process for land development projects of every scale.

03

Commercial & Residential Development

From raw ground to shovel-ready — full civil engineering services for commercial and residential development projects.

04

Public Works Engineering

Municipal streets, drainage systems, utility infrastructure, and civic improvements — designed with public-sector rigor.

40+
Combined Years Experience
2
Principals on Every Project
4
Core Service Disciplines
2
Offices, National Coverage
About the Firm

A different kind of engineering firm.

A boutique civil engineering practice built on a simple premise: complex projects deserve direct senior attention and experienced judgment — from start to finish.

Two principals. A combined 40 years of experience. Personally involved in every engagement we take on.

Our Story
Ryan Bogren, P.E.
Managing Partner · Idaho Office

25+ years spanning railroad infrastructure, land entitlement, commercial and residential development, and public works across the United States.

Brett Hadley, P.E.
Managing Partner · California Office

15+ years spanning railroad infrastructure, land entitlement, winery infrastructure, and public agency work throughout the Western United States.

Ready to Start Your Project?

Whether you're planning rail infrastructure, navigating land entitlement, or delivering public improvements — we'd welcome a one on one conversation.

Get in Touch
About Alta Civil

The Firm. The Principals. The Philosophy.

Alta Civil Engineering, LLC is a boutique civil engineering practice with offices in Idaho and California, founded to deliver what the industry rarely provides consistently: direct principal access on every engagement.

We are selective about the projects we take on because selectivity is what lets us be excellent. If Alta Civil is the right fit, you'll know it quickly. If we're not, we'll tell you that too.

01
Principal-Led Engagement
Every project is led by a founding principal from initiation through delivery. You are not handed off after the first meeting.
02
Technical Depth Over Breadth
We focus on four disciplines because focus produces quality. We know our service areas deeply and apply that knowledge methodically.
03
Responsive by Default
When you call Alta Civil, a principal answers. Responsiveness is a structural feature of our firm, not a promise.
04
Geographic Range
We serve clients across the country — from railroad infrastructure to land development to public works.
05
Honest Counsel
We tell clients what their project actually requires. Sound engineering judgment means telling the truth early, before it costs more to correct later.
The Principals

Meet the Team

Managing Partner

Ryan Bogren, P.E.

Idaho

25+ years spanning railroad infrastructure, land entitlement and planning, winery infrastructure, commercial and residential development, and public works across the United States.

Known for technical rigor, deep familiarity with railroad operator requirements, and clear-headed project leadership from feasibility through construction.

Managing Partner

Brett Hadley, P.E.

California

15+ years spanning railroad infrastructure, land entitlement and planning, winery infrastructure, and public agency work throughout the Western United States.

Brings a sophisticated understanding of regulatory agencies, environmental review processes, and the operational requirements that distinguish high-performing civil engineering engagements.

Who We Serve

Industries & Clients

Railroad Operators

Class I carriers, short-line operators, and rail-served industrial clients requiring specialized civil engineering.

Contractors & Partners

Construction support, plan-in-hand consulting, and collaborative project engineering for GCs and subconsultants.

Real Estate Developers

From feasibility through approved construction documents — we move development projects forward.

Private Landowners

Navigating entitlement, subdivision, and infrastructure requirements to unlock the potential of your land.

Municipalities & Agencies

Public works engineering for cities, counties, and special districts — delivered with public-sector sensibility.

Services

What We Engineer

Alta Civil practices in four disciplines — areas where our principals have built decades of genuine expertise, not adjacent services added for breadth.

01

Railroad Engineering & Infrastructure

Specialized civil engineering for rail corridors, crossings, and industrial rail infrastructure.

Railroad engineering and infrastructure

Our principals have built careers around railroad work — from Class I standards to short-line operations — designing infrastructure that performs under real revenue-service conditions.

At-grade crossing design Industrial lead & siding Rail corridor civil & drainage Track geometry & alignment Right-of-way surveys Intermodal & transload planning FRA / state DOT coordination Construction documentation
Client Value

Engineers who understand rail from the inside — meeting railroad standards, satisfying regulators, and built to last under service loads.

02

Land Planning & Entitlement

From raw site to approved plans — we lead the civil engineering process for land development projects of every scale.

Land planning and entitlement

We bring 40 years navigating development across the West — knowing the agencies, timelines, and requirements that define success. A project that moves efficiently through entitlement saves real time and capital.

Site feasibility & entitlement strategy Preliminary & final plat design Grading, drainage & stormwater Utility & on-site infrastructure Off-site improvement design ALTA/NSPS land title surveys Environmental coordination Construction-phase support
Client Value

A principal-level engineer who understands entitlement as a strategic process — not just a technical one.

03

Commercial & Residential Development

From raw ground to shovel-ready — full civil engineering services for commercial and residential development projects.

Commercial and residential development

Our principals bring decades of development experience — from pro forma implications through construction sequencing that keeps contractors on schedule across site design, grading, utilities, drainage, and agency approvals.

Site feasibility & concept planning Grading & earthwork design On-site utilities (water, sewer, storm) Drainage & stormwater management Parking & circulation design Winery & agricultural site engineering Agency improvement plans Construction-phase support
Client Value

Senior-level civil engineering from project inception — not after problems surface in the field.

04

Public Works Engineering

Municipal streets, drainage systems, utility infrastructure, and civic improvements — designed with public-sector rigor.

Public works engineering

Our principals have worked extensively in public-agency environments and understand what agencies need to move projects forward — with the defensibility and transparency that public money and public safety demand.

Street & roadway design Stormwater & drainage infrastructure Waterline & sanitary sewer systems ADA compliance & improvements Utility relocation & corridor design Capital improvement planning Construction documents for public bid Grant application support
Client Value

Public clients get principal-level attention — which is not always guaranteed with larger engineering firms.

Our Process

How We Work

01

Listen First

Every project begins with a genuine conversation. We want to understand your goals, constraints, timeline, and history before we offer any recommendations.

02

Assess Clearly

We evaluate your project's technical requirements, regulatory environment, and site conditions before committing to a scope. No surprises later.

03

Design Precisely

Our deliverables are thorough, accurate, and agency-ready. We build documentation that moves projects forward, not documentation that generates questions.

04

Deliver Reliably

We hold our commitments. If a timeline shifts, you will know before it affects your project. Responsiveness and reliability are non-negotiable for us.

FAQ

Common Questions

What makes Alta Civil different from a larger engineering firm?
Alta Civil is principal-led — the engineers who sign your plans are the same ones working your project from day one. You won't be handed off to junior staff or lost in a queue. We bring the technical depth of a large firm with the responsiveness and accountability of a boutique practice.
What geographies do you serve?
We're headquartered in Idaho and California, but our practice is national. Railroad infrastructure takes us across state lines regularly. Wherever your project is located, reach out — we're happy to discuss it.
Do you work on both private and public-sector projects?
Yes. Our portfolio spans private land development — from early entitlement through final engineering — as well as public agency contracts in transportation, utilities, and infrastructure.
How do I know if Alta Civil is the right fit for my project?
If your project involves railroad infrastructure, complex entitlements, or public works where relationships and regulatory fluency matter, we're likely a strong fit. When in doubt, call — we'll tell you honestly.
How does your railroad engineering experience set you apart?
Railroad infrastructure operates under a distinct set of standards, agencies, and stakeholders that most civil firms rarely encounter. Our principals have worked directly with Class I railroads and regional operators on alignment, grade crossing, and infrastructure projects — not learned it on a client's dime.
Projects & Experience

Selected Work

Four decades of combined experience. Four core disciplines. The projects below represent the range of work our principals have led — from land planning and development in the Mountain West and California, to rail infrastructure across the country.

Coming Soon
Coming Soon

Representative Project
Insights

Thinking on Infrastructure,
Land & Engineering

Perspectives from our principals on the issues that matter to developers, municipalities, and rail operators.

Coming Soon

Contact

Let's Start a Conversation

Tell us about your project. A principal will respond — typically within one business day.

Send Message

We do not share your information. A principal will follow up directly.

Idaho
Idaho Falls

(916) 997-8167
California
San Luis Obispo

(805) 459-2715
Licensing

Licensed Professional Engineers in multiple states.