Transportation Planner II

SUMMARY

The Department of Transportation Planning of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is seeking a Transportation Planner II to join a team responsible for meeting the federal requirements for the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), which is the agency designated under federal law as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Washington region. The successful candidate will perform professional-level technical, database, and transportation project financial analysis to carry out the metropolitan transportation planning process requirements for the TPB, and its committees, including supporting the development of federally required plans and programs.

The focus of the position will be to support efficient implementation of the TPB’s regular planning activities/federal requirements, including but not limited to a focus on technical project level database/details and analysis associated with the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), Performance-Based Planning and Programming (PBPP) and related activities. The position will monitor laws, regulations, and policies impacting the TPB at the federal, state, and local levels, and help to ensure compliance with those requirements. This position will support TPB’s special projects, research on best practices, public outreach activities, and other activities as directed.

The successful candidate for this position requires strong organizational skills, the ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced, membership-oriented environment, the ability to work independently, and excellent written and oral communication skills. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated interest in transportation planning, public administration, or transportation policy. The candidate should be comfortable performing routine, process-oriented tasks while also maintaining organizational awareness and thinking about ways to improve the work of the Transportation Planning Board.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

The successful candidate will:

SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) ACTIVITIES:

• Work as part of a team to develop the National Capital Region Transportation Improvement Program and assist with ongoing monthly required maintenance actions as requested by member agencies, including processing amendments and administrative modifications.
• Input, manage, and analyze information about transportation projects, programs, and in the TPB’s Project InfoTrak (PIT) database.
• Coordinate with internal staff and staff at member agencies on TIP record requests, required updates, and needed information to maintain an accurate project database.
• Communicate with the PIT database consultant on needed updates to ensure smooth project data management.
• Monitor the status of key projects and programs managed by member agencies
• Produce written and visual information for public consumption for use in documents, reports, memos, websites, graphics, and other methods of communication.

SUPPORT METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN (MTP) DEVELOPMENT

• Develop documentation on transportation planning activities, including the region’s MTP – the National Capital Region Transportation Plan, Visualize, publications, special reports, and information for websites.
• Assist with and participate in cross-team and inter-departmental collaboration in support of the development of the MTP and other major plans and projects;
• Perform technical analysis using output from travel demand models and other forecasting tools to analyze the performance of the region’s transportation plan.
• Research best practices or peer examples on topics such as public participation, scenario planning, equity & environmental justice, environmental mitigation, tourism/travel, health, or methods of sharing such information in print or online.
• Develop text, maps, and graphics for use in publications, presentations, and webpages.
• Track regional issues, priorities, policies, and projects.
• Assist with conducting technical analysis related to Title VI/Environmental Justice and communities of concern.
• Assist with public outreach activities, including in-person and virtual public forums and workshops.

SUPPORT FEDERAL PROGAM REQUIREMENTS

• Performance-Based Planning and Programming (PBPP) requirements
  1. Support the development of federally-required performance targets, collecting data, forecasting future performance, and reporting on actual performance vs. Targets.
  2. Conduct analysis of transportation projects completed and planned to evaluate impact on performance.
  3. Collects and analyzes transportation performance data, including highway and transit trips, vehicle miles traveled, safety statistics, and infrastructure asset condition. Ability to collect and reconcile data from multiple sources in different formats to prepare benchmarks and measure the performance of transportation systems.
  4. Uses statistical techniques, including confidence intervals, to normalize data, make projections, and conduct trend analysis.
  5. Familiar with the principles of land use (demographic) data, travel model simulation and forecasting, and metropolitan planning.
  6. Support data visualization, GIS inventory, and mapping and graphing techniques to display PBPP performance in presentations to the TPB, TPB Technical Committee, and other subcommittees or meetings.
  7. Coordinate PBPP analysis results.

Financial Plan Analysis

• • Collect financial data, including revenue projections and project and program costs, to provide regional tables of revenues and expenditures for the long-range plan.
  • Conducts research and assessment of state, regional, and local highway and transit plans and projects, both capital and operating.

CONDUCT OTHER ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS:

• Provide staff support for board and committee meetings, including meeting mailouts, meeting preparation, and writing meeting minutes and summaries.
• Support the development of documentation regarding MPO self-certification.
• Performs other duties as required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of metropolitan transportation planning.
• Ability to communicate in writing and speaking about complex technical topics to non-technical audiences.
• Strong analytical and computer skills; strong software skills in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), GIS, Microsoft Access or other database software; graphic design skills such as Canva and Adobe Suite products (InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator) a plus.
• Ability to review and develop capital and operating financial summaries. Strong organizational skills, including problem solving/analytical skills and the ability to think creatively.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, including the ability to summarize information in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with other employees, elected and senior appointed officials and the public, and to work cooperatively in a team environment.
• Strong skills in preparing for and facilitating virtual meetings for large and small groups. Advanced skills across a range of online meeting tools and the ability and interest to stay up to date on the latest technologies.
• Ability to prepare, produce, and present clear, effective, and accurate reports and presentations. Skills must include solid experience with Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and EcoInteractive Project InfoTrak or other database software. Experience with InDesign, ArcGIS, Microsoft Access and/or graphic design is a plus.
• Demonstrated interest and experience in public administration, particularly in the National Capital Region.
• Ability to execute tasks with minimal supervision, and ability to respond flexibly to a small staff with significant demands on time.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Requires a minimum of three years working experience in transportation planning. Possession of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in transportation planning, engineering, public administration, or a related field. Any equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered.

COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Strong skills required for Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams). Experience with Microsoft Access or other database software. Experience with WordPress and/or SharePoint to support limited updates to existing websites (e.g., photo or text changes). ArcGIS, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) considered desirable.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Communication Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, spreadsheets, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from members, regulatory agencies, community leaders and members. Ability to effectively present meeting related or MPO process information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, percentages, etc. Ability to apply statistical concepts.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to interpret personnel policies and practices and make appropriate decisions; good judgment, initiative, ability to maintain confidentiality.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to be at a computer for much of the day and to walk to in- or out-of-office meetings. The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. This is a fast-paced environment and requires the ability to handle multiple tasks at any given time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.